Torches and Firebreathing

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This instructable describes how to make a torch, and also how to breathe fire. All the materials needed should cost under 20$. Its also safer then you might imagine for a few reasons, the first is that kerosene (The liquid used to breathe fire) has a high flash point, meaning its not an extremely flammable liquid, I have put matches out in cups of kerosene. It ignites because you make it into a mist (aspirating) when you spray it from your mouth. Another reason is as long as there is sufficient pressure the flames will stay a safe distance from your face.
With that being said it is still a dangerous project and should only be attempted if you consider yourself responsible enough to follow the directions exactly. I have confidence that as long as you follow my directions you will not be burned, so thats my disclaimer if you dont follow the rules don't blame me.
Now with all the boring stuff aside, get ready to impress your friends and family at your next summer bbq. It never gets old hearing people say how crazy you are.

Step 1 Parts List

This parts list contains all the materials needed to make 2 torches and the things used to breathe fire.

Parts:

1. Kerosene a.k.a. paraffin oil, make sure it is high quality with nothing added. (I bought mine in this big jug at sears hardware for about 6$)
2. 4' long 1" diameter wooden dowel or (2) 2' long metal pipes with similar or smaller diameter (Note: If using the metal pipes the following materials are not necessary: aluminum foil, nails, hammer, saw, or tin can)
3. Aluminum foil
4. Hammer with 5 or 6 nails about an inch long
5. Metal can of some kind( A soup can works, but a coffee can is better because it is longer and will protect the dowel better
6. Kevlar wick about 2" wide (Can be bought on e-bay for a few dollars a foot, just search for "kevlar fire poi"). You will need about 2-3 feet per torch, I have also heard that cloth belts can be used instead of the kevlar, but I have never tried this method.
7. Plastic water bottle
8. Small funnel
9. Tin snips or heavy duty scissors capable of cutting a coffee can
10. A wood saw
11. Ruler
12. A wet towel, bucket of water, and fire extinguisher are also a good idea (not just one but all three)

Comments

[punkhead58]

Kerosene? Whatever happened to good ole white flour? It's non-toxic!

[badideasrus]

i would assume its the 'if you inhale with this in your mouth you'll suffocate' argument....

[hippieofvenus]

kerosene and paraffin are completely different well sort of......Paraffin just means it is a fuel that has an oily composition and kerosene is a carcinogen and If you don't know what that means it means it causes cancer. Kero comes from petroleum that has been highly refined but Lamp Oil doesn't......you are going to get someone hurt and that would be grounds for suing because you didn't state a waver from responsibility and if you decide to put one up it won't matter because It hasn't always been up therefore they can still sue so you should take this article down.

[mowie]

but everything causes cancer these days

[Kataze]

only in the state of California.

[mowie]

haha i got a butane torch a few weeks ago and it says on it something about it causing cancer in California

[badideasrus]

so does California have a high death rate? and if everything causes cancer there, should i go there to get cancer removed? since the doctors would have so much practice.....

[Kataze]

But while you're there, your cancer will get cancer. You'll need to be on one side of the state line and have them operate from the other.

[badideasrus]

but wouldn't that still exspose the cancer to the cancer? could we just kill of the cancer with cancer while we stay safely on the other side?

[MorNuN]

I heard you like cancer so we put cancer in your cancer so you can die while you die.

seriously, use paraffin.

[dragonsniper]

lol

[cool2000]

can you use peanut oil? (acts just like Diesel)

[ilpug]

Well, this is a great way to die. If you are careful, take it slow, follow all precaution,s and USE PARAFFIN INSTEAD OF KEROSENE you might not die. i know someone who died from this, when he accidentally inhaled and blew his lungs up.

[LaBeasy]

Instead of using kerosene, can you use some sort of alcohol?

[372jpeg]

This might sound kind of wimpy but I don't think Paraffin Oil tastes very good so what if you filled a water balloon with paraffin and put it in your mouth clenched the tip shut with your teeth and then opened your mouth and the balloon would propel the oil out and maybe igniting.

[teawrecks]

Just don't be stupid and use camping fuel like me... ouch lol

[babanajoe]

WOW
Does it hurt?
Careful with the wind!!

[lvrofdragons]

I used white camp fuel and i almost burnt myself too. luckily for me, i walked away unburned.

