Forums > Technical Discussion > Coloured-fire chemicals that WORK

Posted: 9th Sep 2009
Boric acid worked with ethanol, what did you use?


what means:
without being heated
EDITED_BY: Ploetzi (1252496139)

Posted: 9th Sep 2009
Methylated spirits (95% ethanol), but I didn't notice a great deal of change. In fact, it only really appeared when most of the fuel had burned out and there was almost literally nothing else to burn.

This statement is false...?

Posted: 10th Sep 2009
Are you using completely new wicks that haven't been burnt before?

Posted: 10th Sep 2009
I've been using a static flame test, so if it won't work while it's standing still, its odds of surviving while in motion aren't going to be so hot either.

This statement is false...?

Posted: 11th Sep 2009
the colours are supposed to get stronger the more they are used with a single purpose wick. the chemical builds up in the Kevlar until the colour is more visible.

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.

Posted: 11th Sep 2009
Originally Posted By: TideI've been using a static flame test, so if it won't work while it's standing still, its odds of surviving while in motion aren't going to be so hot either.

I actually have found that with the boric acid the colour becomes more intense when the flame moves and gets more oxygen

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Posted: 11th Sep 2009
Originally Posted By: Myncithe colours are supposed to get stronger the more they are used with a single purpose wick. the chemical builds up in the Kevlar until the colour is more visible.

Does that mean that for coloured flame you ideally want to use the same wick for the same colouring?? Do other colours interfere? Like if you use a red one rather a lot and try a green, will it be a duller green than 100% new wicks?

Posted: 11th Sep 2009
Ah, that makes sense. I'll look into boric acid again, but it hasn't done me much good to be honest.

Although I have a question - what's the best shape wick for colour fire?

This statement is false...?

Posted: 11th Sep 2009
Originally Posted By: Mother_Natures_SonOriginally Posted By: Myncithe colours are supposed to get stronger the more they are used with a single purpose wick. the chemical builds up in the Kevlar until the colour is more visible.

Does that mean that for coloured flame you ideally want to use the same wick for the same colouring?? Do other colours interfere? Like if you use a red one rather a lot and try a green, will it be a duller green than 100% new wicks?

Yeah, the other chemicals screw up the colouring.

NYC might be a high school chemistry teacher on here, who has experimented and might have found that any ammount of parafin or carbon in the wicks will cause wahtever checmicals you re-dunk with to have a yellow flame.

Each seperate colour needs its' own set of wicks.

Posted: 20th Oct 2010
I got boric acid to make a pretty good green when dissolved in methylated spirits.

I'm still working on other colours. Was copper (ii) chloride a green or a blueish green or what?

Ask me about flow, and prepare to listen for the rest of your life, or tell me to stop talking eventually...