Forums > Technical Discussion > How much fuel do you use? (staff and poi)
Login/Join to ParticipateBRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted:
In an earlier thread, I mentioned that I had a really good busking night ($$$$$) over a four hour period where I used up 35L of kero.Josh responded with...----------------------------------CHarles!!!35 litres in 4 hours!!!! what were you doing?!!::imagines charles dancing in a wading pool filled with kero in a kevlar suit to a dumbstruck audience::-----------------------------------That was with lots and lots of burnoffs and keeping the fuel warm by dunking the staffs hot into the fuel, as well as frequently putting the staff out with fast moves. Also the length of my staffs (1.4 or 1.5 metres) means they use the fuel up a bit more than shorter staves would.If I'm performing or busking during summer on a hot dry day, I tend to average about 10L an hour of kero or Pegasol, but I can get that down to about 5L an hour if I try to limit it.How much do you guys typically use for an hour's burn?------------------Charles (INFERNO)newdolbel@hotmail.comhttps://juggling.co.nz
In an earlier thread, I mentioned that I had a really good busking night ($$$$$) over a four hour period where I used up 35L of kero.Josh responded with...----------------------------------CHarles!!!35 litres in 4 hours!!!! what were you doing?!!::imagines charles dancing in a wading pool filled with kero in a kevlar suit to a dumbstruck audience::-----------------------------------That was with lots and lots of burnoffs and keeping the fuel warm by dunking the staffs hot into the fuel, as well as frequently putting the staff out with fast moves. Also the length of my staffs (1.4 or 1.5 metres) means they use the fuel up a bit more than shorter staves would.If I'm performing or busking during summer on a hot dry day, I tend to average about 10L an hour of kero or Pegasol, but I can get that down to about 5L an hour if I try to limit it.How much do you guys typically use for an hour's burn?------------------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?
NYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Posted:
Charles, No need to apologize my friend, I will continue to read your posts with a smile if you will continue to read my sarcasm with the same smile. Within the context of your other posts I certainly feel comfortable enough with you and my other established HoP buddies to joke...As for Kero, I still think it sucks. It smells worse, makes me dizzy, leaves an AWFUL taste in my mouth and gives me a hangover the next day. But that's just me...
Charles, No need to apologize my friend, I will continue to read your posts with a smile if you will continue to read my sarcasm with the same smile. Within the context of your other posts I certainly feel comfortable enough with you and my other established HoP buddies to joke...As for Kero, I still think it sucks. It smells worse, makes me dizzy, leaves an AWFUL taste in my mouth and gives me a hangover the next day. But that's just me...
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
member
135 posts
Location: Akron, Ohio
135 posts
Location: Akron, Ohio
Posted:
Okay now I'm confused. If Charles is traveling from Austraila to New York at 500 mph in a glass cube and NYC is traveling to Austraila at 400 mph in a chrome sphere what time is it in Denver?
So Charles how much fuel do you use in a night of spinning. On a personal night I might get through a gallon. But on the marathon nights when Knagi, myself and Brandon (he dosn't do HOP) get together we can kill 5-8 gallons between 11:00 at night and about 5:00 in the morning. We stand around and talk some, but one of us is alway spinning. If not all of us at once. As far as safety goes.......we do push that fact. But in our defence we all have insurance, always have two fire extinguishers, a big damp towel by our stuff, and one near where the spinning is going on. We also watch each other backs and haven't had a problem yet. I used to think we went through alot a fuel......I guess we'll have to try harder.
Okay now I'm confused. If Charles is traveling from Austraila to New York at 500 mph in a glass cube and NYC is traveling to Austraila at 400 mph in a chrome sphere what time is it in Denver?
So Charles how much fuel do you use in a night of spinning. On a personal night I might get through a gallon. But on the marathon nights when Knagi, myself and Brandon (he dosn't do HOP) get together we can kill 5-8 gallons between 11:00 at night and about 5:00 in the morning. We stand around and talk some, but one of us is alway spinning. If not all of us at once. As far as safety goes.......we do push that fact. But in our defence we all have insurance, always have two fire extinguishers, a big damp towel by our stuff, and one near where the spinning is going on. We also watch each other backs and haven't had a problem yet. I used to think we went through alot a fuel......I guess we'll have to try harder. Nothing good ever comes from hanging out with normal people.
