Flame Whip

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This instructable describes how to build a flaming whip. Its a very simple and rewarding project, but the final project can be dangerous. You will be dealing with a flaming metal chain which gets extremely hot. You would not want to get any part of this accidentally wrapped around your body. Apart from all the danger though its really fun and produces a loud whooosh of fire every time you swing it.

Step 1: Parts

Really simple parts, all the materials together should cost under 30$

Parts:

1. Hollow steel tube 18" sturdy enough to be used as a handle
2. 10' double link metal chain like in the picture, thin enough so the links can fit inside the steel tube.
3. 21' of thin kevlar rope (can be bought on e-bay, the size of the rope is determined by the size of the chain links, because you will need to braid the rope through the links)(Because of my impatience in waiting for things to be delivered the photos show me using a cotton rope, I do not advise this because after a few minutes the cotton starts to burn and fall off)
4. 2" long bolt with washer and nut around 3/8" thick
5. Kerosene
6. Saw, drill with bits, wrench

Comments

[PadMasta44]

Hey! I have that same carpet. haha the one with the race car track, and the one with the little train track and stuff. HAHA

[tclemmo]

I do too. My little brother's favourite thing!

[agent]

lol so do i

[jaythedogg]

LOL me too.

[abadfart]

i did but the cat killed it and my drummer still dose

[NetReaper]

Wow, i do too

[mikey the weapwns man]

i do too xD

[Rokko8652]

So do I :S At least, I USED to...

[mechaninja]

It's like we're connected...just like hippies, businessmen, and Allstate insurance.

[bubba77]

ahah i gues it is a very popular rug lol cuz i have the same one!!

[Tetranitrate]

As you can see I make specific mention to the rug in the last line of the last step of the fuse instructable.

All hail the rug.

[PadMasta44]

Wow, that comment was a long time ago. haha. This (the flaming whip) is the kind of useless information that floats around in my head and then re-emerges at awkward moments.

[henster22]

how on earth do you get kevlar rope!!!
i cant find it any were

[pdee-1]

have you used Teh Internets? The stuff isn't sold in retail stores.

[WataAtaCrackahJack]

wow it looks impossible to crack

[nerd12]

kind of reminds me of a lava whip in ratchet and clank

[tsukiyomaru0]

I wonder why my first thought was "Yay, Castlevania-like Flame Whip!"

[M4industries]

 I would hate to accidentally wrap this around myself.

[gateon]

omg whiplash!

[tictaclad]

i have it toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...so do my 2 friends

[abadfart]

nice looks painful

[nicoles]

As a firespinner, I definately reccomend white gas (coleman fuel) over kerosene. Kero's so smokey, and more dangerous!

[Goat]

And as a experienced firespinner I definately recommend you do not listen to nicoles. Kerosene has a higher flash point and burns at a lower temperature. There is truth in lack of smoke in white gas though..

[GwydTUnusual]

Higher flash point means that it lights at a higher temperature thus burns at a higher temperature (Kero is much harder to light than naptha (White gas) so...Higher Flash Point and higher heat) Kero burns longer and smokier and stays on the wick longer without evaporating. Naptha burns brigher and cleaner but evaporates off of the wick faster. Choice of fuel is really up to the performer and the type of fire they need. The actual temp of the flame is irrelevant. 100 degrees difference is nothing when you are dealing with 600-800 degree temps. They will both burn you if you don't know what you are doing. The only time that the type of fuel really really counts is when it comes to fire breathing. Alchohol-VERY BAD (It makes your lips numb so you lose control of the spit. NEVER use alchohol) Gasoline- Are you on Crack? Naptha-Pretty bad too (The fire tends to eat back on the stream and into your face. Highly toxic) Kero- My preference for breathing (High flash point makes it less likely to feed back. But...Also highly toxic). And yes...I am a experienced professional fire spinner, eater and fire whip artist (Yes...It is actually my job. I live in a house, drive a nice car and have never been to burning man). Honestly, I would not touch that flaming chain whip if you paid me to. Too limited a tool. Chain won't crack like a whip and you can't do body wraps with hot metal. All you can do is wave it around. Not even as versatile as snake poi. Great idea, but in order to be really usable, the chain has to go. Gwyd

[foolish.boi]

I agree with this post! Out of interest, Gwyd, where did you get your whip from? I'm looking for one, recommendations would be good. Benjy!

