24 replies to this topic

[damocov]

Special FX seems to be the most appropriate place for this post, a bit of a showing off my video and also a bit of asking for advice.

I've been perfecting my BP making and making simple fountains and have finally got as far as strapping a couple to a staff and starting to run through a basic routine (see video).


http://video.google....089611203549273

However I only get about 15-20 secs burn off these.

Does anyone have a favourite formula for a slow burning fountain that I can try.

I'd like to stretch the burn time to 60secs as it would nicely fit into a set piece performance we already have choreographed alongside another staff juggler, whilst I could do this by extending the tube length this makes the staff much heavier so extending to 30-40cm would I think be a bad idea.

FYI the fountain tubes were 10mm ID and were rammed with 10cm length of BP.

would making the tube ID wider give me more time or would it just give longer fountains?

[halen]

Special FX seems to be the most appropriate place for this post, a bit of a showing off my video and also a bit of asking for advice.

I've been perfecting my BP making and making simple fountains and have finally got as far as strapping a couple to a staff and starting to run through a basic routine (see video).


http://video.google....089611203549273

However I only get about 15-20 secs burn off these.
?

for pyro juggling i prefer factory made products than selfmade mainly for safety reasons, and you always know what you get

in Finland group called tulikansa uses red "road flares" for juggling


as you can see from photo result is quite good when flares are used as poi.

[damocov]

Looks cool - unfortunately I've never seen road flares on sale in the uk.
But I'm going to hit google and start looking anyway as they might just be a useful source of cheap simple fountains.
Fountains that burn for longer than 5 seconds seem to be in short supply in my local fireworks shop (but he can sell me a load of nice roman candles that fire stars out - though I think my fellow performers and audience may get a bit upset if I used them !)

[Creepin_pyro]

HFM stock them, but there definitely NOT cheap.
http://www.hfmgroup....nics/index.html

10mm ID isn't really enough to give you the burn time you need. I've made fountains with a burn time of around one minute using 3/4" ID tubes, 1/3 nozzle, and using coarse green meal. The only consideration with these is that if the BP is a little too slow, or the tube casing not thick enough, they can burn through the casing towards the end of the burn. Waterglass and/or an inner turn of foil may combat this, but I've never tried. You should also be careful choosing your spark producing material - coarse Titanium hurts when it's raining on you from above!

You're unlikely to find exactly what you're looking for in a consumer firework, although I think Kimbolton's 19mm gerbs could possibly work, but they're rather expensive. How about attaching some strobing flares/bengal fires to the staff?

I hope you're well-experienced with staff to be doing this kind of thing. You do not want to smack yourself in the face with flaming parrafin, let alone something burning as hot as a distress flare.

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 03 April 2006 - 04:50 PM.

[damocov]

Thanks for that I'll try making some fatter tubes and not caking and re grinding my bp so it's "greener"., I was using the same BP I had used to make some rockets (actually my first ones that launched) which in retrospect is probably way too fast.

Don't worry about the staff - I'm reasonably experienced at whirling fire around my head, though I have modified my usual (natural fibre) outfit to include some polycarbonat safety specs and a damp hat just in case!

[BigG]

I would not recommand using Fountains for this. They can go wrong. Better use something that has been designed to be held with your hands - for example, Flares.

Try marine supplies - they should have something for stress signals and the such.

[damocov]

See the above comment about flare prices !

Haven't managed to find any thing cheaper than the pains-wessex type distress flares and they're about ?70 quid for 6!

[adamw]

Portfires? (A bit weak maybe)

Flares aren't expensive if there are past their date... usually free.

Cat 3 strobing flares - that would be quite nice.

[BigG]

See the above comment about flare prices !

Haven't managed to find any thing cheaper than the pains-wessex type distress flares and they're about ?70 quid for 6!

I did read that remark, but I think keeping your hand intact is better value.

[damocov]

I'm not actually holding the fountain/flare - I do have some common sense (admitedly given the subject of this conversation I do take some risks during my performances, but there is a limit!)

My hand is at least 3 foot from the flare/fountain as it is at the pivot point (currently using 7.5 foot staff - a bit longer than normal but you understand why!).

The area more of worry is my head and eyes, however with a high hold out in front of myself the nearest my head will get is about 3.5 - 4 foot during a simple rotation (hence the saety glasses and hat! - the fire resistant clothing, first aid kit, spill kit and fire extinguishers I would normally have anyway if using parafin).

I'm looking into sailors with out of date flares as we speak.

You think this is dangerous - try firebreathing! that takes a lot of preparation and judgement (see my above comment about lack of common sense).

actually anyone performing with fire and concerned with safety would do well to wathc the interview below:

http://www.homeofpoi...interview99.wmv (small file)
http://www.homeofpoi...nterview256.wmv (same interview bigger file)

And the following video is very useful too - if you watch it before the interview she comes across as overly cautious and a bit of a worrier, if you watch the interview first you find yourself agreeing with everything she says and modifying your safety processes and equipment accordingly.

http://www.homeofpoi...rdsafety256.wmv

[Frozentech]

I'm not actually holding the fountain/flare - I do have some common sense (admitedly given the subject of this conversation I do take some risks during my performances, but there is a limit!)

My hand is at least 3 foot from the flare/fountain as it is at the pivot point (currently using 7.5 foot staff - a bit longer than normal but you understand why!).

The area more of worry is my head and eyes, however with a high hold out in front of myself the nearest my head will get is about 3.5 - 4 foot during a simple rotation (hence the saety glasses and hat! - the fire resistant clothing, first aid kit, spill kit and fire extinguishers I would normally have anyway if using parafin).

Here's an interesting video from a festival in Spain, don't try this at home !

http://videoserver.f...stellon2006.mpg

[Thudkaboom]

Looks cool - unfortunately I've never seen road flares on sale in the uk.
But I'm going to hit google and start looking anyway as they might just be a useful source of cheap simple fountains.
Fountains that burn for longer than 5 seconds seem to be in short supply in my local fireworks shop (but he can sell me a load of nice roman candles that fire stars out - though I think my fellow performers and audience may get a bit upset if I used them !)

Try this for road flares: http://www.xtremesur...m.php?ItemID=36

[Thudkaboom]

Portfires? (A bit weak maybe)

Flares aren't expensive if there are past their date... usually free.

Cat 3 strobing flares - that would be quite nice.

Any ideas where date expired flares can be sourced?

[Arthur Brown]

Distress flares are too bright for watching! Better to look for something intended for use in the entertainment industry. Small gerbs are available trade.

[Thudkaboom]

I have just managed to find a Japanese road flare for sale on Ebay. I paid £9 for it which is pretty expensive. I had two of these flares a few years ago. There was a car dealer selling them on ebay because they are unable to include them in the vehicles they sell due to highway laws. Sadly they were swiftly removed from ebay but I managed to grab a few before. I can't remember which car dealer it was but it is worth contacting your local Japanese car dealer to see if they have any flares they are getting rid of. I'm betting there is a lot more than we think out there and probably very cheap or even free.
The one I have just bought was from a guy just selling bits out of his one personal vehicle so no more from him I'm afraid.