Fireball Shooter!

by Kipkayon Mar 22, 2008in tech & science
intro
 
introFireball Shooter!
Make a flaming fireball shooter just like magicians use. Save $$ and MAKE your own! Awesome pyrotechnics effect! Safe to use indoors and out!






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50 comments
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May 2, 2008. 3:06 PMthebboysays:
um, Kipkay, this is the funky thing with mine. We built it and it works alright, but the switch DISCONNECTS the circuit when it's pushed. Other than that it works fine. Do the switchs have a negative and positive side?
May 2, 2008. 3:55 PMMorganTheAdventurersays:
No switches don't have a positive and negative side, so it dosent matter how its attached.

There may be some switches with positive and negative, but I havent seen any yet so I doubt it.
May 2, 2008. 4:42 PMthebboysays:
i wonder what happened
May 2, 2008. 8:28 PMMorganTheAdventurersays:
hmmm you might have the type of switch that turns off when you push it, and turns on when its not pushed.
Thats really all I can think of right now unless one of your connections isn't on properly.
May 3, 2008. 6:13 AMthebboysays:
probably, i don't know. i sorta know about electrical stuff, but not enough. it all works, just the switch's reversed
May 9, 2008. 8:52 AMpatricksanfordsays:
you could also have a short in the wiring. if the wires are touching someplace they're not supposed to, then pushing the switch could just be diverting the electricity back to the batter, and "turning it off"
May 10, 2008. 5:40 AMthebboysays:
no, the wires are all fine. i think i just have a different kind of switch
May 8, 2008. 8:02 AMNirjuanasays:
Yeah, I think you have a wrong type of switch, usually they connect the circuit when pressed but this seems that you have you one those bit rarer ones that disconnect when pressed, try to find a another kind of push switch and try again
May 9, 2008. 6:39 AMthebboysays:
okay, thanks
Mar 23, 2008. 3:37 PMrancidbrysays:
AMAZING!! Where is theatre works? Can I get flash paper and flash cotton at home depot?
Mar 23, 2008. 5:22 PMKipkaysays:
Theatre Effects... http://www.theatrefx.com/ No you can't get flash paper at Home Depot but you can try a magic shop. You can also get glo-plugs at hobby stores.
Apr 27, 2008. 9:20 AMthebboysays:
so a magic store and hobby stores. That answers my question. This is so cool! I'm making one with my dad as a good weekend project and then we'll both try to make one by ourselves. (although my dad's going to be around when i use the solder)
May 2, 2008. 6:53 AMHellchildsays:
I don't remember any magic stores near us.
May 2, 2008. 3:03 PMthebboysays:
ya, i looked in the phone books and didn't find many.

also, i found the flash paper at a hobby store that sold accesories for model rockets
Apr 27, 2008. 6:52 AMthebboysays:
if people are wondering, this is where i got my materials.

heatshrink tubing, super glue/epoxy similar to JB weld, small zip ties (come in a big bag), momentary switchs (they come in 4 packs), butt splices (they come in a big ba), AA battery holder and batteries, and a soldeing iron (my dad were short of one), i all found at RADIO SHACK.

the aluminum rod (or copper) and the nut i found at HOME DEPOT, and they might have a glo plug if your lucky.

as for the glo plug, i would look in any auto parts store, and i have no idea where to find the amunition. i hope that helped
Apr 27, 2008. 6:39 AMthebboysays:
i'm about halfway done with mine. just need to find the flash cotton and paper.
Apr 25, 2008. 3:55 PMthebboysays:
where can you find the MAJORITY of these items? Ace hardware?
Apr 21, 2008. 10:13 AMthebboysays:
wow kipkay, getting contracted by make magazine. now THAT is definetly something
Apr 19, 2008. 9:44 PMGorillazMikosays:
I don't get the MAKE: part of the video-- are you part of Make: or something?
I was just confused by the awesome intro and ending.

And the video.

