Who Plays with Fire?

[Digital Prophet]

Ok, so barring that details I got a problem. I want to set something on fire. Let's say that it is ... rope. What I am looking for is a compound that will burn with a nice red flame. But it has to burn fairly well (i.e. bood size flames) and be controllable. I am think thinking that something in a gel form would be nice.

So far all I have come up with is Sterno (http://www.sterno.com/sterno/sterno_retail/welcome.aspx). It is easy to handle but doesn't really burn well.

As usual I am open to any idea.

- Digital Prophet -

[DocFrankenstein]

There's a common salt that will burn red... let me remember...

Copper salts burn green...
Salts of iron would be red... I think

I'll be back

[DocFrankenstein]

Scratch what I said above...

Copper gives you blue
If you want red you'll want strontium or lithium... preferrably carbonates of them, so that you don't get interference with other chemicals.

I don't know if I can help you with the solvent though... You want to soak the rope in it and make it burn red?

I know the salts will work if you just sprinkle them on the fire, but to make them burn is more complicated.

[CDickinson]

Depending on how long you want something to burn and what surface you are using, you can try flash cotton or soaking rope in rubbing alcohol. Make sure the rope is 100 percent cotton.

Cynthia

[PhotosGuy]

If you want red you'll want strontium or lithium... preferrably carbonates of them, so that you don't get interference with other chemicals. Or maybe strontium nitrate.
I could give you a formula for a powder that would burn red, but I don't think that it's what you want. Dissolving in alcohol would probably work best with a rope.

[Digital Prophet]

I had considered using lead ropes (1" thick braided cotton strands used for handling horses) and soaking then in a mix of Sterno and maybe gas. But I haven't yet. I want to be able to get some decent height flames. Maybe I need to just go with a natural gas powered setup. Something with a modified barbecue pit maybe?

I want a good photo, but am trying to not blow myself or my model up.

- Digital Prophet -

[PhotosGuy]

...and maybe gas Expect a lot of black smoke with that. but am trying to not blow myself or my model up. Where's the fun in that? ;-)

[Digital Prophet]

Good point on both parts. She has been a handful lately.

- Digital Prophet -

[CyberDyneSystems]

You DON'T want to use gas. Really really really. Bad idea.

[rdenney]

I had considered using lead ropes (1" thick braided cotton strands used for handling horses) and soaking then in a mix of Sterno and maybe gas. But I haven't yet. I want to be able to get some decent height flames. Maybe I need to just go with a natural gas powered setup. Something with a modified barbecue pit maybe?

Don't use anything that will flash, or that has explosive vapors. That means stay AWAY from gasoline. Natural gas and propane will burn sooty yellow but only if you deprive the flame of air, and it will be hard to feed the gas to the rope in any case. Alcohol burns with a clear flame--not helpful. A volatile fuel like alcohol might burn off in seconds leaving a smoldering mess of rope.

I would stick with either paraffin or kerosene. Both will burn yellow, but neither is explosive. Kerosene is easy to find as charcoal lighting fluid. Soak the rope (stick with cotton or hemp--not any sort of plastic) in kerosene and then light it using a long match. Don't dawdle--it will burn quickly. If you want a slower flame, soak the rope in melted paraffin wax, which you can buy in bricks at stores that sell supplies to home canners. It will burn more slowly than kerosene, but the flame might be too organized for your purposes. A rope soaked in paraffin will still look like a rope if you pull it out of the melted wax, and wipe it down with a hot rag quickly. You are essentially making a candle with a fat wick.

Rick "who would never bring flame to explosive or flammable vapors" Denney

[DocFrankenstein]

But the problem is that both paraffin and kerosene will give the yellow cast which would render the flame orange...

I don't think I've actually seen a red flame from burning something liquid, only in fireworks and playing around with chemicals.

You have a serious physics problem with red because it's a low energy wavelength. For some reason most of the flames are yellow, or higher energy level... meaning green blue... but not red.

[felix21685]

well you guys said lithium burns read..take some sterligtek bats and pop off the cover and throw the cell into a fire :) NOT ...besides lithium cells are extremely dangerous if overcharged even..
dont even think about throwing them anywhere..hot

[rdenney]

But the problem is that both paraffin and kerosene will give the yellow cast which would render the flame orange...

Expose the rest of the image in blue light and adjust for natural color balance and the flame will turn red or at least deep orange.

Or recolor the flame in Photoshop.

Just burn stuff that's safe to burn.

Rick "with visions of chemistry sets and fire trucks" Denney

[DocFrankenstein]

LOL

I'm not advising on the use of benzene, I've had a few experiences with it myself... including burned hair, 2nd degree burns and a burned part of the forest. That stuff is dangerous... but fun when you're a kid

[twl845]

light a candle and make the flame red in photoshop.