member
97 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
97 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
Charles--Hey, if lots of speed and fire is what the crowd wants, then I totally agree with your policy of giving it to them! ("And then they give [you] money." Heh. I like that.)Sorry I can't really respond with my own fuel usage stats, because I'm really not sure what they are. I'd actually really like to find out, though. But I want to do it right -- pour a measured amount of fuel into my soaking dish, soak up, then measure the remaining fuel.I don't spin in a busking environment; most of my burns are in a multi-person practice group setting, where people are constantly soaking, lighting up, and occasionally pouring in more fuel. So tracking things -- even things that should be simple, like "How much fuel do you use in a night?" -- is nearly impossible. The analysis would go something like this:"Well, we started off with a mostly-full gallon can of kero, plus about a half a can of white gas. At the end of the night, we had a few splashes of kero and no white gas left. So I don't know exactly how much fuel we used as a group, but it was in the vicinity of a half-gallon (roughly 2 liters) each of white gas and kero. But that's shared among a half-dozen people, who each did varying numbers of burns. Gosh, I think I personally used more kero than white gas, but I just can't be sure..."You see the problem?Pele-- I'm sure you already know this, but just for everyone's benefit, and in response to your post: you can get smokeless and odorless lamp oil. (It's a bit more toxic than the regular kind, but I doubt it's as toxic as kero.) It's also really nice for indoor shows, or shows where your audience is downwind of you.And, as I've mentioned elsewhere, the ultra-pure smokeless/odorless kind from Lamplight Farms is very nice for fire breathing, as it doesn't leave a horrid taste in your mouth.I'd agree that kero and lamp oil have about the same burn time -- our group uses both fuels quite a bit. I think the lamp oil burns a little bit longer, but I haven't done scientific timed trials.
Charles--Hey, if lots of speed and fire is what the crowd wants, then I totally agree with your policy of giving it to them! ("And then they give [you] money." Heh. I like that.)Sorry I can't really respond with my own fuel usage stats, because I'm really not sure what they are. I'd actually really like to find out, though. But I want to do it right -- pour a measured amount of fuel into my soaking dish, soak up, then measure the remaining fuel.I don't spin in a busking environment; most of my burns are in a multi-person practice group setting, where people are constantly soaking, lighting up, and occasionally pouring in more fuel. So tracking things -- even things that should be simple, like "How much fuel do you use in a night?" -- is nearly impossible. The analysis would go something like this:"Well, we started off with a mostly-full gallon can of kero, plus about a half a can of white gas. At the end of the night, we had a few splashes of kero and no white gas left. So I don't know exactly how much fuel we used as a group, but it was in the vicinity of a half-gallon (roughly 2 liters) each of white gas and kero. But that's shared among a half-dozen people, who each did varying numbers of burns. Gosh, I think I personally used more kero than white gas, but I just can't be sure..."You see the problem?
Pele-- I'm sure you already know this, but just for everyone's benefit, and in response to your post: you can get smokeless and odorless lamp oil. (It's a bit more toxic than the regular kind, but I doubt it's as toxic as kero.) It's also really nice for indoor shows, or shows where your audience is downwind of you.And, as I've mentioned elsewhere, the ultra-pure smokeless/odorless kind from Lamplight Farms is very nice for fire breathing, as it doesn't leave a horrid taste in your mouth.I'd agree that kero and lamp oil have about the same burn time -- our group uses both fuels quite a bit. I think the lamp oil burns a little bit longer, but I haven't done scientific timed trials. BRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
Posted:
kmactane,Actually the smokeless and odorless are much more highly toxic for breathing and eating.I agree it is good for indoor things, completely, but it is not completely smokeless or odorless, there is still a residue kind of thing. ------------------Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir...https://www.pyromorph.com
kmactane,Actually the smokeless and odorless are much more highly toxic for breathing and eating.I agree it is good for indoor things, completely, but it is not completely smokeless or odorless, there is still a residue kind of thing. ------------------Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir...https://www.pyromorph.com
Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
AnonymousPLATINUM Member
Posted:
oklast friday night we went through 5 litres of Kero almost exactly, and between the 3 ppl sharing that we would have had about 20 burns (me at least 10, Katinca, about 5-7? Jus, 3 or so). Burns arent a very good measure tho...as a burn on my doubles would use three times the fuel my little poi would use etc etc.Anyhow - thats our recent fuel usage.
oklast friday night we went through 5 litres of Kero almost exactly, and between the 3 ppl sharing that we would have had about 20 burns (me at least 10, Katinca, about 5-7? Jus, 3 or so). Burns arent a very good measure tho...as a burn on my doubles would use three times the fuel my little poi would use etc etc.Anyhow - thats our recent fuel usage.
member
337 posts
Location: London UK
337 posts
Location: London UK
Posted:
Oh shit I misread it i thought you said 35 GALLONS in 45 hours! CHRIST!lol 35 litres isnt THAT much, I could do that in four hours... if I had the stamina to spin for that long, anyway. In terms of fuel consuption it's not that remarkable.35 GALLONS would be, lol!