[GwydTUnusual]

The best fire whips are found at www.firewhip.com . Nice weight, good handling and built to last. Of course, since this is instructables, you can buy kevlar wicking and braid your own like you would a nylon parachord whip... Gwyd

[foolish.boi]

ah yes! www.firewhip.com - such a pretty site! As it happens, since my post i made a firewhip with just some kevlar rope, some fire diabolo string and a piece of metal piping (as suggested by fireninja.com - work amazingly well!) Now I can put all my whip cracking skills into a fire show - result!

[pyro1324]

looks like the whip ghost rider uses XD

[crazyscott85]

Hmm although extremely awesome looking.. I'm gonna have to pass on possibly burning a giant gash in my leg/ arm/ face/ penis...

[fungus amungus]

A man who loves to play with a rope.

And some double dutch.

[gameboy7oa]

no wounder the guy has no hair

[ShadyLogic]

Funny thing is, he's probably bald more as a safety precaution than due to burning it off.

[blingity]

you found a way to make Jump rope dangerous! (or at least someone did, idk if that's you or not) Sweet!

[Matt21497]

Junpropes not dangerous? Must of been playing it wrong.

[James (pseudo-geek)]

haha awesome

[Trogador]

People should start calling you the "Resident Pyro of Instructables" :P Seriously, though, this thing combined with fire breathing could make for an entertaining show at a party full of drunk people >_____________>

[yerjoking]

Looks like something off prince of persia lol, nice thing though, and is this possible to hit someone with? or would it hit you before it hit your victim?

[EnigmaMax]

Why do you have food for a keyword?!? this does not look tasty!

[zamirii]

a good source for kevlar rope, wicking, and toys including fire whips and snakes is http://www.firewhip.com/ which is based out of florida and run by Riz. I've seen his performances and he is awsome!

[radiorental]

Is that kevlar rope? looks more like cheapo cotton/polyester rope to me.

[hcold]

He mentioned that it was cotton because he was too impatient to wait for the Kevlar to ship, and then said that he didn't recommend using it because it starts to burn and fall off after a couple of minutes...

[Tumwatertechwhiz]

I would not advise dunking the chain into the bucket of water. I would suggest laying it out to cool naturally. Dunking the wicking in water shortens it's life and could weaken the chain and eventually break. I also suggest getting some type of metal container (cookie tins work well) and using that to keep ur device in. I would also suggest changing your fuel. For our fire dancing, we use Lamp Oil mixed with White Fuel (Coleman (or generic) camp fuel). Mix this in a 3:1 ratio of 3 parts white gas to 1 part Lamp Oil. This will make it burn brighter. Otherwise just use Lamp Oil, NEVER use Kerosene! While Kerosene has a high flash point, it does burn at a much higher temp. and is more dangerous! See www.homeofpoi.com for more info. on mixing fuel. My other SAFETY suggestion (coming from a former fire dancer who is now a fire safety spotter), also have a fire extinguisher near by (preferably in someone's hand ready to put any mis-haps out. Also, practice using the whip before you light it on fire. Get familiar with the way it acts and what it can do. Also, NEVER wear any loose (flowy) clothing especially if it's flamable! For more safety info., watch the fire safety videos on www.homeofpoi.com. REMEMBER- Safety should be your number one priority!!! Now that I'm done with my safety comments, looks like a cool idea and I can't wait to try to build one!

[Nyanman]

buy a heatproof glove and some medievel armor. makes it a little more fun.

