Forums > Help! > kevla weave and types

Posted: 29th Nov 2003
Actually after trying that crap, im guanna say BUY YOUR KEV FROM H.O.P. Its not worth using anything other than the best stuff, you are cheating youself and your health if u use low quality stuff. Also i just meet this Scotish guy who had brought his from h.o.p and it was massinve and cheap. Im sold.

Posted: 10th Dec 2003
yeah dude the "kevlar" used for wicking is actually a weave with other stuff in it, real kevlar doesn't work, isn't porous to absorb stuff properly.
but i may want to talk to you soon about your kevlar hookup, i'll be needing the real stuff someday soon for other projects... i'll pm you or something.
keep on rockin!

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Posted: 10th Dec 2003
Hi Taniwha07,



I disagree with arashi's comment on KEVLAR(R), as well as your comments on quality and health.



First, KEVLAR(R) we have experimented with has performed fine under testing; it is just too expensive to be practical. However, they seem to last forever, and have no heat damage from metal contact to speak of, and no fraying. A 2.5 year old set of heads is still under test. Textile issues, such as weave, denier, and warp are all considerations when it comes to absorbancy. The variety of KEVLAR(R) fabrics is immense, and some will perform better than others.



As far as health, the popular wick distributed by Home of Poi, Renegade Juggling, Bearclaw Manufacturing, and ourselves contains fiberglass, which is the most health damaging material in the fabric (KEVLAR(R) and NOMEX(R) being the other two ingredients). NOMeX(R) breaks down very easily compared to KEVLAR(R), so someone might be concerned about getting this in his or her system, but my understanding is that it is rather non-reactive and will just move through your system. A pure KEVLAR(R) fabric is not going to present a health issue, as far as DuPont is concerned.



To quality, I mentioned that the KEVLAR(R) we have tested is still going strong with no noticeable physical damage or fraying. Granted, the poi heads are black and sooty and have lost some absorbancy over time, but that is about it.



All that having been said, the wick we all deal in is by far the most popular in the firedancing industry, with the wire-inserted wick from Dube being very popular in juggling and somewhat so in firedancing. Even though fiberglass may be a health issue, there really is not that much data about whether it does much harm. Adam Rice would also be a good person to ask about a KEVLAR(R) and fiberglass blend that we both deal in, as he may know more than I do. In our testing, it generally out-performs the "popular" wick, though it seems more prone to fraying due to it's weave.



Regards,

MJ

Flamma Aeterna



Edit: KEVLAR(R) and NOMEX(R) are registered trademarks of DuPont
EDITED_BY: Flamma Aeterna (1071091044)

That which does not kill me, only makes me stranger.

Posted: 10th Dec 2003
Tani
The kevlar you have access too wont work well for wicks kevlar in its pure form does not asbord fuel. Well not enough to make good wicks any how. The weaves used for fire dancing are pretty much the same I prefere kevlar/glass. The wicking everyone sells comes from one of the 4 factorys that make it.So no matter who you get it from it will be about the same .It is only the blends that differ.the wicking in the HOP shop works great .

I used to do very short burns in my show for a couple of things were i only wanted fire for about 30 seconds. for thoose things I used pure kevlar.If you want poi that burn for 30 seconds the surf board matting(kevlar) will work just fine .

The way a wick works Is the other materials blended into the wick asbord the fuel
the kevlar and glass keep it all toghter.

Hope this helped

Riz

I have been cursed with the imagination to envision it all

Posted: 11th Dec 2003
Riz,

You may want to check out Tuff Temp, if you have not already. The pure KEVLAR(R) we use from them lasts as long as popular types when brand new, with a disadvantage of being heavier. We have used the 2" x 1/16" and 2" x 1/8" in tests. However, they would go past your 30 seconds, if you are talking about normal cathedral wicks.

Besides testing, we use these in our workshops because they outlast the popular wick types.

MJ
Flamma Aeterna

That which does not kill me, only makes me stranger.

Posted: 16th Dec 2003
Brief note on Fiberglass.

It is dangerous to inhale according to OSHA, most doctors as well as construction specialists. It is a popular component in insulation for buildings and cars, and when installing it is highly recommended that an aspirator is used to prevent microfibers to be inhaled which can damage the lungs. Many people find fiberglass sheets extremely irritating to the touch as well (all I have to do is brush against it and it irritates me), and it is one of those things that is highly advised to avoid contact with, no matter the form or refinement.

I agree that it is one of the most practical options we have for wicking though. When we burn small portions of this do become air born and so it is a minor health risk, but no more than the vapors and smoke from the fuel that we use.

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

Posted: 17th Dec 2003
Now that my cathedral style wicks are getting some age to them, I'm having to wrap a sock around them when I'm practicing. If one of the poi hits my hand, it leaves thousands of little fiberglass micro-fibers in my skin. This gives me days of irritation and pain, as well as making my hands ugly and red.

It would be nice if there was a kevlar weave that didn't have glass in it, but still had absorbent properties.

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Posted: 19th Mar 2004
Well, its not fiberglass thats for sure. Iv worked with it enough to know what it looks like. I still dont know what weave or combo this mix is, but after 3months of solid use its pertty good. And the weird thing is, it wont smell, even after u just spun it. But just so u all know, the guy who uses it, still in perfect health and iv used them afew times as well.



Though i prefer mine more.



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