Oh shit I misread it i thought you said 35 GALLONS in 45 hours! CHRIST!lol 35 litres isnt THAT much, I could do that in four hours... if I had the stamina to spin for that long, anyway. In terms of fuel consuption it's not that remarkable.35 GALLONS would be, lol!
x X x ß £ Å Ĉ К ß î я Ð x X x
BRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted:
Thanks Blackbird, a few more comments like that and I'll start to stop feeling like a freak with my high fuel use (just being a freak in other ways, like this thing I can do with my eyelid and earlobe...*prattles off into the distance*)------------------Charles (INFERNO)newdolbel@hotmail.comhttps://juggling.co.nz
Thanks Blackbird, a few more comments like that and I'll start to stop feeling like a freak with my high fuel use (just being a freak in other ways, like this thing I can do with my eyelid and earlobe...*prattles off into the distance*)------------------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?
member
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
Posted:
this is probably a nono:when i wrap the cotton part of my wick i impregnate it with parrofin wax shavings and then cover in kevlar. then i buy "%100 liquid parofin" which is actually more like %70 and costs 5bucks (that canadian dollars just to confuse everyone) per 340 mL (also just to confuse everyone) and we use one bottle per wick.butone burn lasts up to 40 minutes without relighting!!! I get tired my partner takes over. they get tired i take over.eventually one wick goes out and i switch to sword form till it goes out.a bit of a contrast to your usage,charles[This message has been edited by phuzzz (edited 26 November 2001).]
this is probably a nono:when i wrap the cotton part of my wick i impregnate it with parrofin wax shavings and then cover in kevlar. then i buy "%100 liquid parofin" which is actually more like %70 and costs 5bucks (that canadian dollars just to confuse everyone) per 340 mL (also just to confuse everyone) and we use one bottle per wick.butone burn lasts up to 40 minutes without relighting!!! I get tired my partner takes over. they get tired i take over.eventually one wick goes out and i switch to sword form till it goes out.a bit of a contrast to your usage,charles[This message has been edited by phuzzz (edited 26 November 2001).]
SILVER Member
Veteran Member
495 posts
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Veteran Member
495 posts
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Posted:
40MINS???? Is the wick reusable????*would like to know more information on how to do this*that's crazy..------------------ [PLUR]-=Crazy Raver Dude=-
40MINS???? Is the wick reusable????*would like to know more information on how to do this*that's crazy..------------------ [PLUR]-=Crazy Raver Dude=-
-=ÇrazyRaverÐude=-
member
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
Posted:
usuallu thecotton is toast but ive had the same kevlar for years.first i make small cotton wicks. while wrapping these i put about quarter a cup of chopped up parofin into each wick. then wrap 5 feet of 4inch kevlar around each.then wrap it up REALLY tight with wire. then like i said... i buy really expensiveliquid parrofin. i cure my wicks too. i dip thourally in liquid p. then let sit all day till the show.do not do this if you dont think you can handle firedancing for at leeast 40 mins WITHOUT A BREAK!!! these wicks are extremly hard to put out.
usuallu thecotton is toast but ive had the same kevlar for years.first i make small cotton wicks. while wrapping these i put about quarter a cup of chopped up parofin into each wick. then wrap 5 feet of 4inch kevlar around each.then wrap it up REALLY tight with wire. then like i said... i buy really expensiveliquid parrofin. i cure my wicks too. i dip thourally in liquid p. then let sit all day till the show.do not do this if you dont think you can handle firedancing for at leeast 40 mins WITHOUT A BREAK!!! these wicks are extremly hard to put out.
NYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Posted:
What do you use for cotton?! I'm definitely gonna try this. Is there anyway you could post a bit more specific instructions? How big is everything, how do you attatch everyting, etc...
What do you use for cotton?! I'm definitely gonna try this. Is there anyway you could post a bit more specific instructions? How big is everything, how do you attatch everyting, etc...
