Forums > Social Chat > Sterno Cans...
Login/Join to Participate9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Tonight I was playing with sterno cans. I dumped a bunch of Boric Acid in one and some Lithium Chloride in another. The jell-o type consistancy of the container liquified (making them a bit more dangerous) but they lit just the same. They burned BEAUTIFULLY green and red respectively. I thought this might be a nice thing for some of you performers to have at the side of your area to light off of OR just have as the eternal flame for an all night burn party ("Does anybody have a lighter?!" is the official battle cry of our group.)Colored flames have been discussed before, I know, but I thought the addition of the Sterno can was cool and will work even if you're just burning regular fuel. [IF YOU HAVE COLORED FLAME QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO A SEARCH AND DON'T POST HERE!]Be careful, the stuff in the cans is a bit Napalm-ish if you spill it. My Dad tells the story where a waiter he was working with got seriously injured when a sterno tipped on him. Unfortunately, he tells it about once a week. (YES, YOU TOLD US THIS STORY ALREADY DAD!)I found Sterno cans for $0.44 each which is like 8 million dollars Australian or Canadian or something...
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Heya,What's a sterno can?
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9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Oops. A "sterno" can is a brand name of a chaffing dish fuel can that you put under a chaffing dish to keep the food warm. You often see them at picnics, buffets and weddings and such. Perhaps some day you'll be invited to one Flash.
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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1,015 posts
Location: Austin TX USA
On a vaguely related note, I recently bought a torch at Wal Mart (garden section, $12) that I've started bringing to fire-practice. Functionally, it is identical to a tiki-torch, but in shape, it is a steel sphere about the size of a bowling ball (about 10" or 25 cm). The bottom is weighted so it doesn't tip over. It's great--I pour in a little lamp oil and it burns for hours. No more lighters needed. The one downside is that at the end of the night, I need to pour out the remaining fuel before transporting it, and messing with it while it is hot is bothersome.
Laugh while you can, monkey-boy
Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
pardon my ignorance and lack of social decorum...
(and when did NYC decide to take it upon himself to be my antagonist??)I know what you mean - I think you can buy those things in Army surplus stores and the like.Wanna mail me some Lithium chloride??? It's a bit impossible to get. HoP Posting Guidelines
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9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Oh don't play innocent! You dog my city and then play the victim?
I wonder why it's so hard for y'all to get Lithium Chloride. I know it's an antidepressant in pill form but I wonder if you could order it in bulk in salt form from a chemical supplier. Every chemistry lab in the planet has a jar full so it can't be THAT controlled a substance. I'll look into it and see if I can find a place that will ship to a personal address. Unless it's illegal. I ain't going to jail for no pretty woman again. Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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member
156 posts
Location: madagascar, USA
ok, i need to take the intro to sterno 101 course. any sterno/fire starter gel profs out there that might volunteer a quick overview of the stuff? i've gathered thus far that it is methanol gel compound of some sort but what are the guidelines for it's use? can you dip poi in it or take a spatula and smear the junk on your toys? when you do that do you have to shake off or is it sticky enought that thats not an issue? can it be used for fire transfer? how toxic is it to your body and the environment?if you use this stuff can you use other fuels on the same torch or does it become a sterno only item?how the burn reaction of this stuff (light up reaction and burn time) vs. kero or white gas?any other major sterno/fire gel points that i should know about?
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
I would NOT use it for fire toys. The gel is very moody and sometimes splatters all over the place. It also tends to burn too quickly when smeared.Do NOT do transfers, put it on your body, etc. The gel will act as napalm and hold the heat to your skin.It is NOT sticky enough to stay and large glops of it will splatter when it gets hot and then burn for several seconds or even minutes.The gel desolidifies when mixed with salts or coloring agents making it a soup of firey death...I'm pretty sure that this is a BAD idea Melissa.
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
And here I thought NYC was a nice happy camper in a sea of antagonists...
Don't worry Flash, you're invited to my wedding next year, can you make it to Auckland by April 
------------------Charles (INFERNO)newdolbel@hotmail.comhttps://juggling.co.nz HoP Posting Guidelines
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member
150 posts
Location: Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland,U.K
Shit are all the male moderators getting married.....Bugger!!
"You've got red on you!" Shaun of the Dead
member
156 posts
Location: madagascar, USA
sterno + salts + stage prop = goodsterno + toys/body = badok, i think i got it
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Great idea NYC. As you said sterno cans probably cost about 8 million oz dollars each. So I was wondering how long a can would last for, after you fire it up?
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Sometimes confuses me when posts rise from the dead... Don't take it out of context Charles, Flash started talkin' trash about NYC so I had to rePREsent. (NYC the city, not speaking of myself in the third person. Though maybe I should, it seems to work so well for WWF wrestler "The Rock") They last a while... er, never really timed one. At least 3 hours... probably. I kept relighting them but I'm thinking of the Buffets that I've seen certainly have had them going for a while.Sometimes you gotta shake em up for a bit to get the salts mixed. Try boric acid if you're bored. It's easy, cheap and the green is relatively cool looking.
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Hold up... ALL the male moderators are getting married?! Dang Charles you've got quite a reputation with the ladies if they're speaking of you in the PLURAL.
