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Harlequin Special user Melbourne, Australia 686 Posts |
A few years back now, I had these metal 'flames from palms' gimmicks, that I had toyed with now and then, anyway one evening I was showing my wife the effect from the darkened doorway of our living room, when suddenly one of the gimmicks became a little too hot and in a natural human reaction I pulled my hand back quickly (in pain) and the gimmick flew from my hand to the carpeted floor, spilling lit into various spot fires right in front of me. Thankfully I was wearing shoes and was able to stomp out the small fires before the house went up. And guess what, soon after that I took those gimmicks right back to the magic dealer and traded them in!
Oh yeah, so my question is, what is the safest fire effect you have bought, ie. one you think has the least chance of doing potential damage to the performer, audience and venue? |
ClouDsss Inner circle 1799 Posts |
IMO fire effects are never 'safe'
theres always a potential risk involved in watever fire effects that you do. you can never discount the possibility that they might be a faulty element in the gimmick which will cause some problems during the show (e.g, melted Wick, etc) cheerios
Think outside the box, cos people are all thinking inside now!! - ClouDsss
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Red_Wing_II Regular user Enchanted Mitten 164 Posts |
I agree with clouDsss, no fire is "SAFE", if used without regard to safety. But I can also say that some effects are safer than others. I personally feel flash paper is relitively "safe". With that said, there was ONE time that reminded me that I was playing with fire. 98% of the time flash paper burns so fast that there is not enough heat generated to bring other material up to the tempature that is needed for it to start on fire. Its the other 2% of the time, I wasn't counting on. I was wearing a sweater that was made of a material that got fuzzy through washing. I was also doing pyro perception in which I light a flash pad in my hand for a card revelation, everything went as expected but when I lit the paper and let it go it hit my **** sleve and set these tiny strands of fabric on fire. The fire spread over most of my sweater before going out on it's own removing the fuzzies as it went. It completely shocked the crowd (myself as well) and they applauded thinking it was part of the show. I got lucky. That expierence has given me a new respect for anything dealing with fire. It hasn't stopped me mind you, but I alwasys remember that moment and think about it before any fire effect.
And after all that I still think flash paper is the safest fire gimmick I use. |
Harlequin Special user Melbourne, Australia 686 Posts |
I should have mentioned that in my opinion, a trick like warlocks candle is one that I consider 'relatively' safe as the flame is 'usually' only a big bigger than a standard candle flame and (at least with my version) if it was accidently dropped, the flame goes out.
In regard to ClouDsss comment, there's no question about the inherent danger involved with fire. I'm interested in peoples opinions about fire tricks that have been designed with some safety considerations or are considered by magicians to be safer than others, as in Red_Wing_II's example of flash paper. |
daz222 Elite user Wales 439 Posts |
Hi, I feel thaqt the safest thing to use for when something goes wrong and you nees it out quickly is probably 'Inviso tourch' by Jim Pace as this is meant to go out when you let go of it.
I also think that flash paper is the safest thing in this themem of magic as I havent yet done that bader (?) thing with it... yet! One thing to look out for when using it though is that you don't hold it for to long as it then burns slower where you were holding, thus making it feel hotter, so making you jump, this has happened to me many a time before now! Also if you don't let go and just hold a small piece in your hand then it will go out when it gets to your hand, so save those bits and have an extra effect! =-] |
B.K.Pal New user India 74 Posts |
Extreme caution always. Apart from extinguishers,water,sand etc.handy, a faithful assistant must keep his gaze on you from backstage while you perform an effect using Fire.
Sincerely Yours,....PAL
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
B.K.Pal hit it on the head.
If you are doing fire, you always need someone nearby who knows what is part of your routine and what is not. You certainly don't want to be running across the stage screaming and in flames while the guy with the fire extinguisher is standing on the sidelines enjoying the "show". BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
It's also a very intellegent thing, to wear either wool or cotton clothing...no artificial or mixed fabrics. Forget polyester. It melts into your skin.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
B.K.Pal New user India 74 Posts |
Is wool safe?
Sincerely Yours,....PAL
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Slim Price Inner circle 1935 - 2006 1326 Posts |
No fabric can be considered safe! That said, at least wool will not melt on your skin. When I started eating fire in 1949, my first torches were strips of an old woolen sweater, colored a bilius green... with coat hanger handles.
Slim
sanscan@tds.net
"I will never bitter be, as long as I can laugh at me!" "The people who were dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music" |
James Watkins Elite user 412 Posts |
All fire tricks are DANGEROUS. There is no such thing as a sfafe fire trick, but the safest prop (which is still not guaranteed safe!!) is flash paper. It has the least potential for harming you or the spectator, etc., because of how fast it burns up. Again, though, this too is still dangerous.
Later, James |
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