Forums > Technical Discussion > Whats with the parrafin??
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12 posts
Location: Pensacola, land of many hurricanes, USA
"...be careful to check the amount of wick used, kevlar is very expensive so some people try and cut corners. Use only paraffin. Dip them in paraffin after use and keep them damp in a plastic bag and the wick should last a couple of years at least."
Is this for real?
fire, it's what's for spinners.
Pooh-Bah
2,109 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Yes. Of course you dont HAVE to use paraffin but I think the point there is its the least abrasive on your wicks.
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Paraffin is also not as adhesive as glue.
Then again, glue doesn't burn...
stranger
12 posts
Location: Pensacola, land of many hurricanes, USA
makes sense... is paraffin readily available? i mean... you can't just go buy it can you?
fire, it's what's for spinners.
stranger
12 posts
Location: Pensacola, land of many hurricanes, USA
also.. are we talking about the same liquid paraffin used to expose gun powder residue? (just curious)
fire, it's what's for spinners.
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
it is incredibly available...a 10 year old could buy it if he felt like it..although I seriously hope their parents would make sure they didn't use it.
It goes under the name Kerosene or Lamp Oil in some places, but ALWAYS make sure you check your MSDS (that the store is required to carry by law).
And as for the gun powder residue, I have no idea...
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="" />
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,899 posts
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
please don't go around carrying wet wicks though... it smells and is a bit of a fire hazard.
-v-
Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!
406 posts
Location: Oxford, UK
Umm, I guess, from your tone, that you're surprised that paraffin is used as a fuel - it's the most commonly used in general fire performance, as far as I know. There's a few articles on fuel types on HoP, have a poke around the site and you'll find information on it.
"Take that, math!"
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
well i can buy it and i'm 14... so it is quite available
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old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
I have a feeling it's a lot to do with being American. I've never heard kerosene called parrafin here in the states, in fact if you went most places and asked for it you'd get paraffin wax.
We call Kerosene kerosene
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15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Wierdoes.
stranger
12 posts
Location: Pensacola, land of many hurricanes, USA
ah... lol, I didn't know parraffin was kerosine, it seems i have gallons of parraffin..
fire, it's what's for spinners.
member
21 posts
Location: Bellingham and Seattle, WA, USA
This is F-ing hilarious! I have been reading HOP posts for over 2 years, and have always wondered what the hell parrafin was! (but never really cared enough to find out)
Ha, I spun with Kerosine for the first few months of poi, but then switched to white gas just to get away from that STANK-ASS smell.
A bird can fly, but a fly cant bird...
Member
91 posts
Location: knoxville, tennessee, usa
heres my take on it. liquid paraffin is sold in stores like bed bath and beyond. the brand they carry is called lamp light farms. they have a site that will show you what their product is normally used for. the photo in the top left.
https://www.lamplightfarms.com/index.asp?SID=&shopperid=L6M3F3BHF2749LC4L1RD764WTARHASLE
kerosene is (at least here) most often used for heaters. there is a photo of one here. https://www.jackssmallengines.com/kerosene_htr_parts.cfm
you buy it at the gas station out of a pump. it smells awful. ive never tried using it for spinning.
if anyone orders Merlot, i'm leaving.
Pooh-Bah
2,109 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Yeah, theres definately a difference between kerosene and paraffin, at least here in the states. Mainly the smell and taste. Kero is much worse in both areas, compared to lamp oil (especially ultra pure which is also a bit less smokey).
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
addict
475 posts
Location: Van Diemans Land, Australia
Written by: crazycarl
This is F-ing hilarious! I have been reading HOP posts for over 2 years, and have always wondered what the hell parrafin was! (but never really cared enough to find out)
Ha, I spun with Kerosine for the first few months of poi, but then switched to white gas just to get away from that STANK-ASS smell.
I like the smell of Kerosene
Fair luna bright, fair luna moon
it shines at night but fades too soon
fair luna moon, fair luna bright
forever we dance
we dance under starlight
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Written by: ICoN
Yeah, theres definately a difference between kerosene and paraffin, at least here in the states. Mainly the smell and taste. Kero is much worse in both areas, compared to lamp oil (especially ultra pure which is also a bit less smokey).
It is the same t hing really, it's just that the stuff you get out of a pump is not nearly as refined as the lamp oil is. Same stuff when you get down to it, it's just closer to crude so it's cheaper.
