Torches and Firebreathing

Step 8: Oh and I almost forgot

To easily transport the kerosene I recommend using a clear plastic waterbottle, with the lable removed, and "do not drink" clearly printed on the side.

Oh and something to watch out for on your torch, if the wood underneath the wick starts to shrink that means that the wood is being burned when your torch is light. If the damage isnt too great, you could try to repair it by removing the wick and adding another can and some more aluminum foil. However, if it has already gotten as bad as it is in the photo, there is a risk of it breaking off and that would be really bad, so it would be best to just remove the wick and use it on a new handle.

Random note #1: Of the 100+ times ive done this ive only burned myself twice, both minor burns just on my lips, the first one I overfilled my mouth, and the second one I didnt have enough air in my lungs to push all the kerosene out of my mouth.

Random note #2: After your done firebreathing you will want to get the taste of kerosene out of your mouth, I suggest any type of mint, however you do not want to use gum because the small amount of residual kerosene in you mouth will dissolve the gum and you will be left with a big mouth of goo (Go ahead and try it, its actually kind of weird)

Comments

[AjWasHere]

Altormer is correct. Kerosene, along with most similar chemicals, can and will melt through most standard plastics. Keep it in the jug it came in.

[geodez]

goo.

[Fireownsallelements]

Were I'm from fire is illeagal with in the city limits without a permit check at city hall or on the inernet.

[bad ass pope]

Where are you from?!

[Lt. Duct Tape]

So you need a permit to grill?

[fraggature]

Dude, he needs a permit to smoke, and one to light the cig in the first place

[Kataze]

or to rub two sticks together.

[bad ass pope]

I wonder if it also includes ovens and gas rings and such-like?

[Mhairi_mushroom]

Rock n roll- fire control!! Wheeeeeeeee!!

[Rolla]

so just how illegal is this? can you legally do it on your own property? how about a park? in the street late at night? is there a permit required to do this? if so how old do you have to be to get the permit? thank you for your time!

[Matt D655]

none of the above it is illegal to do that unless you had some kind of license. -mcd

[NinjaFreak102]

if its illegal do it more

[ainemoire]

As already stated, if you're on private property you're essentially good to go - but I would advise considering insurance issues. Even if it's on your own property, if you have some friends over and one of them gets hurt, you're looking at a big liability mess. If you are in ANY sort of public space (park, street, etc.) you need to have a permit from the local Fire Marshal, and other city codes may come into play as well (varies from city to city). I'm fairly certain you'd have to be a minimum of 18 to obtain said permits. Some Fire Marshalls won't even consider it, regardless of your experience, preparedness, etc. (we have Great White to thank for that one). Also, all professional fire performers carry their own specific liability insurance (yes it's totally different from any other insurance like health, homeowners, etc.). Many also take the extra step of getting their pyrotechnics license as well.

[Rolla]

haha, i meet none of the qualifications

[Ministryofhate]

lol nor do I and we are the 2 with the fire coming out of our mouths

[Rolla]

i am using part of a collapsible fishing pole with a cotton ball on top and i just change the cotton ball when needed the cotton ball is held on by a bent up paper clip it is way more convenient because it can go from 6 inches to a foot and a half (it fits in your pocket or a sand which sized zip lock bag) and the best part about it is that the torch reeked of kerosene but the fishing pole has no scent of kerosene once you remove the cotton ball the fire breathing is a lot of fun because there are no deserted places in my town but i found that the best place to do it is this area where only stoners hang out, so there is usually an audience of people that are insanely impressed

[ainemoire]

meh - screwing around in your own yard is a bit more "unofficial" - just pointing out some of the risks.
yeah sorry I don't have any userpics uploaded yet! :)
but if you'd like to see some performance pics, go here:
http://pics.livejournal.com/rant79
thanks! :)

[Tetranitrate]

trifecta

[ainemoire]

suck! well, for one of them you'll just have to wait patiently... sadly, the rest involve money.

[Rolla]

lol, sweetness! where do you do it at?

[ainemoire]

well, I used to perform at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, but now I just do private gigs.

[Rolla]

my friend wanted me to do it there but i fgured i'd get into some kind of trouble

[Rishnai]

Really, the question is how likely are your neighbors to call the cops? My neighbors would be at the fence with a camera and their kids saying "Oh look, the neighbor man's finally lost it! Stay back. Mijo, go get a fire extinguisher in case the wind shifts." If you do it in a park the cop might try to ticket you for open burning without a permit, reckless endangerment, or any other violation which tries to make stupidity a crime. I've had cops take model rockets before just to be assholes, and I've had cops tell me to take my potato cannon out to state land where only cows are around so I don't get a ticket for the noise. If you do it in the street you'll probably end up on the news even if it's not illegal. But no, you probably won't get arrested unless you live somewhere really uptight or do it near trees. And the fines around here aren't that high, so I'd just try it and see who stops me.

[Kuhan]

my neighbors would call the fire department. or rather, they did...

[Rolla]

Well I live in Fort Collins, Colorado so yes, everyone here is pretty badly stuck up

[pyro13]

I live in Longmont, Colorado, and my neighbors called the cops on me. turns out its not illegal, but they made me stop because they were :concerned for my safety. *sigh* people these days

[Rishnai]

Ouch, man. I've done some stuff there. Here in Denver, if you do anything pyro-like downtown, the cops are all over you, but if you go out to the suburbs, you're okay, probably. Last I met them the Fort Collins cops wouldn't have arrested me for this, but maybe stay on private property just to be safe. Maybe way out east on county road 14 if you feel the compulsion to do it somewhere else. Last I saw, that was pretty deserted.

[Rolla]

Still is pretty deserted, only farm land and field, but that is A WAYS AWAY from where i live, I'm over by Fort Collins High School

[Rishnai]

Ah. The old distance issue. Well good luck with your firebreathing experiments, wherever you try 'em!

[born-renegade]

u can aply to get a busking permit if you take a circus corse in fire and have the corect safety gear, i have none of these however, after perfecting my chosen fire acts i just do privet party's and make shore the host signs a disclaimer

[Rolla]

well i have no intention of taking a course, this will probably be a couple week hobby that i do a lot then forget about it till a party comes around

[snipegoat]

the kinda thing happens if you eat saltienes and gum

[hippieofvenus]

the best thing to carry fuel in is MSR containers which can be purchased at any camping supply place

[Altromer521]

I would recommend keeping the fuel in something like glass or metal, if for some reason the fuel is ignited it will melt threw a plastic container and go all over the floor (I've herd stories about this), I would for sure keep it in a glass or metal container while breathing anywhere near it. I do like how you mentioned labeling the container, that is very important. Also wire coat hangers, or metal shishkabob scewers work great for the torches, then you won't have to worry about wood getting burned and whatnot, it also seem to me that they are much easier to make, just wrap your wick around it sew it, and bend the end up to ensure the wick wont fly off while preforming.(I can post a pic of it if you'd like.

[tahra513]

I have 5 guys from a renaissance faire i work at teaching me how to breathe fire and they use Nalgene bottles to transport their liquid. Nalgene bottles have leak proof screw top lids and if you also juggle fire the mouth of them is large enough to dip the tips of your torches in.