I heard yesterday (from a layman) that there is an effect where it appears that you are burning a handkerchief or similar with no damage.



He said the routine usually starts with a handkerchief actually burning (lighter fluid being the fuel) but the second time a mixture of 50% water and 50% acetone was used. Apparently the acetone burns but the water keeps the handkerchief from being consumed.



Anyone heard of this?





_________________

Ray Banks

I know of a way of doing it, but I have never heard of the acetone/water mixture?



The way I know of, you use alchohol.

He said it was like using alcohol to have a fire in your hand but not burn.



Not sure I'm ready to try the hand bit yet.

Alcohol burns very HOT , sounds like a risky venture to me. I would advise extreme caution. Good luck!

I know. I'm not going to try it.



It just tweaked my curiosity a bit.



The guy who told me about it works in Space Shuttle Safety and is a paramedic. Maybe he's trying to drum up some business for both organizations!

Just a thought here.......

How about using Cold Fire.... the stuff
fire-eaters use? I think Abbott’s carries it

Whadda ya think?


Bengi

As a fire-eater of over 20 years experience, I must say that I don’t use, nor have I ever heard of a fire-eater using anything called “cold-fire”! I use cotton torches and any non-lead flammable fuel (I use a lighter fluid that burns with a nice orange flame). Trust me the flame is hot and it burns, even if you know what you are doing.



That said, I don't know every fire-eater in the world, but I do know a dozen or so that earn a big piece of their living performing playing with (and eating) fire.

Mumblepeas,

How is it you know so many people who've had my wife's cooking?

Ray I sent you a PM, but never got a response. If you would please E-mail me I would appreciate it.

I don't know a great deal about this subject.
But I have used this so called "COLD-FIRE"
...It's anything but cold and can really warm your fingers up... It's also Toxic and should never be put in the mouth... It can be had state side by Stevens Magic Emp... and in Switzerland from Zauberland in Zurich I used to use a few fire things in my street show ...but found it to be messy and to time consuming to set-up and I removed my eyebrows once and thought.. That's it!!!
...But hey fire is great for stage work... When traveling with flash cotton or paper.. make sure you wet it good before boarding a plane... If they get you with any pyro-stuff on a domestic or international flight... Your in big trouble-Boy!!!...

I have in my possession a book entitled ‘Science Magic’ by Kenneth M. Swezey (great book – published 1955).

It details an effect (though it’s not actually a magic book as such) called the Unburnable Handkerchief:

“The secret lies in the liquid, which consists of 2 parts surgical spirit mixed with 1 part of water. Squeeze out the excess liquid and hold the handkerchief with tongs… Only the alcohol burns; the water keeping the temperature of the cloth so low that that handkerchief itself can’t catch fire.”

There’s a large picture of someone doing it and I have to say it looks very much like it works. One note I’d add: I’d steer well clear of handkerchiefs made of anything other than cotton – I suspect the fabric still gets pretty warm – if not actually enough to scorch it.

BTW, I could be imagining it but I seem to recall trying something like this once. My advice would also be to not to attempt to try a patch of the handkerchief but to do the whole thing. If you do a patch (as I remember it) it tends to scorch around the edge of the wetted area.

Cheers,

Matthew Blackwell

A local fire-eater swears by Coleman's White Fuel.

McBride has an effect on His Video (I dont recall the name of the video but it is one of the 2 video set) where he has a flame abou the size of a large candle flame travel around on the top of a Cloth, and the cloth is Not gimmicked at all.

The Effect is part of his presentation with McBride's Candle, and it plays well with the candle, but it certainly could be done without the candle - by using the right replacement device.

BroDavid

They used to sell something called 'Volcano' in Davenports that sounds a lot like this. Anyone familiar with it?

Cheers,

Matthew Blackwell

What I use is simply a piece of cotton which I made wett and put some cleaning gasoline one (the brand where you can clean everything with, so no smoke). What I have to do is spinning it around otherwise it gets to hot on the fingers. It produces a big flame and a big effect!!! so watch out.
After the burn you get some smoke from the water, the cotton is not being burned


Steven