Trying to make a "fireball"

[FelixFire]

I saw something on Ebay that I'm trying to duplicate, and not having a whole lot of luck so far.

What I saw were these little balls (about 1.5 inch diameter) that you could light completely on fire, and put in a little dish, and they burn for a couple hours. (I guess you should actually put it in the dish before lighting it, LOL) They look like they throw off about a one-foot high flame - perfect for fire rituals and marking quarters and such.

I tried mixing cedar "sawdust" with beeswax - no go.
I tried using a LOT of dried; sage, pine needles and juniper needles, with little beeswax. Still no go! What the heck!?

The problem seems to be that the wax more or less smothers the fire - I need something that will work like a wick, but isn't a wick, since I'd like the whole thing to ignite. I know it can be done, somehow!!

I have salt petre, but I'm trying to avoid using it, or sulphur. I could try paraffin instead of beeswax - it does burn much faster, but somehow using petroleum sludge doesn't seem right for magical purposes.

Any ideas, beyond "keep experimenting"? (Which I will continue to do...I WILL figure this out before Samahin!!!)

[Old Witch]

Be Careful!!!!

[Silverfern]

Try a combo of beeswax and normal candle wax you get a lot nicer candles this way maybe it'll work for your balls.

Keep us posted!

[st0rm]

old house paint will burn just fine... u could try sulfur saltpetre and arabian rubber (rubber arabicum), u know the stuff u use when making a fuse...

[FelixFire]

OldWitch - thanks. :) I am indeed being quite careful. I like fire, but not when it's consuming my house or my eyebrows, LOL.

Silverfern - "regular" candle wax is paraffin, which I'm trying to avoid. Paraffin is made as a by-product when they're refining petroleum products, and so to me it isn't appropriate for magical work if it can be avoided. Just a personal preference. :) Beeswax, on the other hand, is my buddy. I make beeswax candles, solid perfumes, lip balm, and I'm experimenting with using it with solid dyes as a painting medium, like the Egyptians used to do. Beeswax actually burns a LOT longer than paraffin, and at a higher temperature. Plus I have something like 20 pounds of it on hand. :) (Okay, I'll shut up now...I can talk forever about beeswax, I'm kind of obsessed with the stuff, LOL)

st0rm - if I can't figure any other way, I'll add salt petre and sulphur, but I don't like the way they smell, so I'm trying to avoid it if I can. I've thought about making the top layer salt petre & sulphur laden, thinking maybe if it just gets STARTED the whole thing will go. But I haven't given up quite yet on a blend that excludes those two. :) What, by the way, is arabian rubber? I don't know how to make fuses, so I'm not familiar with it. Is it a natural rubber, or is it petroelum-based? And does it stink when you burn it? I'd like these to smell good, if possible.

Thanks for the ideas! Keep 'em coming, please! :)

[Silverfern]

I thought of that when I was reading in bed :rolleyes:


What about using equal quantities of sage etc and beeswax.

I've got to try this now, sounds really cool is it still on ebay or do you have a picture of it??

[Silverfern]

http://www.arts.state.al.us/actc/articles/fireball.htm

http://www.repp.org/discussion/stoves/200102/msg00054.html

I found these 2 sites the second ectually explains how to make them.

Hope thats what you where thinking of

[st0rm]

nice with the sawdust... but ill have to try "my way" someday.. i think it will turnout to be a ball with the consistensy of winegum or maybe softer, arabic rubber is used in candy, so i guess its natural....

[FelixFire]

Silverfern,

Yeah, here's one of the ebay listings: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=723370750

If they didn't want $9.00 for them, I'd be tempted to buy one and see if I couldn't just dissect it, LOL. The only clue they give is that it's made with herbs and incenses, and are fragrant. That's what I want to make!

Thanks for those links - can you imagine throwing flaming balls of yarn around?? Sheesh! Sounds like quite a sight though! Starch, huh? I wouldn't have thought of that solution! Hmmm, time to go to the grocery store... If I can't do it with wax, I'll definitely give the starch a shot. :) Thanks!

st0rm,

Oh! I think maybe I know what you're talking about now! I think I know of the same stuff by the name of "gum arabic". (?) A thickening agent, right?

I have been experimenting some more, I made one that will burn if you lay a match on top and leave the match there. I did it by using about half the wax, and adding more resins to the herbs. I think maybe even less wax might do the trick, but my hubby only lets me have this mess out for so many days in a row before getting annoyed, LOL. So I'll have to let it rest a few days before I dig out all my junk and try again. :)

If/when I get a successful recipe, I'll be sure to share it. :)

[Silverfern]

Felixfire

Thanks for the link I had a look at their other auctions and in one of them they have the outside balls and they actually tell you whats in it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1776983083

[Sowelu]

hmmm, I wonder if ground up self-lighting charcoal blocks would work mixed with the other ingredients???

[FelixFire]

Ah, you smarty-pants, you! Silverfern - great eyes! I didn't even think to read the other auctions, I assumed they all said the same thing!

Oak chips, huh? That makes sense, for longevity of the burn. *nods as if I suspected it all along*

Guess there's nothing to do but keep experimenting!! :) I have some oak firewood in the garage I can chisel up...

Thank you! :)

[Sowelu]

Lemme' know how they turn out Felix, I have a growing interest in these as well:)

[Silverfern]

My bf is not very happy about this post I bought a lot of beeswax and starting to set the house on fire :D

I dont seem to get it right so far I have managed to get it to smoulder but no good flames so far :mad:

[FelixFire]

Me too, Silverfern...smouldering seems easy, actual flames not so easy.

I've been laid up for a few days with the flu, I probably won't be up to trying again until this weekend. But I haven't given up yet!!!

[VroomBroom]

not good at working with the falming objects.....but I am deffinatly going to buy a set of those for my cauldron!! I have never seen anything like those before, I love 'em!;)

[Tammy Sullivan]

How did they turn out? Did you ever get the mixture right? If you did please post it for me, I would like to try it too.....