Introduction: How to Build a Flamethrower

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About: I'm a inventor, hacker (not a cracker!), lover of my free electrical and parts supplier, etc. I don't normally write bios, so you're lucky to get even this ;-)

Step 1: What You Need

Materials:
Caulking gun with lever release (see pics - very important)
Hose clamp (2"-3")
Long handled butane lighter
Lighter butane refill (see pics - key element here!)
Short self-tapping screws (4-6) (these should be about 1/2" long)
Canning jar lid (see pics, as you can easily improvise)

Tools
Electric screwdriver/drill (Phillips bit and small drill bits)

Critical! - When you are at the hardware store, make sure that if you put the butane canister in where the caulking tube normally goes, and that it slides freely back and forth!

And that's it! Now let's get building!

Step 2: Build - the Rod Release

Alright so now that you've got the parts, put one of the self-tapping screws right below the lever release, far enough to stay but make sure that the pull-back can move very freely. You want the head's edge to catch the rod release so that the rod can move freely. See the pictures below, but yours may be slightly different.

Step 3: Build - the Catch

Next, take the canning lid and the short self-tapping screws and attach it to the other end of the caulking gun as shown in the pics. 

The screws should be short enough that they don't hit the butane canister, but enough so they stay put.

Now take the lid off of the butane can and put the butane can in the gun where the caulking tube would normally go. Note where the fill valve of the canister hits the canning jar lid.

Take your small drill bits and find one that would just let the smaller part of the nozzle go through, but still stop the big part (see the picture :-). Drill a hole where you noted earlier.

Almost done! 

Step 4: Build - Assembly

Now slide the butane canister in the caulking gun, nozzle end into the hole first, then lower the back in place. Put the hose clamp around the middle of the canister and the caulking gun and tighten it, but leave it loose enough for the butane can to move freely. 

Step 5: USE IT!

Go outside and push the rod forward until it hits the back of the canister, and then squeeze the caulking gun's "trigger". You should be rewarded with a spray of butane. When you release the trigger it should stop spraying. Now the fun part!!!

Outside, take the lighter and click it on. Position the flame about 5" in front of the flamethrower, and squeeze the trigger of the caulking gun. A FOOOSHHH and a flame should congratulate you. Move the lighter away once the flame is lit, and keep holding the trigger to sustain the flame.

The spray should turn into flame about 6" away from the nozzle, and make sure it stays that way. If the flame starts creeping towards the nozzle, release the trigger. 

Enjoy! Oh by the way here's the video!!!