Forums > Help! > Fire Eating Questions?

Posted: 13th Apr 2010
I just watched your videos and chose to break my almost two years of silence on these boards to contribute.

The videos are a great resource, it seems like there's virtually nothing out there to teach any level of fire eating. Perhaps rightfully so since it's pretty dangerous, but you've covered the safety part well.

I've been eating for half a year or so, and am the only one in my area to really do it, so it's interesting watching someone else's technique. There's a few things in your videos I don't necessarily agree with, but it's mostly little things that don't make much of a difference, if any. Regardless, they're great for beginners, and you should definitely keep making them. I'd be interested in seeing some of your more advanced techniques, especially since there's a severe lack of tech-y fire eating videos out there.

Posted: 14th Apr 2010
O dear! Um I think I should say thank you I'm not sure if I was just chastized or praised. I'll take it as praise cause it sounds mostly positive so THANKS I've been eating fire about as long as you have, give or take a month, and had to learn everything on my own by reading Mephisto The Master's website. It was difficult for me cause you can't ask a webpage questions. So I decided to take what I know and make it into something people can not only watch but interact with (videos and this thread) so that people can watch, try, ask questions and really know what they are doing. Cause when you don't know thats when you make mistakes and get hurt. That's pretty much as far as I go for tutorials on fire eating at this point. I tend not to get really techy with it, I tend to keep it simple and try to make it flow and be sexy, not necessarily techy. Plus I haven't really heard of much else to learn/do past what I've put in the tutorials. I refuse to breath fire, and wont hold the torch in my teeth (because I like my teeth :/) so IDk what else there is though I'm open to learning

Thanks for the feed back Syzgyn, see you on the forum

If you can't stand the heat, get out of my way.

Posted: 16th Apr 2010
It was definitely praise, sorry if it didn't sound like it.

I've seen Mephisto's website, and I feel for you; It's not a great wealth of information. I highly recommend this book https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Eating-Manual/dp/B00020UXRI
for learning new tricks. It's an old book, and half of it is spent on why you shouldn't do this stuff ever, but It explains very clearly how to do some fairly advanced things.

I'm all for refusing to breath fire. I do it every once and a while, and it still scares the poop out of me, but it's definitely a crowd pleaser, even just basic fireballs. Holding the torch in your teeth isn't that bad really. Of course, ask me that again in 5 years and I might have a different answer :V

I'm gonna do my best to make a video tomorrow showing some of the more advanced tricks I know.

Posted: 17th Apr 2010
Okay sounds awesome! And I'll definetly check out the book. you always know its legit when they try to get you not to do it

If you can't stand the heat, get out of my way.

Posted: 17th Apr 2010
And here ya go.


It's pretty terrible in terms of light and framing, but hopefully you can see the tricks well enough.

Posted: 17th Apr 2010
Nice! I'm intrigued by the dragons breath with the torch still in your mouth. Thats one I havent seen before. I also like the fire on the finger tips ^_^ so much fun!

If you can't stand the heat, get out of my way.

Posted: 19th May 2011
here is a question I happen to live in a windy area on top of a mountain so even on days when the air is "still" we have a breeze going and was wondering if you had any tips on how to do the dragons breath in such a place that video with the torch still in the mouth might work but i wanted to know if you had any other ideas?

Only boring people get bored.- James Walton

You can only get bored if you don't know how to live.-His son

Posted: 8th Jul 2011
god theres so many pros and cons for different types of fuel , just when i thought kerosene was probably the safest it would appear that whoever i speak to in this forumn advises white gas/ camping gas type fuels (colemans)

you guys seem pretty experienced with ur firetoys i could really use your advice.

im looking to start with fire fans and get into fire eating, ive seen a few videos on fire eating and think i got the jist of it il be looking out for ur vids flint.

anyways though is there a fuel that you would advise using for fire fans that would also be safe and good to use for fire eating? or would you recommend different fuels for each?
i dont want to set fire to anything until im convinced i feel confident with the knowledge of this fuel matter.

xXx Kayleigh xXx

Posted: 9th Jul 2011
@ Kayleigh_Dunne

have you checked out the HOP library?

which fuel:

https://www.homeofpoi.com/articles/WhichFuel.php

fuel MSDS

https://www.homeofpoi.com/lessons_all/teach/Know-your-fuel-MSDS-1_2_195

fire eating

https://www.homeofpoi.com/lessons_all/teach/Library-Fire-Eating-18_0_0

IMO there is no perfect fuel, so you'll get a range of answers. I spin poi (fire sometimes) and quite often use kero - but on a beach, pretty much always with a good breeze. When I can get it I prefer Shellsol or one of it's variants (sold here by specialist shops as firewater).

I'm not a fireeater but I do know some biology - all burnt petrochemicals are carcinogenic (can cause cancer) to some degree. If you're going to put it in your mouth I'd stick to alcohol.

People could be fireating some of the petrochemicals and thinking it's OK because there's no immediate problem but it takes 10 years minimum, often 20-30 for a cancer to show so being OK the next day doesn't mean it's safe.

Posted: 9th Jul 2011
From what I understand, it is best to use camp fuel or lighter fluid. I'm not an expert by any means, but I would use the white gas. Remember to keep your dipping can and fuel container at least 8 feet away from where you are practising. Definitely do not use petro. It is a nasty burn. Very smelly with lots of smoke. Also, as previously mentioned, carcinogenic.

Question everything.

Posted: 16th Jul 2011
lol thanks guys especially for the links! yeah i think messing about with fire in general is pretty unsafe lmao. but il take your words of advice seriously x

xXx Kayleigh xXx