[babanajoe]

You're so lucky

[lobo_pal]

I was at Philmont, and we just switched cooks, so I was helping the cooks learn how to use the stove. My friend couldn't get the white gas to work, so he asked me to do it. The problem is that he forgot to turn of the gas. I lit it with a match, and almost burned myself with a 6 foot flame. Other people from my troop were in a 10 foot ditch getting water from the river and could see the flame.

[boognishmofo]

PARAFFIN, PARAFFIN,PARAFFIN,   DO NOT USE KEROSENE,   DO NOT USE GASOLINE,  DO NOT USE ALCOHOL,   USE PARAFFIN, PARAFFIN PARAFfIN
Im not usually one to talk about irresponsibility
parafin can be found at any walmart or hardware store.  it is called lamp oil and is used for tiki torches.  Paraffin is used for its low flash point, and it is for the most part odorless and not terrible tasting, you really want to stay away from anything else.  And Jesus, please read all the precautions first.  Practice with water first, it sounds dumb but DO IT.  The most important factor is when you blow the flame and then close your mouth when you reopen your mouth you need to blow out again incase the fire has been trapped in your mouth waiting for oxygen.  If you were to inhale, the flame would fill your lungs and we can only hope after that.  Try not to wear any synthetic material when attempting, I have seen peoples clothing melt onto their body. Just as you would not piss into the wind, do not blow into the wind. And always have a towel that has been soaked in water and wipe your face in between blows, the liquid likes to dribble down your chin, and a little goes a long way.  Start off small,  do not rush it,  you dont need a whole mouth full.  If you really must breathe fire, research it first. There is plenty of info on Wiki and other sites that will give you correct info and they all agree.   USE PARAFFIN.  lord Im getting old

[damasta]

isn't paraffin just the british word for kerosine? (wikipedia: Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage,[1] also known as paraffin in UK and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid) also, kerosine is quite safe when ingested (just some explosive diarrhea, pun intended) while lamp oil usually has some added chemicals to make it burn more beautiful or easier (look at the back, according to wikipedia the flash point for pure paraffin/kerosine is 90 degrees centigrade, while most lamp oils light at 61

[=3]

All in all, to be safer, just fill your mouth with some corn starch. Use the same fire type thing and blow. :P

[kujoton]

DO NOT use cornstarch under any circumstances, as a fine powder it's far too easy inhale which, when making contact with the flame, puts you in a far too vulnerable position. I would put kerosene/paraffin liquid before cornstarch as far as saftey is concerned. Easy to manipulate, low flash point and only ignites when aspirating (in mist form).

[=3]

But if you swallow kerosene/paraffin, isn't that poisonous?

[damasta]

Yes, it is poisonous, but if you swallow a little bit (let's just say the amount you use for breathing one flame) all you get is diarrhea for a couple of days, sure, it's annoying, but it's better then dying

posted from experience

[=3]

Wait, if you died from using corn starch, then how are you commenting?

[damasta]

I didn't say anything about cornstarch, I was talking about what happens if you swallow paraffin. It's poisonous, but with small amounts you don' t die

the experience was about the diarrhea (which is so bad you want to kill yourself anyway)

[=3]

Oh, I see, well thanks for the insight, if I ever have to fire breathe, I know who to discuss with.

[_-MacGyver-_]

even safer...
use flour

TRUST MEH IT WORKS.. DOnt belive me? try it

[spazmanx11]

I have been doing that too. it's not as big but it still works for me!

[spazmanx11]

paraffin is wax, correct? wouldn't it cool in your mouth and harden?

[M4industries]

You are right. Paraffin is indeed wax. He was referring to paraffin oil, which is kerosene.

[LiquidLightning]

Not this parrafin.

[oxidase]

could you use a ZIPPO lighter instead of a torch, or... ?

[kujoton]

If you want to blow your hand off.

[ZantoD]

 This wouldn't be a great idea. Only EXTREMELY skilled fire breathers can do this, as you can be burned badly.

[Danish M1Garand]

Yes, but you will burn your hand.

[Ben The Builder]

Yes using cloth belts work, we made torches at Scouts one time, and one of the older scouts juggled flaming torches

[spazmanx11]

The very first picture looks like a flaming fist tryin' ta punch the next house over/