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troppobob Veteran user Crescent Head Australia 372 Posts |
Giday fellow pyrointerested persons
I recently purchased an amazing effect produced by Juan Mayoral from Spain. This bloke is renowned for things exploding into flame in a very entertaining way. The effect involves a candle that you light, and then mysteriously you are waving a silk hanky, and then it bursts into flame (assisted by lighter fluid and the candle) and then it has disappeared and you are holding a metal cane in the hand that was holding the flaming silk. I plan to use this as an opener in venues that are safe for this type of performance. My problem: The instruction and even Jaun himself assued me that the silk will last 30 burns before needing replacement as it all happens very quickly. However I just about destroyed mine on the first actual fire run and it is now full of holes. I am wondering: 1. Would significantly more lighter fuid mean that only the liquid would have burned and not the silk but it worries me to have it to wet as I might have to much combustable liquid on Hand (to end up on my hands). 2. Maybe if I had been quicker this would have reduced the burning time before it is extinguished with the appearance of the cane. 3. Does any one know of or can point me in the right direction to find out about a paint on or spray on clear fire retardant that may incresae the life of the silk with out making it lose its flexibilty? Thankyou for you consideration. I will also send of an e-mail to Juan as he may be able to shed some light with out the heat. Troppo Bob |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Bob, I saw this effect demonstrated a few years ago at a convention. I was in the front row of the auditorium and could feel the heat from the flaming silk. Yes, you have to saturate the silk with the lighter fluid so only it burns. There obviously is a timing issue before the silk turns to ashes though. I believe the person demonstrating the effect wore gloves during the saturation process.
Where the magic begins
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
The key would definitely be to have enough fuel so that the fuel burned instead of the fabric.
A number of fire effects rely on this fact. And just think about a wick in a lamp. The wick burns very little, as long as there is fuel. Timing is also important with fire, and although I don't know this particular effect - although I like the description a lot, but I imagine that practice (got a lot of old silks?) would show what you need to know. And it is always a good idea to ask the creator, if you have access to them. Good luck, and stay safe. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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troppobob Veteran user Crescent Head Australia 372 Posts |
Giday Brodavid and Dave
Thankyou for your thoughts. I will keep working on this one when I update my supply of silks. I purchased 2 new cans of lighter fluid and some gloves so ensure my skin stays cool while getting it sorted out. Troppo Bob |
magiker Loyal user Sweden 283 Posts |
I had this when it first came outin about 1993.
I too had this problem, I switched to a cotton hanky and more fluid it then lasted for about 26 shows.
Magiker
Believe in the possibility of the impossible |
limkris Regular user Belgium 166 Posts |
Have you tried saturating the silk with plain water first?
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