Happily single,NYC Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Note to self: NYC doesn't see Malcom as a moderator, even though he runs the site and can pull the plug at any moment.Note to self: NYC doesn't know that Malcolm is engaged.Note to self: NYC may not think that Malcolm is male.Note to self: Notes to self are a strange but effective way of communicating things with a slight sarcastic overtone but in a friendly manner
------------------Charles (INFERNO)newdolbel@hotmail.comhttps://juggling.co.nz HoP Posting Guidelines
* Is it the Truth?
* Is it Fair to all concerned?
* Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
* Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
1) Moderator: Administrator; a) Referee: League Commisionerb) Lieutenant: Commander in Chiefc) Pit Boss: Owner of Casinod) Manager: CEOe) All of the aboveHaiku to self:charles' sarcasmthough quite imaginativeis no match for mine
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
response in your words"quite a rep' with the ladies"and haikus as well(offers hand in friendship)
------------------Charles (INFERNO)newdolbel@hotmail.comhttps://juggling.co.nz[This message has been edited by Charles (edited 01 November 2001).] HoP Posting Guidelines
* Is it the Truth?
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* Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
* Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Hey NYC where are you in the City? Any desire to help, ok, teach someone the art of poi spinning? I have been using some light sticks to play around and can do a couple of moves, but still not so reeady to myself on fire yet. Know of any Gatherings? I have just moved back into MAnhattan and and looking to learn. TIAB
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
My "playboy image"quite simply fabricationfrom an honest man[bows]Beezer, I'll try to get another "get to know you" spin if and when I find a good venue. Our last one was nice, I got to meet the always lovely Gabi, Coots, and Carolyn. Unfortunately, with the weather turning to cold I may have to organize a HoP NYC glowstick at a club night... Keep practicing!
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
4,224 posts
Location: Back in Paris... for now !
NYC ? Your playboy image ? Haiku or not, we do need to fix your ego problem, gentleman ...Oh and by the way ... How do you make these coloured flames again ?
Shine OnCassandra "I want brown bread... no, that is diesel oil..."
"So I was raised in Europe, where History comes from ..."
"NON !!! La Plume de mon oncle n est pas Bingibangibungi !!!"
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
"Fix" as in reduce from it's fabricated sarcasta-ego size or "fix" as in promote from it's current non-existant status?I guess my sarcasm's writing checks my ego can't cash... or something like that...[And aren't you on vacation somewhere? If not, why the heck is my email in box empty my sweet?]
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
4,224 posts
Location: Back in Paris... for now !
Yesssssss VA CA TION and sun as well : i am in heaven !!Well, i have no access to my email , not even hotmail, only some internet sites cause i am visiting my dad who is sooooooooo paranoid that he does not allow any cookies in (paranoia is a family ting
)What do you mean it is off topic and breaking the rule about personal discussions ? Shine onCassandra[This message has been edited by cassandra (edited 02 November 2001).] "I want brown bread... no, that is diesel oil..."
"So I was raised in Europe, where History comes from ..."
"NON !!! La Plume de mon oncle n est pas Bingibangibungi !!!"
397 posts
Location: Brunswick, Ohio
Humm way off topic. Thought I would share this with you though since it's kinda like an easy to throw together sterno can without the sterno
The other night at a beach jam we couldn't get our toys to light off a lighter it was so windy. So to over come this we put a little bit of fuel into a paint can and tossed in acouple scrap wicks. Vuala an instant all night fire. I noticed that when the wind died down so did the fire. The paint can doesn't allow air flow, but it worked great while the wind was blowin. Maybe pile in a few more wicks and alot more fuel and it could work as a flaming fuel dump light and refill at the same time :P Kerocine was the fuel btw. And it hardly seemed to burn fast or evaporat at all. However the kero was at a boiling point most of the time.Btw nyc how much lithium cloride do you have? Any chance I could buy some off you? Or pay you to send me a much more legal dry treated bath towel of the stuff? ------------------We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonMost Memerable crowd saying "Hey look that dude's gonna set himself on fire again!" We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonIt's going to come from a direction you didn't predict at a moment of chaos which you didn't see coming. -- NYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
I'm not quite comfortable sending white powder throught the mail these days.
I'm sure they'll figure out that it's not harmful but I'd hate to get in trouble for shipping stuff that I shouldn't.It's doesn't seem impossible to get, try a chemical supply site on the web and see if you could order it directly... Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
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750 posts
Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia
Knagi - how about punching a couple holes in the sides of the can (above the fuel level) so that a bit of air can get in??
Courage is the man who can stop after only one peanut
397 posts
Location: Brunswick, Ohio
Doh that's stuff's a white powder huh
No I'd have to say that's a bad idea. Send me an e-mail at Knagi@apk.net and we'll talk about it there.As for putting holes in the can for air flow...... Humm yup that sure would do it. However when I throw my wicks and rest of the fuel in there it's gonna soak me as I walk away from the site We are all in the cosmic movie. That means the day you die you watch your whole life repeating for eternity. So you'd better have some good things happen in there and have a fitting climax. --Jim MorrisonIt's going to come from a direction you didn't predict at a moment of chaos which you didn't see coming. -- NYC
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