Halp!

ragemonkey · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Right so i was planning to finally baptising my fire chains , but not sure on what fuel to use . I mean ive heard kerosoene and parafinn ..but! Ive got some copper sulphate it turns fire bright blue but it only dissolves in methanol and ethanol so i.e White spirit. So im asking for a litle help from people with first hand knowledge on what to use ect .

Also any tips you guys/gals can give me like what did you find useful on your first time spinning with them burning =D

help

Invader_Xan · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 540 Location: In Space

I wouldn't go playing with colours until you're used to regular fire, dude, trust me. Especially with copper -- it's quite poisonous. Copper Sulphate is especially bad. Also, never use meths or white spirit, as both of them are also poisonous. Smile

For your first spin, I'd use pure kerosene. If you can find it, smokeless lamp oil is much the same, but gives off less fumes. Barbecue lighter fluid is also a pretty good one.

Just go and enjoy your first burn. Only do moves you're fully confident with, and you know you won't mess up. If things go wrong, stay calm, and just put the poi down. Make sure someone's on hand with a wet blanket or a fire extinguisher too (ideally both).

Afterwards, then you can start thinking about colours -- if you're still interested in colours, that is. Wink

Daedra · Posted: Wed 19th Sep, 2007 9:21 pm Post subject:

agreed with Xan, colouring your flames is an especially dangerous business as a fair bit of hazard comes with the chemicals you use and also what you mix it with.
Loads of nasty fumes and such.

My friend Santi always makes sure he has a quality respirator with clean filters before he even thinks about colouring his flames.
After one incident where he nearly had to go to hospital because he couldn't breathe.

Although I haven't much experience in lighting fluids like Kerosene. I have only ever used Paraffin it's the first and only fuel I use.
Meths has a blue flame to it anyways, but again you should never use them or white spirit. Unless adequately protected, as well as those around you.

Always make sure you have your fire watch on hand with a damp towel. Finally if you are on fire or someone else is on fire, if it's an oily based fluid then it's best not to chuck a bucket of water over them lol, as this may worsen the situation!

Stay safe dude(^_^)

Psychotic Neurotic · Posted: Wed 19th Sep, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject:

Kerosene i think is safe because i believe it probably has a longer carbon chain length than paraffin (as far as i can remember), making it less volatile and therefore having a lower flash point for safety.

HOWEVER i believe kerosene is more expensive, and as paraffin is more readily accessible AND cheaps, go for Paraffin, or 'Paz' as i like to abbriviate it.

With the colouring of the flames, unless you have a serious knowledge of chemicals or experiences with using coloured flames don't use them! You can in some places buy sort of, pine cones with powder on them which you chuck in a fireplace and the fire goes a bit green, but
A) they're not very good and
B) the pine cones are expensive so the powder must be too.

Flame spinning all over the place is impressive enough by itself, so dont worry about colouring things. Especially as Daedra's story about his mate almost needing hosptial is purty scary.

Happy spinning!!!

paul1066 · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 74 Location: Brighton,Sussx

My only advice on the topic is to be safe and listen to experts...

Also peferably have someone who has spun fire present too (someone you trust that is)....Many thanks Jayne, will have to meet up again soon,

If you plan to have a few drinks (or silly enough to do other stmulants/depressents) then do so after spinning fire.... My ex has a nasty burn from spinnning whilst drunk!!!!

Psychotic Neurotic · Posted: Thu 20th Sep, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

ah paul this wind SUCKS! I will be doing a spontaneous spin soon, as soon as its decent weather! And i shall give you a buzz.

ragemonkey · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

You guys rock i know a fair bit about chemistry but ill steer clear until i get used to it think im going with PAZ ... Damm I cant really pay you guys back for all the help youve given me unless you want invites to a private torrent site =| ( its nerdy i know)

Marvin · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 126 Location: Cannock

just too clarify paraffin has a cardon chain thats 26 pairs long making not too bad kerosene is only 32 pairs so it actually makes very little difference in what you use Id recommend paraffin though as its cheap after that lighter fluid is good then barbecue lighting fluid

Psychotic Neurotic · Posted: Mon 24th Sep, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject:

i believe paraffin is a micture of carbon chain lengths *puts on geeky glasses*

GOD i love chemistry :P

lighter fluid is BAD. don't use it. it's designed to go up at not very high temperatures and we dont want that.

Invader_Xan · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 540 Location: In Space

Miss Neuro is quite correct, actually. All commercially available fuels are a blend of various hydrocarbons. Marvin, you might mean the average carbon chain length? I'm unsure what that is, to be honest...

You're right though, Kerosene and Paraffin are pretty much identical (it's just referred to as Paraffin more often in the UK). Naphtha is the other fuel you might stumble across (lighter fluid, coleman fuel, etc). Until you're experienced I'd leave it well alone, and even then I'd strongly advise against using it without blending it with kerosene. Don't use it pure. It's more dangerous than most people realise. Wink

Barbecue lighter fluid is actually a damn good standard fuel, mainly because it's cheap as! Does get a bit smokey though...

Felixwah · Posted: Tue 25th Sep, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

Invader_Xan · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 540 Location: In Space

Carbon Links 37 sounds like it should be the name of a second rate punk band who play dodgy Ramones covers. Razz

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