But it looked so... Make:-ish.
:P

Nice job!
Apr 20, 2008. 9:40 AMwhatsisfacesays:
From "Telekenetic Pen":

Kipkay says:
I'm not 'from' MAKE Magazine but have recently been contracted to produce their Weekend Projects. This ible is from MAKE as I say in the video. It is not my idea in any shape or form.
Apr 7, 2008. 4:17 PMccallummsays:
did u have to cut the ends off ur butt splice ? and wot does the butt splice do ? im onli 14 and have no idea :P
Apr 2, 2008. 6:07 PMsafety dancesays:
OMG!! U COPY-CAT!! U STOLE THAT OUT OF MAKE: ISSUE 13 PAGE 88 LISTING "DIMINUTTIVE BALLS of FIRE: Construct a fireball shooter. BY JOEL JOHNSTON"
Apr 7, 2008. 3:06 PMccallummsays:
get over it u drama queen . maybe kip should aim this thign at u and fire :P
Apr 2, 2008. 7:54 PMKipkaysays:
OMG!Yer kiddin' right? Did you watch the video!? LOLZ! If you paid for hearing lessons, get a refund!? Ha ha!
Mar 22, 2008. 3:55 PMwetham00says:
if you want to make the fireball he was holding in the beginning i have posted an intructable on it. enjoy how to make a fireball:,
Apr 6, 2008. 7:52 AMgadgetsrussays:
thnx
Apr 6, 2008. 7:49 AMgadgetsrussays:
How do you make the fire ball you holding at the start of the video
Mar 25, 2008. 4:35 PMcyber_meatsays:
could you make an instructable on how to make the "mystic cube" please.
Mar 27, 2008. 3:50 PMcomputerwiz_222says:
Look up how to make the cube, I made a video on how the mystic cube trick is done.

Look up my channel computerwiz_222
Mar 29, 2008. 11:07 PMsmeevessays:
you mean the handheld one? if you do, all you need is a cotten shirt (100%) scissors, and thread. cotten thred works best. and of course, lighter fluid. cut a piece of the shirt and roll it into a ball. thread your needle with your thread and push it through the middle of the ball. wrap it around a buncha times and then push it through the middle again. VOILA! handheld fireball. douse it in ighter fluid (not absolutally saturated, but a bit) and light away! the cotten absorbs the lighter fluid so that only the lighter fluid burns, not the actual cotten. the thread it just used to hold the ball together, so cotten thread works best. other threads will just melt, and youll have to make more balls. i might post a real instructable if i figure out how.....
Apr 3, 2008. 9:24 PMsmeevessays:
at any decent 100% scissors store
Mar 31, 2008. 10:57 AMIkilledKennysays:
where do yo buy 100% sissors? 8-)
Apr 3, 2008. 4:22 PMGeciksays:
Flash Paper and Flash Cotton are both nitrocellulose.

Nitrocellulose is made by soaking cellulose (cotton, or paper) in nitric acid. A little sulfuric acid is also in the mix. This is a POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS procedure--find directions elsewhere!

(I made it in a high-school chemistry lab under the direct, careful direction of the instructor.)
Mar 31, 2008. 10:54 PMchr1sssays:
GREAT!

But "flash" cotton/paper is not easy to get in most country's. ;-(
Mar 29, 2008. 2:20 PMmatt_sawyerssays:
I am definitely going to have to make this. I bought one of these awhile back online & ever since then I've been wanting to make my own. Now that I know someone else has attempted it I think I'll do it!
Mar 28, 2008. 7:06 AMdummy1977says:
eeeeees a witch!!!!

Mar 25, 2008. 10:56 AMcyber_meatsays:
your Instructables are definitely the coolest, but I was wondering if the glowplug is something that could be bought at radioshack, and if not was theater effects a web sight or just a store that happened to be in your area? and also do you think a glowplug could be used to fire a spud-gun?
Mar 28, 2008. 3:40 AMF1X0Rsays:
You can get a bog standard glow plug from any autos shop, it may even be worth asking your local mechanics, they may even give you a free one., a glow plug can be used to fire a spud gun, using a bit of flash paper and hair spray!
Mar 25, 2008. 1:39 PMSpokehedzsays:
The glo-plug won't fire a spud gun. It is a little wire that gets hot. It's not a spark or a flame. It won't ignite the gas inside a chamber.

The glo-plug can be bought at any decent-sized hobby store, as they are used for nitro cars, trucks, airplanes, helicopters and boats.
Mar 31, 2008. 2:24 AMdUc0Nsays:
But if he uses said glo-plug with a bit of flash paper as he said, then it'll create an open flame, which /will/ ignite the gas.
Mar 27, 2008. 4:10 PMM-26-7says:
Reminds me of something Job from arrested developmen would do
Mar 27, 2008. 2:18 PMe-hizzlesays:
hey Kipkay your instructables are great! love this one. do you think you could post the fireball from the begining of the clip?
Mar 26, 2008. 6:19 AMCSM112says:
That would be 1/2" OD tubing instead of rod?
Mar 26, 2008. 5:04 PM