what is the best fuel to use for fire poi - Page:2

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zebradavid
SILVER Member since Apr 2004

member
Location: south shields, nr newcastle-up...

Total posts: 25

Posted:20th May 2004id like to find a fuel that has quite a long burning time, as ive found that parrafin just doesnt seem to last that long, all thoughts and ideas would be much appreciated thanx

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darkness-before
GOLD Member since Apr 2007

Rock is dead, long live paper and scissors
Location: The sea, United Kingdom

Total posts: 197

Posted:11th Jun 2007Or try this for DIY catch cans peace

http://www.domorepoi.com/article_how_to_make_catch_cans.php?sid=376e96f5c553d15a2f9cfa75753a35e8

dont know how to do the whole link thing cus i'm a computer retard. redface

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Bender_the_Offender
GOLD Member since Nov 2001

still can't believe it's not butter
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Total posts: 6979

Posted:14th Jun 2007
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be careful to use a proper drum tap when accessing drums.
I've seen twirlers pour ShellSol out directly from the drum!
spilled solvents can righteously stain some surfaces.

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newgabe
SILVER Member since Mar 2005

newgabe

what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
Location: Bali, Australia

Total posts: 4030

Posted:14th Jun 2007Great to be promoting catch cans/spin off jars. I been pushing them for a while now and it is a seriously good practice.

I make them from cut down 2 or 3 litre fruit juice bottles, which are generally a squarish shape.

Much easier to work with than metal cans, and fits larger poi heads in.
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.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

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Zuzka

stranger

Total posts: 4

Posted:8th Feb 2009Hi all smile

I am doing an indoor performence using fire ropes and since now I've been using lamp oil as a fuel. The problem is, that I need a longer burn for my ropes, so I wanted to ask you which fuel would be the best to use...

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Fire_Moose
SILVER Member since May 2007

Elusive and Bearded
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Total posts: 3597

Posted:10th Feb 2009I thought lamp oil was pretty long burning...i'd say kerosene but not for indoors....

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Zephyre Phoenix

Familiar stranger giving out popcorn. (formerly Ascilith)
Location: Lawrence, KS

Total posts: 1264

Posted:19th Apr 2010Thread Bump*

So for overall long burn, would lamp oil be the best? Maybe a mix of white gas and lamp oil?

And Towel Wicks, are they still good to use? what are the goods and bads of them? I've been wanting to do longer burns for a while now.

Never take candy from strangers...... But popcorn is okay!

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:19th Apr 2010Mixing white gas would make the burn shorter. I've done it before and what it did do the was positive was make it really easy to light in the cold. I'm not sure how it affects the smoke, like if it make less or something. I might try it myself to see, but if anyone else knows, that would be even better.

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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Sister Eleven
GOLD Member since Aug 2009

owner of the group property
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Total posts: 1277

Posted:19th Apr 2010White gas burns hotter, brighter, and less smokey, so a mixture will be brighter, shorter, & cleaner than pure lamp oil, but longer than pure white gas. But remember that there are dangers to being hotter and easier to ignite...

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pepitaonfire

the hottest thing in the north to come out of the south
Location: Oakland, CA, USA

Total posts: 10

Posted:20th Apr 2010I've been looking into trying to find cleaner burning fuels than the ones we have available to us now. The cleanest burn you can get right now is probably white gas.

do folks have thoughts on alternative fuels or does anyone know of people who are experimenting to find more organic sources of fuel? clearly something like bio-diesel wont work for fire spinning. someone (who is not into fire arts) recommended Sterno - the stuff used to keep food warm when its in trays for buffets at weddings and such. it burns extremely clean, with no smoke at all, and is safe to use indoors. but! i imagine that the burn time if you used too much is ridiculous and that it may be harder to remove unless you burn it off completely. it is gelatinous in form, which makes it easier to control but again, i have no idea what that would look like when coupled with wicks.

do folks have any other ideas about alternate, more eco-friendly combustibles?

The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done".
--George Carlin

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:20th Apr 2010Umm, generally if it is flammable enough for fire poi, then it is toxic to some degree. I don't personally know anything environmentally friendly to burn. The best you could do is use a spin-off can so none sprays everywhere during spin-off.

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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eca
BRONZE Member since Mar 2010

member
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA

Total posts: 197

Posted:20th Apr 2010Sterno's would be bad news... I knocked one over when I was working at a restaurant, and it spilled flaming blue liquid all over the silk table cloth...

The gelatinous stuff their made out of melts as it burns. Bad idea for poi.

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"What's a pussy-weevil?"

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Icarus Forde
BRONZE Member since Apr 2010

Just Icarus//Spinner//Pyro//Geek
Location: New Zealand

Total posts: 261

Posted:20th Apr 2010Originally Posted By: ecaSterno's would be bad news... I knocked one over when I was working at a restaurant, and it spilled flaming blue liquid all over the silk table cloth...

The gelatinous stuff their made out of melts as it burns. Bad idea for poi.
Indeed. When they get heated, they liquidize and then it's the vapor that burns clean. It's easy enough to light I think from memory, but having a jelly substance on your poi that turns into a liquid which *isn't* caught in the wicks could look cool, but would also be very dangerous for someone standing close.

Those things burn for a long time, and are hot enough to keep a roast piping hot... Imagine what would happen if you got some on someone. It's not just the toxicity of it for the spinner, it's the safety of it for the observers as well. smile

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Zephyre Phoenix

Familiar stranger giving out popcorn. (formerly Ascilith)
Location: Lawrence, KS

Total posts: 1264

Posted:20th Apr 2010alright, but lamp oil burns longer? and what about towel wicks? are those safe/good to use?

Never take candy from strangers...... But popcorn is okay!

