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Fireballs that you can hold!

Disclaimer: I do not claim any responsibility for any harm that is caused as a result of this instructable. Make at your own risk.

This is a great trick, and it's pretty cool. If you do it right, you won't get burned, but it is fire, so there is always a chance. So, if you want to play with fire, impress your friends, or just know how it works, read on.

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Step 1Materials

For the fireball:

- 100% cotton (from t-shirt)
- 100% cotton thread
- Rubbing alcohol (70% or 90%(hotter)), or lighter fluid (VERY HOT)

Tools:

- Scissors
- Sewing Needle
- Matches/ lighter

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25 comments

Jan 23, 2012. 2:02 PMmymridon says:

Can you let the fluid dry? Or does it still have to be wet to burn like it does here? ie: make a bunch and take them and impress your friends at different functions, etc.

Jan 24, 2012. 9:57 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

No, because if you let them dry, all of the fluid will have evaporated, and there will be nothing to burn.

Jan 24, 2012. 10:42 AMmymridon says:

That's what I thought, just wanted to make sure before wasting my time. Thanks

Mar 4, 2012. 7:49 PMaidanjarosgrilli says:

can you use mineral oil, or does it have to be rubbing alcohol?

Mar 24, 2012. 7:52 AMjj.inc says:

probably won't work very well with oil

Apr 3, 2012. 1:33 AMaidanjarosgrilli says:

what about metho?

Apr 3, 2012. 3:29 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

No idea - Try it! (But be careful)
What exactly do you mean by metho?

Apr 4, 2012. 12:36 AMaidanjarosgrilli says:

metholated spirits

Apr 4, 2012. 7:35 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

Well, to be honest, I have no idea. Try to find a high percent rubbing alcohol or ronsonol.

Mar 24, 2012. 7:58 AMjj.inc says:

This was a ton of fun, I only have 99% alcohol though, so as you can imagine it was very warm. It was fun to throw in the air and then let fall back down to earth too. I burned a little grass, curled some hairs, and warmed my hands, but this was a blast.

Mar 18, 2012. 8:49 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

Maybe but it probably would not work as well. Go for it and see what happens!

Mar 16, 2012. 7:12 PMMagicPyroHackerMusician...AnyQuestions says:

Could you also use cotton balls like the doctors use?

Mar 14, 2012. 6:55 PM-The Mad Hatter - says:

It's almost cute!

Jan 9, 2012. 5:11 AMashwinlit says:

Bent u nederlands?

Jan 10, 2012. 11:44 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

Nee, ik kom uit Ierland maar ik woon in Nederland ( Mijn Nederlands is niet goed).

Jan 11, 2012. 5:59 AMashwinlit says:

Hihi, wat leuk :)

Jan 7, 2012. 9:47 AMluckadoo42 says:

This just made my day. If you wrap all but part of the ball in aluminum foil, you can let it sit in your hand until you run out of fuel! However, i have not tried to do that with lighter fluid, and i did have a couple mishaps with the rubbing alcohol, so BE CAREFUL.

Nov 8, 2011. 5:42 PMjlund says:

can i use hand sanitiser for this becuase i was in science class and my teacher told us to make a science project and i decieded to burn things (aka) handsanitiser and iv seen people put it on there hands and light it so will it work

Nov 9, 2011. 2:59 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

I don't think so because the cotton ball might not absorb the hand sanitizer very well. Also then if there is a lot on the surface some might come off onto your hands, and it won't feel good. At all. But if you can get rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid then try it. You can try with hand sanitizer it if you want to but it might not work and it could burn you sooo.... yeah

Dec 13, 2011. 9:42 PMjlund says:

I went ad tried just use 2 by 2 inch napkin and the hand sanitizer works perfect

Nov 15, 2011. 11:04 AM

ilpug says:

I am going to do this, but use it for a hacky-sack, so we can hack at night! this will be amazing.

Nov 15, 2011. 12:56 PMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

Well... if it isn't 100% cotton, it won't work. But, if you used a whole t-shirt, it might be the same effect (and INSANELY AWESOME), but you would need a ton of liquid . and probably a bucket of water in case it went wrong

Nov 15, 2011. 4:47 PM

ilpug says:

Well, i will just make a "sandbag hacky sack, using a layer or two of cotton t shirt, then with sand in the middle. That will hold a LOT of fluid.

Nov 7, 2011. 4:57 PMzac_9687 says:

little word of advice to anyone that makes this. it REALLY does get hot if you hold in in one spot for too long. i made one a while back, burnt my hand, dropped the ball. and left a burn mark in the carpet and the bottom of my chair lol. but they are pretty fun and a great way to impress people. great ible ;)

Nov 8, 2011. 8:20 AMGuitarGuyJames (author) says:

Yeah, I agree. This was my first time making one so I used 70% rubbing alcohol (least hot and smallest flame), and it was still pretty hot. Thanks for the comment :)