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Before you make a set of Fire Twisters you should read the information in Fire Spining and
Twirling Dangers. Juggling these can be extremely dangerous and should only be used after
many, many months of practice, (I spent ten years training) then you should only light one of
them at a time to get use to the heat generated and with being so close to the body the
Flames.
To make a set of these you need two pieces of chrome plated tubing most D.I.Y.., Hardware
shops 3/4” inch x 13” inch, some high tensile nylon cord I find the cord from marine shops the
best. Tape, I find electrical tape the best, The first thing that needs to be done is to make two
12 mm holes in one end 5. cm from the end of the tubing then four 12 mm hole in the other
end 3. cm from the end, in a vice if possible. if not use a hand operated drill mark were the
drill needs to go then use a hammer and nail to make an indentation in the tubing stops the
drill bit slipping. All the edges need to be filed and smoothed round with emery paper.
This is a very basic design which isn't flawless.
Hacksaw or pipe cutter: Vice: (if possible) Drill: hand\power 12 mm drill bit: two flathead
screwdrivers: one Philips screwdriver depending on bolts. Bradle: Click here for photo of
tools
2 pieces 19 mm Tubing: Nylon string: Tape: Wick: 2 zinc metric pan head Nuts and Bolts M6
X 20 MM:
You need to insert one end of the cord into the end with the two holes, then thread it through
a 12 mm hole around the tube and through the other 12 mm hole and back out of the end
repeat this process on the other tube. Next you need to adjust the length of string which is
connecting the two tubes it needs to measure around 10.5 cm-14.0 cm then tie the ends of
the string in a reef knot then tie the ends with cotton thread and wrap a small amount of tape
on the ends to make secure. [these should be checked periodically] then wrap tape around
the tube from the connected end to no more than a third of the way down wrap around the
tube at least three times.
This serves a few purposes i.e.. stops hands getting burned (quite important) helps with grip
also when you feel the glue of the tape you know they need cooling down. Make sure you
wrap plenty of tape around the end were the cord connects the tubing, as this is a bad safety
problem unless you have the tools to turn the edges over even then you still need tape as
backup. This keeps the cord in place and if it the cord snaps you still have the backup cord
which will last long enough for you to stop. When wrapping tape overlap the edge and cord,
then cut the ends of the tape i.e..: north, south, east, west, then fold the tape inwards. Repeat
this twice. That's the complicated end. Now for the other end.
you need a good Quality Wick 2 x M6 x 20 mm bolts. wrap the wick around the tubing no
more than twice to start of with then check inside for the nearest drill hole then with the
Bradle or screwdriver puncture a hole through then feed the bolt through and fix the nut. This
can be fiddley rest the nut on the bolt and use the screwdriver to turn the nut, when you
tighten the nut try using two screwdrivers one to tighten the bolt the other to stop the nut
turning (yes try a ring spanner and see what happens) other wise there you have a set When
you start using Twisters check the cord, check the cord, check the cord check the “okay” get
the idea, this is one of the most fragile parts and you should take great care not just for your
safety but for the people who watch. When using these remember don’t use them as
Nunchaku use them like someone twirling poi. Check out Fire twister videos for some free
downloads of some close ups showing how they are manipulated around the hand and wrist.
Check out the photos of the tools you need also photos taking you through the stages of
making a set.
Before you use fire twisters with new wicks you should put them in a large metal bucket with
a large base. And put just enough fuel in to cover the wicks and let them soak for 24 hours.
This helps tighten the wick and makes them last longer. What you need and should do before
setting them alight. Fire blanket, first-aid box with burn bags, two metal buckets 1 large 1
small, two bottles of water, towel. put the twisters into the large bucket then put in a small
amount of fuel in, just enough to cover about half way up the wick leave for a minimum 2
minutes shake off any excess fuel into the bucket then put them in the small bucket for a
minimum of 5 minutes, (dampen the towel with water), shake of any more fuel they are then
ready to set on fire. do not light or take fire twisters near fuels. these will only stay alight for
about 1 minute the first time after that they will stay alight for up to five minutes the faster the
moves the shorter the time. Put the them out before they burn out this will help the wick last
longer. If you can’t blow them out wrap the damp towel around them this will put them out
make sure they are out and not smoldering never put smoldering or any twisters that are still
on fire back into the fuel bucket, when you dip the fuel helps cool down the twisters after a
few times the fuel starts to warm up which makes it very combustible which is very easy to
ignite. Never leave fuel lying around in unopened containers. put some sand down were you
have the buckets this will help absorb the fuel that splatters when shaking of the excess fuel.
Bio Diesel
Looking for a safer eco-friendly fuel try bio diesel, which is claimed, is completely
non-toxic and carbon Neutral. At the moment Bio diesel is not readily available so
why not make your own all you need is vegetable cooking oil and Methanol as
found in ordinary white spirit. What I can tell you is this fuel will run a diesel car.
How to make cheap Bio Diesel Go to any place that does a lot of cooking and ask
them for some of there old cooking oil you should get this free as most
restaurants, burger bars usually have to pay people to get rid of there old used
cooking oil. Next Sieve the old oil to get out any bits. Next you need to mix 3mls of
white spirit to 97mls of cooking oil this is the best ratio for running a car.
After some preliminary tests on wicks you need to mix the white spirit with the
cooking oil at a ratio of 20% white spirit to 80% cooking oil to get it to burn. When
mixed right, the flame is about the same as Paraffin / Kerosene and about the
same amount of smoke. I did notice that you got the smell of what the oil had
been cooked in, when I tried this with clean cooking oil all I got was the smell of
cooking oil. (Yet to try with perfume mixed with it to see if it smells better) The
flame of this mixture seems to last a little longer than paraffin / kerosene but when
the flame is put out it smokes longer than paraffin.
ã Juggling with a Twist 2002.
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