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.

Step 1: Materials

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

Comments

[ihaveguitarskills!]

can you use 60% alchohol?

[GuitarGuyJames]

Probably, it just wont have as big of a flame (or as hot).

[ihaveguitarskills!]

Thanks, but since hand sanitizer is kinda 'sticky' and viscous, would the flame stick to your hands?

[zac_9687]

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 ;)

[GuitarGuyJames]

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 :)

[mce128]

you can add *some* water to the 70% and it'll burn cooler too, obviously a smaller flame, but you can hold it longer.

[AudioMaximus]

Can you use a single ball more than once?

[GuitarGuyJames]

Yeah, I still have the ones I made about a year ago. All you have to do is soak them in more lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol and you're good to go!

[mymridon]

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.

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[mymridon]

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

[aidanjarosgrilli]

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

[jj.inc]

probably won't work very well with oil

[aidanjarosgrilli]

what about metho?

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[aidanjarosgrilli]

metholated spirits

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[jj.inc]

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.

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[MagicPyroHackerMusician...AnyQuestions]

Could you also use cotton balls like the doctors use?

[-The Mad Hatter -]

It's almost cute!

[ashwinlit]

Bent u nederlands?

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[ashwinlit]

Hihi, wat leuk :)

[luckadoo42]

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.

[jlund]

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

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[jlund]

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

[ilpug]

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

[GuitarGuyJames]

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

[ilpug]

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.