Forums > Technical Discussion > custom firepoi, what kind of fuse?

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anonomatosGOLD Member
enthusiast
389 posts
Location: Utrecht [NL], Netherlands


Posted:
hello there, I really hope this topic hasn't been started somewhere elso. But when making firepoi (im not ready to poi with lit firepoi, but practising with unlit firepoi can't be bad)... what kind of fuse should I use?

The ones used for oil-lamps? (round ones)
Or something else?
Is there some kind of fuse I definately should NOT use?

Thanks in advance

"Don’t know how long, this one’s gonna take;
I could fail, but I’d rather be a fuckup, than a fake"


nearly_all_goneSILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom


Posted:
Hi anonomatos

I think you might have the wrong idea about the construction of fire poi. If you are talking about standard fire poi there is no "fuse", but (in the most common example) a central metal core which you attach a chain to, which has kevlar wicking wrapped around it and screws through this to hold it in place.

If you go to the shop (one of the options above) you can get a pretty good idea of what they're like. Other types of heads you could look into are cathedral wicks or monkey-fists. There is advice on making these here: https://www.homeofpoi.com/articles/fireheads.php

Hope that helps. Good you've decided not to light your poi straight away, and I agree with your idea that practicing with unlit fire poi is a good way to learn - little else has the same weight, for one thing!

Take it easy

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau


anonomatosGOLD Member
enthusiast
389 posts
Location: Utrecht [NL], Netherlands


Posted:
with 'fuse' I meant the head., the thingie wrapped around the metal...
though I wasn't sure what meterial it is made of, I thought it was the 'fuse' kind of thingies used with oil lamps.

So: where can I get the 'head-material'... I have absolutely no idea what it is or where I can get it...? There are some terms there on that site, but I really don't know the dutch translation for it...

What oh what material is the head made of?

"Don’t know how long, this one’s gonna take;
I could fail, but I’d rather be a fuckup, than a fake"


Spacecow00xSILVER Member
Member
170 posts
Location: Ft. Myers, Florida, USA


Posted:
Kevlar, its a fabric that will soak up whatever you use to light it, and wont burn as easily as regular fabric, should last you for a long ammount of fire spinning till you have to replace it. but here you go:
https://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/productDet...nch_kevlar_wick

hope that helps

You've got the wings of a fallen angel
You offer peace if they praise your name
You live your life taking everything you can get
Look down, time to fly!


anonomatosGOLD Member
enthusiast
389 posts
Location: Utrecht [NL], Netherlands


Posted:
wow... 'glass-fibre coated kevlar', that better
but where the hell can I buy that (except ordering it on HOP)

if I can't find it anywhere, I guess I have to order it then smile

"Don’t know how long, this one’s gonna take;
I could fail, but I’d rather be a fuckup, than a fake"


ImmortalAngelSILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada


Posted:
I must agree with Anonomatos with this one, it's hard to find in some places.
And I was wondering if anyone else has had experience with making fire heads out of lamp wick stuff...I've got access to tons of that, but no kevlar, so I'm stuck paying a fortune for shipping fireheads to me...
I've been meaning to try making some monkey heads out of the lamp wicks but never got around to it...especially since it's winter and around -30 C to -50 C out right now...to cold for spinning, let alone walking to the hardware store to get the materials biggrin

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


darkpoetBRONZE Member
Irish
525 posts
Location: Dallas.........ish, USA


Posted:
try bearclaw..they have 100% pure kevlar..havnt tried it meself so i dunno the burn chars. but yeah...

Jesus saves sinners and redeems them for cash and
prizes

Co-Founder of Keepers of Light

Educate yourself about the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


anonomatosGOLD Member
enthusiast
389 posts
Location: Utrecht [NL], Netherlands


Posted:
Well, couldn't find anything here in holland, so I ordered it from HoP.

So I have to wait a few weeks till it arrives...

Now I have 1 further question (I just post it in the same topic, to prevent further messing-up the forum):

How many times can I use the kevlar? (Of course: when used properly)... I can't find it anywhere around the forum...

"Don’t know how long, this one’s gonna take;
I could fail, but I’d rather be a fuckup, than a fake"


nearly_all_goneSILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom


Posted:
In my experience, only very stressful use makes kevlar unusable. Basically you may notice it holds slightly less fuel and so burns for slightly less time after a few months or so, but it's still fine to use.

I've had my fire heads for about a year and they still burn for about 3.5 minutes. Of course this all depends on various factors - which fuel you use, how often they're used, how the wicks are stored (banging them around doesn't help! And fraying can be a problem if you're not careful) and other stuff I'm not clever enough to know about biggrin

Kevlar is damn good for wicks. You won't regret ordering it. And by the way, I can't get Kevlar anywhere near me either, annoying, isn't it? I guess it's quite a specialist material.. considering they make body armour out of it and all!

Hope this helps smile

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau


anonomatosGOLD Member
enthusiast
389 posts
Location: Utrecht [NL], Netherlands


Posted:
Thanks nearly_all_gone... friendly helpful people around here, me likes :P thanx for the info!

and yeah, it's really a specialist material, I've asked in art shops, hardware stores, fishing specialists, etc. They all looked at me like I was a ghost :S

"Don’t know how long, this one’s gonna take;
I could fail, but I’d rather be a fuckup, than a fake"



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