I've done a bit of everything with the heater kind of kero and hate it (I've still got 2 litres in my garage that I have to find something to do with...) I prefer using the purified lamp oil. I can get it in bottles of 1 and 2 Litres, although, it causes strange looks to buy 10 litres of lamp oil at a time for your next fire meet ^.^'
I just give them a "What? I'm happen to like having lots of candles. I'm a sensitive guy inside!"
Written by: DoktorSkellWritten by: crazycarl
This is F-ing hilarious! I have been reading HOP posts for over 2 years, and have always wondered what the hell parrafin was! (but never really cared enough to find out)
Ha, I spun with Kerosine for the first few months of poi, but then switched to white gas just to get away from that STANK-ASS smell.
I like the smell of Kerosene
So do I. and so do some of my friends, but they mostly like it because when they small it on me, they know there was fire, there is fire, or there is most likely going to be more fire...
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="" />
Pooh-Bah
2,109 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Written by:
I just give them a "What? I'm happen to like having lots of candles. I'm a sensitive guy inside!"
Im usually in Walmart when this happens so I usually just give them "What, I like to burn things... Sloooowly."
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Walmart doesn't carry the extra pure lamp oil, so I use Home Hardware ^.^' Lots of fun to be had there...
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="" />
Member
91 posts
Location: knoxville, tennessee, usa
any one ever purchase their fuel by the drum? 55 gallons is a lot of fuel but it would be nice to have it whenever you wanted.
if anyone orders Merlot, i'm leaving.
Pooh-Bah
2,109 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Thats odd. My Walmart carries the ultra pure...
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Roberts, It would be the best choice to purchase a large drum like that, as it is most probably straight from the factory and un diluted along the way, and your safest bet, but who has that much money to spend at once? Not me
And ICoN, understandable though, we're like, coutnries apart :P
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="" />
Pooh-Bah
2,109 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
True that, but you would figure a chain of stores like that would carry the same products everywhere. Ah well...
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
We twnd to buy a 20L then just top up by the litre from petrol sations. 44s are a pain for me.
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Is it Fair to all concerned?
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Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
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277 posts
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
My primary set of wicks is still the first pair I built over four years ago. I couldn't begin to imagine the number of times they've been burned at this point. And despite the fact that I know better, I thoroughly abuse them. They've burned just about every type of fuel imaginable, they've been left out in the rain, out on the beach, out on the playa, always burned dry, never soaked wet, spun by newbies who hit the ground, and stored witout any covering jumbled in my toys bag. They're still going strong.
I've seen other wicks die after far less. I think it wick life depends a lot on the wick material and the type of construction. I got lucky finding good wick material from the get-go. Tightly-wound tube-core wicks last a *lot* longer than either loosely-wound tube core wicks or cathedral wicks.
FWIW. YMMV.
-p.
addict
544 posts
Location: swansea, United Kingdom
so does it make a diffrence if soak your wicks after you have used them or not?
DONT DO DRUGS THERE BAD FOR YOU.
SO GIVE THEM ALL TO ME AND I WILL GET RID OF THEM FOR YOU!
Pooh-Bah
2,109 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Its good to soak your wicks after having burned them because the fuel will stop them from smoldering. You dont need to keep them stored in fuel though, just kinda dampen them so they dont get damaged.
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
I've gotta question the wisdom of soaking your wicks after a burn to stop the smoldering. This is o.k. with kerosene, but pretty risky if you're using naphtha.
I think the best way to extend the life of your wicks is to not use them as practice poi. or at least cover them with something to reduce the abrasion from them smacking into each other when you're learning a new move.
I've got tightly wound tube cores that have been burned hundreds of times and they still look great
member
95 posts
Location: Leeds UK
can anyone get white gas in the UK? i've heard lots of bad things about it but this has just made me a little curious...
progger
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Yes,,,sold under the name of Coleman's,,,try a camping supply store. The only reason I know this is because I found a site advertising it while I was doing research on the subject.
Just remember to treat it with respect.
Self-Flagellation Expert
3,414 posts
Location: Bogged at CG, Australia
alright, lets not get into the discussion of dipping vs non-dipping. It's been done before
What if a group of fiery mates got together, and split a 55 between them? 5 gallons of kero/parrafin would last a while, and if you split the cost 11 ways, i dont think it would be horribly expensive, either.
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