Creating a Flaming Arrow That Works

Creating a Flaming Arrow That Works

WARNING:

Playing with fire is dangerous. Playing with fire that flies through the air at great speed is even MORE DANGEROUS. Use common sense and caution when using the arrow. I take no responsibility for what you do with your creation and for how you use this instructable.  I highly suggest this not be attempted by anyone under the age of 21.   I will stress again this is dangerous and has it's uses (like for a camp ceremony which is what I created this for) but you must be careful. Use these instructions at your own risk

I get asked to create some very interesting things, and often on short notice. It's pretty fun to see if I can really make the vision happen. This was the case with the flaming arrow. You might be shocked to know, there is not a lot out there on the web to create such an item. Those that do have instructions have little or no success. Others will show you what they did, but they do not tell you how it was actually created. 

I took pieces from sites I found used a little brain power and came up with this flaming arrow that worked. So, my  instructable friends, It is time to take the journey in learning how you too can make a flaming arrow that works!



Photo from:  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) with Kevin Costner

Step 1: Materials

Materials Needed:

22" Aluminum Arrow (or longer I would not go lower than 22") 
Box Knife
Cheese cloth
Liquid Stitch or a craft glue
16 Sparklers (the color does not matter)
Electrical tape or Duct tape
Thin gauge wire (24, 26, or 28 gauge)
Wire Cutters
Kerosene
Grill Lighter
A bow of your choice to shoot the arrow
Leather or cloth gloves (optional but strongly suggested)

Comments

[sarandi]

REI and other camping/outdoors stores sell waterproof matches that might work for this application. They're not as big but much larger than a regular match so you'd probably be able to get a similar effect with a few of them.

[poofrabbit]

Ah fantastic idea! Ever since I made my first arrow for camp, I now make them yearly, always interested in trying to make it better!

[Dusk Shadows]

Love it!

[poofrabbit]

Thanks it is fun to shoot...hot...dangerous...and oh so very fun!

[Dusk Shadows]

Yeah i bet the Girls were all over you..and also on fire

[speedracer425]

Alsome. Also RANDOM TYPING:SKJDHF;ASDF;LKSADJF;DSAH GKSHDFKLHDLKJGCHRFGLKJDHGFLKDFJHGLKJSDFHGLJKSFHGLKJSAHDFGLKJASHDFGKLJASDHG FHLKAHGKSAHDGLKASDHFKJSHDGLKAJSDHFKLSJDHAGKJSAFHGKJSDHGASKDGHHHHHHHHHHHJKHLKGKLGKJGCHGGBVGDRSDFGHNBVFGHJKUYTFDERTGQWERTYUIOPLKJHGFDSAZXCVBNMMNBVCXZASDFGHJKLPOIUYTREWQ.

[poofrabbit]

LOL Very nice Random Typing.

[Rocksterr]

Funny stuff! Makes you wonder what they used back in the day before aluminum or composite arrows. What would Robin Hood have used?

[poofrabbit]

Well, they would have been more versed in what to do :) I am guessing there would be a tar involved and a pretty long arrow. :)

[linuxanon]

Probably tar, I've heard about a black mulch that ignites as well, but tar would be the most probable.

[l8nite]

like Rusty, I was going to suggest wax instead of kerosene, they can be fully made ahead, just be sure to leave a small piece of wax covered cloth to light, you can also presoak the cloth in epsom salt or other color enhancers to add colored flames along wih the sparks

[poofrabbit]

Sweet! I'm very excited to give the wax idea a whirl. I will keep tabs and take loads of pics to keep everyone posted of my progress. It's funny you said something about colors, I was asked to change a fires color last summer too. We got an amazing blue, somewhere I have the link to the video, when I find it...oh yes an instructable will come!

[l8nite]

many moons ago (like the 1960's) my dad would roll "logs" of newspaper and soak them in various solutions like epsom salts, copper sulfate etc, let them dry and we'd have colored flames in the fireplace, with a little research you could shoot a rainbow !

[poofrabbit]

I should look again, from a chemical site only two of those they said would change flames really worked for me. The blue was the best, and it worked out well because it was to show which team won. Thankfuly it was blue. The red was a nice red but did not stay red quite as along. I like the "log" idea. I'll have to check that out too.

[vishalapr]

This is just plain fabulous

[poofrabbit]

Thanks a million!

[rusty90]

Love your 'able. One suggestion, if I may,Tackcloth, just cheesecloth impregnated with beeswax and shellac, might be a useful substitution. The sparklers, dry gauze and kerosene are all "fast" burning - the tackcloth may give the projectile better longevity, giving you the option of arcing the shot higher for a more dramatic visual. In addition, the flame is "sticky" and might stand a better chance of lighting that Viking longboat filled with (never dry enough) tinder as an appropriate sendoff for the campers....

[poofrabbit]

Fantastic! I will give this a try this summer and keep you posted! Thanks a million for the suggestion!

[PentaSoul]

Pretty neat! It would be interesting to see the video of this being shot. Nice job on the instructions.

[poofrabbit]

Thanks! I will get video this summer. We were all just so excited I was able to figure out a method that did work!