[pokefreak501]

I can see my cousin now with his hair on fire

[Loveofchaos]

i have a whip that is different from yours, but i got the idea from yours. i used braided yarn with a ball of knots on the end melted together. when soaked in alcohol and lit at night it looks awesome with the blue flame. i will post it if i have your permission. i will give all credit to you for the original idea. thanks

[Tetranitrate]

You don't need my permission. Post away.

[Loveofchaos]

thank you, i just wanted to ask before using something that had your original idea.

[Loveofchaos]

could someone use that styrofoam and gasoline napalmy stuff? i realize the gas vapors could be a problem so maybe kerosene lol but if it wouldnt fly off it would burn longer and hotter i think. try it if ya want

[Bobthewrecker]

I think that Ratchet would be jealous.

[reeding]

wait steel conducts heat well wouldn't you burn your hand?

[Tetranitrate]

The Kevlar should end about a foot from the end of the handle. The extra foot of chain provides great thermal insulation due to the limited surface area contact between each link.

[pyro13]

dude ur awsome, give me all ur ideas please

[Tetranitrate]

As soon as I set up an RSS feed for my brain.

[cvillewill]

Hmm... nothing like swinging around chain with flaming rope braided in. Very neat project. Some more safety so that kids don't get turned into human torches with this stuff. Maybe something like, "Do this in a place away from your friends or anything else you don't want burned. Make sure no one walks up and gets hit." Yeah that would suck to be hit by this thing. This project could inspire some very dangerous things to be done with flaming whips that probably shouldn't be posted on instructables.

[ARVash]

..? Personally I think the instruction that is dangerous and isn't for amateurs should be enough :P. If they choose not to listen, it's not as though they couldn't have learned elsewhere. I say let them know the dangers here.

[Vendigroth]

for a better swing, perhaps a small weight on the end of the chain? the centrifugal force would pull the chain out and make it more whip-likey

[!Andrew_Modder!]

Cool! Thats like the weapon off ratchet and clank going commando

[kennytatheguy]

dude, you rock Tetranitrate. ur my idol

[pyrotech_wannabe]

that is awsome i would so make one but i live near a cop and he already doesnt like me

[honest abe]

nuts

[grungehead]

dude this is the ultimate in relationship revenge!!! imagine the destructions you could do to a one-bedroom apartment.. this also looks liek the flaming whip in ratchet and clank

[ksosh]

Note: Do not attempt this near the laundry line (see upper right corner of picture).

[ksosh]

Two words: Ghostrider costume... oh yeah.

[pluish]

hell yeah

[joedog86]

In the words of Pinky: "Fun fun silly willy!"

[oniony]

Hey, that's how I removed my lawn too.

[15zack15ace]

dude thats really cool

[goddessgoddess]

This is just silly. You couldn't whip ANYBODY with that!

[Tetranitrate]

Want to come over so I can test out your hypothesis on you.

[sirstargazer]

lol that's awesome

[hydrorunner]

so much drama, so much ignorance, such cool pics, and one --- to mock others instructables (not naming names)

[fungus amungus]

Yeah, but still no video. Come on, tetra, make a vid when you get the real deal together.

[Tetranitrate]

I have video its just during the day so it doesnt show its true glory. The pictures are frames spliced from the video. Ill take some at night and upload it and put up a link in a few days.

[austin]

wow so much anger in such a light subject as flaming whips of doom. If you dislike the project then dont make it. whatever floats your boat and To each their own.

[keng]

everything ive come to expect from instructables; fire and foolishness. 80)

[TheCheese9921]

it would be cool in indiana jones or tomb raider

[mikesty]

Next up : MikeSty's Flaming Jumprope It'll keep you in shape -- or else! That thing is very cool. So cool in fact, it's hot. But in terms of coolness, 'tis brutally cool. With that said, I also think it's a little clever in the way that you wove the wick through the chain. That's very neat. The wounds from this thing would be ridiculous.

[fungus amungus]

I've seen a flaming jumprope before. Even a double dutch version. This looks a little hairier since it would be easier to wrap around a limb while swinging it about. I'd love to see some video of it in action.

[admanrocks]

ha ha ha

[austin]

wow this eems so ridiculously dangerous