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
BRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted:
Wow! 40 minutes...I would drop dead, especially as my busking style is heavily dependant on getting the flames to go out on command, so I can pass the hat, have a rest and redunk for another burnoff...Sounds interesting, tho...------------------Charles (INFERNO)newdolbel@hotmail.comhttps://juggling.co.nz
Wow! 40 minutes...I would drop dead, especially as my busking style is heavily dependant on getting the flames to go out on command, so I can pass the hat, have a rest and redunk for another burnoff...Sounds interesting, tho...------------------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?
member
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
Posted:
agh... okay.i have a hole drilled in both ends of my staff through which i thread about ten feet of thin wireto half way point then push outward away from center so it looks like this\
agh... okay.i have a hole drilled in both ends of my staff through which i thread about ten feet of thin wireto half way point then push outward away from center so it looks like this\
member
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
160 posts
Location: saltspring island, bc , kanada
Posted:
bump. wondering if antone else has tried this and what they thought....Nyc you expessed an interest but i havent heard if my description is accurate or how well it worked...just wondering...
bump. wondering if antone else has tried this and what they thought....Nyc you expessed an interest but i havent heard if my description is accurate or how well it worked...just wondering...
NYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA
Posted:
Oh yeah... my bad... um... well I thought you meant poi wicks. I don't staff (yet)...Any ideas on Poi wicks? I guess you'd just wrap parafin shavings/denim/wire/kevlar er... well I'm lost....Any IDEAS for poi wicks?
Oh yeah... my bad... um... well I thought you meant poi wicks. I don't staff (yet)...Any ideas on Poi wicks? I guess you'd just wrap parafin shavings/denim/wire/kevlar er... well I'm lost....Any IDEAS for poi wicks?
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
member
99 posts
Location: Northampton, UK
99 posts
Location: Northampton, UK
Posted:
Hmmm 40mins. Tell us more! I have been looking at ways of getting my poi to burn longer (like constant fuel supplies) so a 40min burn time would be excellent!Have fun!Woody
Hmmm 40mins. Tell us more! I have been looking at ways of getting my poi to burn longer (like constant fuel supplies) so a 40min burn time would be excellent!Have fun!Woody
Luv and Lemons.WoodyMrs Jaypher said, 'It's saferIf you've lemons in your head;First to eat, a pound of meat,And then to go at once to bed.
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,031 posts
Location: Bath, England
old hand
1,031 posts
Location: Bath, England
Posted:
40 mins thats cool, I have been looking at the constant fuel supply with woody and nearly have an operational system (more info will follow once complete35 litres in a night!!!!!!!!!! That would be one big BBQ 4 litres usually lasts about a week and I like to burn at the moment!!------------------Mark P (the mad chemist)
40 mins thats cool, I have been looking at the constant fuel supply with woody and nearly have an operational system (more info will follow once complete
35 litres in a night!!!!!!!!!! That would be one big BBQ 4 litres usually lasts about a week and I like to burn at the moment!!------------------Mark P (the mad chemist) BRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted:
Oh my GOD! Talk about a walk down memory lane...Hey , anyone who wasn't around in 2001, go to the first page and start reading.
It's hilarious...you get to see NYC and I almost at each others throats, Pele trying to calm us both down, mad mad mad mathematical mayhem and crazy conversions.
Oh yeah, and then this thing about how to get a 40 minute burn, which no-one else seems to have tried.
This is such a great thread, and it's even got me making tons and tonnes of mistakes and having to admit that later on.
Ahhhhhh, memories.
PS, I don't think i was a moderator at this stage, but it says so anyway???
Oh my GOD! Talk about a walk down memory lane...Hey , anyone who wasn't around in 2001, go to the first page and start reading.
It's hilarious...you get to see NYC and I almost at each others throats, Pele trying to calm us both down, mad mad mad mathematical mayhem and crazy conversions.
Oh yeah, and then this thing about how to get a 40 minute burn, which no-one else seems to have tried.
This is such a great thread, and it's even got me making tons and tonnes of mistakes and having to admit that later on.
Ahhhhhh, memories.
PS, I don't think i was a moderator at this stage, but it says so anyway???
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?
Similar Topics
Using the keywords [fuel staff poi] we found the following existing topics.
- Forums > safety first [5 replies]
- Forums > How much fuel do you use? (staff and poi) [48 replies]
- Forums > Changing colour/color ? [8 replies]
- Forums > fuel combos [4 replies]
- Forums > Looking for fuel in Switzerland [2 replies]
Show more..
© 1998 - 2024 Home of Poi
All prices converted to United States dollars using XE.com