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cduma

Thu May 06 2010, 02:27PM

Registered Member #1822 Joined: Fri Nov 21 2008, 08:04PM
Location:
Posts: 300

I have no idea where to put this thread since it is several topics

I want to create a massive fireball for Haunted Yard attraction for halloween.

My idea involves a compressed cylinder of air held back an electrically actuated butterfly valve with gas(or a very fine powder) on top and electrial ignition.

The basic idea is that ~200mS after the valve is opened the ignitor activates and WOOMPF!

Comments?

MinorityCarrier

Thu May 06 2010, 03:40PM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

Look up "propane canon". The Hollywood effects version.

Hope you have good insurance for when you burn down part of your neighborhood during R&D. I'd expect you'll get a visit from men in dark suits and sunglasses also.

Hon1nbo

Thu May 06 2010, 06:46PM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1040

MinorityCarrier wrote ...

Look up "propane canon". The Hollywood effects version.

Hope you have good insurance for when you burn down part of your neighborhood during R&D. I'd expect you'll get a visit from men in dark suits and sunglasses also.

that depends if it's for a private party or part of the public display and what state he's in

anyways, Propane is the standard, but if simplicity is key here, and you don't care about reloading after uses, you can use an air launched Alcohol. With all flame cannon designs gas or liquid, a little bit of flammable material can go a long way, so be conservative and for goodness' sake take care using it!

-Jimmy

MinorityCarrier

Fri May 07 2010, 12:39AM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

After that moron's stunt in Times Square, anything having to do with propane fireballs is bound to attract the attention of The Man.

But seriously, I'd recommend that cduma talks to his local fire marshal. A 'controlled fireball' for entertainment purposes may be legal so long as he has some sort of official permit/prior demonstration approval. I used a big propane torch to burn weeds on my property when I lived in Idaho, but I had to get a Burn Permit first.

Proud Mary

Fri May 07 2010, 12:56AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

MinorityCarrier wrote ...

After that moron's stunt in Times Square, anything having to do with propane fireballs is bound to attract the attention of The Man.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, The Man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth

Hon1nbo

Fri May 07 2010, 01:40AM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1040

it's not hard to get approval, as long as you allow them to inspect your setup, give them the time, burn conditions are good, etc - I got my local fire marshal's approval for a flame cannon based off of alcohol pretty easily, however you appear to be using it for a public display. This is a different matter, unless it is for a private party, because then there is an "audience" which means you are no longer doing a one off effect for yourself, but rather it is a Flame Special Effect requiring a license in many states. Depending on circumstances, you could get approval anyways but it isn't as easy. If the party is private, and there are under a certain amount of people present in proximity (in Texas it's 50) then you can get away with it if you conform to standard burn regulations. If it is public for say trick or treaters, then good luck.

-Jimmy

radiotech

Fri May 07 2010, 02:36AM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546

anyways, Propane is the standard, but

Propane has issues if released in the open and ignition fails. Could seep down and inside some space experiencing a draw draught and reach its LEL.

GhostNull

Fri May 07 2010, 10:20AM

Registered Member #2648 Joined: Sun Jan 24 2010, 12:45PM
Location: Australia
Posts: 291

Proud Mary wrote ...

MinorityCarrier wrote ...

After that moron's stunt in Times Square, anything having to do with propane fireballs is bound to attract the attention of The Man.

ROFL

MinorityCarrier: Why do you need to burn weeds?

MinorityCarrier

Fri May 07 2010, 09:31PM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

In Nampa Idaho I had 1.49 acres of land with an irrigation canal, wier, leaky headgates and a small spring. Weeds were a problem. Couldn't afford a lot of herbicide so I burned weeds to keep them from going to seed (also a pyromaniac, but that's another story).

Adam Munich

Mon Jul 05 2010, 06:25PM

Registered Member #2893 Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242

Too big?

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