Hey all,
I'm really interested in getting into performing effects with Flash Paper. I know what effects are possible, however I've never been near any type of flash paper, never mind know what to do with it.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend any ways of how to get into it.... eg. any books/videos?

Any help appreciated,

Simon.

If you scroll down through the forum sections you will find one called "Up in Smoke." You should be able to find plenty of information there to get you started. Good luck and stay safe!

Paul M.

A word of caution:
DON'T BURN YOURSELF!

-Chris

(Just kidding. It won't burn you.)

Chris writes: "(Just kidding. It won't burn you.)"

Oh, yes it will!

That's why you can't send it through the mail; it is, after all, a low-grade explosive.

Earlier this year, close-up worker Joe Raven lost several fingers when a flash product he was working with went off prematurely.

The potassium mixture is extremely flammable and somewhat unstable.

That's why magicians who are new to flash products are continually told to buy it from a dealer and not try to make it themselves.

This is a dangerous product!

BE CAREFUL!

How does one typically ignite it?
Flame?
Rub?

My ignorance showing...

Paper is usually ignited with a flame of some sort (i.e. a match, candle, or cigarette). Flash cottons are ignited with a flint device or electronic glow plugs.

The best thing you can do is discuss what you want to do with a knowledgeable dealer and follow the instructions you are given. All pyrotechnics must be handled with knowledge and respect. I know a lot of magicians who use them safely and effectively, but I have also known people who have been mutilated or killed by messing with this stuff improperly.

Thanks,
Richard Green

In Kevin James' Floating Rose, he uses flash paper to fold in half and then fold into a rose and then light on fire. If I were going to do this effect, do you forsee any problems that might arise regarding the use of the flash paper?

The main thing would be to make sure the rose is not near anything that could catch fire. This includes yourself and your spectator. The flame is quick, but still lasts about 1.5 seconds. If you have a tape of this effect, watch it and observe how the magician positions himself and the spectator for the burn.

Good Luck,
Richard Green

Peter is right on the money.

Flash paper, while wonderful, can and does burn. I have suffered the burn of not attending to what I was doing when using it.

If you are going to use, please attend to what you are doing and treat it with respect. Also, please store it in a cool, dry location away from any combustion.

I think the best trick with flash paper is Jay Sankey's "In a Flash." Definitely a jaw dropper, and it's easy to do to!

When I was working on the Riverboats on the Mississippi about twenty-five years ago, Captain Jim Ford folded a piece of aluminum foil in half four or five times and dropped the packet in my hand. It warmed up and burned to ash (I dropped it on the table and watched it smoke). Was it flash paper in the foil? Or what?
Any thoughts would be helpful.
Thanks

(For a mild reaction) Magnesium and Water, see my later post.

Magnesium and water? Is this safe? Where can I get the magnesium? Is there patter to use with this trick? After being in the army for several years, I love pyro tricks.
Steve
zzz

Thanks, Geoff, I'm on the track of information about magnesium and water now (and aluminum?) Any tips on where to find it? I find I'm never short of patter.
Thanks again.

Hi, I just bought flash paper and it was wet. Well, not soggy wet, it's like damp. It still works when you light it, but will it work if I dry it out? Or was I ripped off?
Because I think that the wetness helps the chemical reaction.

And how do I fold a piece of flash paper like 4 cm length, 2 cm width, so it will burn continually, because I keep lighting it twice before it all disappears?

Thanx in advance.

Shaddy: Flash paper needs to be dry to work properly. Federal law requires it be mailed wet. Now you've just got to put it in a safe dry place, preferably in sunlight, and let it sit.

It is more likely to be using an organic liquid sold as "hypno-heat". This warms up any metal (such as aluminium/aluminum foil). I never did run an IR spec of the liquid to find out what it was, but as a chemistry undergraduate I should have an opportunity.

Anyone else know what liquid "hypno-heat" is?

How is flash paper set off? Won't it ignite if left in the sunlight?

Flash paper is set off with a heat or flame source.
If it is dried out enough, it could possibly ignite in the sunlight.
THIS IS DANGEROUS STUFF -- DON'T FOOL WITH IT!
Hypno Heat, as referred to by Unclesnake, is not much better. Very unstable and hard to adjust and control. You could seriously burn someone with this and, in these litigious times, how many lawsuits can one afford?
Magnesium is bad enough; as for using potassium and similar elements, NO, NO, NO!
Well, not unless you want to blow your fool self up!
And you will, eventually.
And when it happens, don't say I didn't warn you!

Yeah, whatever you do, don't mess with anything far down in the first column of the periodic table.

A few times in high school I have had science teachers demonstrate just how destructive potassium is by tossing extremely small amounts of it into a water bath. It literally ignites in a flash and violently burns out (one blew up the glass container it was tossed into, too).