Ready for an inexpensive, easy way to impress your friends and family? This is it! Materials for this project come from around the house.
Fire-wire shows that with enough oxygen, steel wool will burn just fine. A firework style pyrotechnic display is achieved when tiny pieces fly off the steel wool as you swing it in a circle…very cool!
| Danger Level | Materials | Tools |
| negligible | Extra Fine Steel Wool | Lighter or Matches |
| moderate | 1/8″ x 6′ Steel Rope | |
| HIGH | ||
| do not do this | ||
how-to
1. Dress yourself in pants, a hooded long-sleeve shirt, and safety glasses. There will be sparks flying everywhere so it is vital to protect your skin and face. Also find an open area without anything flammable nearby.
2. Tie a slip knot at the end of the steel rope. Steel rope is necessary because the heat will be intense.
3. Tighten the slip knot around a wad of steel wool.
4. Use a lighter or match to start the wool burning then quickly start swinging the rope around in a circle.
5. Clean up: When the wool is finished sparking the remaining metal will glow red hot for a long time, so have a bucket of water handy to cool it off.
One Response to “Firewire”
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April 28th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Recently tried this at Ocotillo wells with some friends, worked much better than expected. Remember to swing your steel wool perpendicular to the crowd. Wearing glasses and a hooded sweatshirt was a must. We lit it very easily in the camp fire, havent tried the battery trick yet.
This one is a winner!