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:20th Apr 2010I would definitely not use towel, because if not the first, then definitely a few uses would result in it falling apart, I think.

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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ElectricBlue
GOLD Member since Feb 2002

Now with extra strawberries
Location: Canberra, Australia

Total posts: 810

Posted:21st Apr 2010Yeah do not use towel.

If you are looking for longer burn times after changing to lamp oil the next thing you can do is look at the style and amount of wick you are using. Really thick tube wicks with less surface area burn longer but with smaller flame than cathedral which burn with bigger flames less burn time.

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Zephyre Phoenix

Familiar stranger giving out popcorn. (formerly Ascilith)
Location: Lawrence, KS

Total posts: 1264

Posted:21st Apr 2010alright lol. How bout monkey fists?

Never take candy from strangers...... But popcorn is okay!

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:21st Apr 2010From what I've heard monkeyfists have a good burn time. Not sure how long though. You could always go for an Isis type wick. Lots and lots of rope in it, and I've heard multiple times that people only dip them for a few seconds or the burn just doesn't stop. Which I would love for practice. I warn you though the wick to make Isis heads will cost you about $60. Also, with all wick styles, the easy solution to a longer burn is make it bigger! grin

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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Grottbags

Just Say Neigh
Location: Pie Town

Total posts: 36

Posted:22nd Apr 2010I agree the shape does have an effect on burn time as does the size
I have some Cathedrals that were made for me, so are much larger than the standard cathedrals. These burn for much longer than my resevoir cylinder poi!

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:22nd Apr 2010Are they made from wider wick or something? I know I'm making myself a wick using a tornado stitch, so I shall from here forward call them Tornado Poi grin

Should be much larger than my cathedrals. Also I got my new chains and other things in. OMG! The NP Stainless steel 2mm chain is so amazing! So much thinner than I imagined! It seriously looks like it's about to snap though, even though I know it won't. The only problem is that it's quite harder for orbitals smirk

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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Grottbags

Just Say Neigh
Location: Pie Town

Total posts: 36

Posted:22nd Apr 2010Yeh there is wider wick and more folds in the cathedral to make them larger. Really nice big metal bolt through with a spot weld at the end. The only issue is that they have a fairly big drag factor, so you need to be careful with moves if you are moving from quicker smaller poi. I have come a cropper before and set my cotton jumper on fire!

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:22nd Apr 2010Haha, my poi should be much larger and larger flame, so it should have significantly more drag.

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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brenonfire413
SILVER Member since Dec 2009

Fire Spinner Exarch
Location: New Orleans, LA United States,...

Total posts: 514

Posted:29th Apr 2010I've come to the conclusion I'm not a big fan of Coleman fuel. It burns a lot hotter than kerosene which is annoying on spiral wraps and such. That and when the fuel is exhausted the flames die out pretty quick. The kerosene I had been using died off slower, giving me more time to properly extinguish the flame.

Does anybody know where one can purchase lamp oil in bulk here in the states? Sorry if I've missed where this was stated already.

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eca
BRONZE Member since Mar 2010

member
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA

Total posts: 197

Posted:30th Apr 2010I would say try www.lamplight.com that's the url on the back of my fuel bottle. I got a gallon for less than $10 (at K-mart), sure it's cheaper if you order directly from them.

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"What's a pussy-weevil?"

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Sister Eleven
GOLD Member since Aug 2009

owner of the group property
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Total posts: 1277

Posted:30th Apr 2010I got my jug of lamp oil at a food service supply retailer; the kind of place that sells cans of beans as big as your torso, bulk packages of tablecloths, etc. The chain is Cash-n-Carry here, but I'm not sure what the equivalent would be anywhere outside WA.

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EpitomeOfNovice
GOLD Member since Sep 2009

Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
Location: Dover, Delaware USA

Total posts: 787

Posted:30th Apr 2010I facepaged you a good sight, check your messages!

~Rock on!~

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brenonfire413
SILVER Member since Dec 2009

Fire Spinner Exarch
Location: New Orleans, LA United States,...

Total posts: 514

Posted:30th Apr 2010Yay, giant can of beans! Om nom nom

"Are you sure it's safe to drink bleach?"
"Yes, bleach is 90% water, we are 90% water, therefore: we are bleach."
-Nathan Explosion, Metalocalypse

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brenonfire413
SILVER Member since Dec 2009

Fire Spinner Exarch
Location: New Orleans, LA United States,...

Total posts: 514

Posted:30th Apr 2010Originally Posted By: EpitomeOfNoviceI facepaged you a good sight, check your messages!
Somewhat ironic, I had been getting my kero there, but never noticed the oil on the other side of the store. Thanks! smile

"Are you sure it's safe to drink bleach?"
"Yes, bleach is 90% water, we are 90% water, therefore: we are bleach."
-Nathan Explosion, Metalocalypse

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Zephyre Phoenix

Familiar stranger giving out popcorn. (formerly Ascilith)
Location: Lawrence, KS

Total posts: 1264

Posted:5th May 2010huh. so lamp oil sounds like longest

Never take candy from strangers...... But popcorn is okay!

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SpinnerofDetroit
GOLD Member since Oct 2009

All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
Location: Trenton, MI, USA

Total posts: 2280

Posted:5th May 2010Yep. I've also heard before that ever once in a while do some burns with white gas to burn some soot off or something and it makes your burns a little longer again.

The only luck is bad luck.

Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass grin

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letitburn

slacker of biblical proportions
Location: hongcouver

Total posts: 44

Posted:16th May 2010i prefer to use a mix of camp fuel and lamp oil with the camp fuel its a brighter flame but also adding in the lamp oil it has a oily texture which stick to the kevlar better making a longer burn and no smell unlike kerosine which i have no problem with but camp fuel is transferable so u need to pay attention to your wicks

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