Hello, so you've decided to make yourself some chucks or similar fire spinning equipment eh? Well first, you need to know what materials to (and not to) use. This post is here to help you with that.
Metals:Steels:-
(Mild) Steel This is your standard steel. It's very tough, will take a lot to bend it. However, with sustained heat it does tend to kink and deform slightly. This isn't too much of a problem with firespinning equipment, but it's good to go for stainless instead to avoid this. Also, this can tend to rust sometimes.
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Cast Iron This is very brittle. It will shatter if you drop it enough times, and heat only makes it worse. Avoid.
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Stainless (chrome) steel The best material. A little heavy for chucks, but it doesn't transfer heat (too much), won't rust, won't bend and is generally a very good all round metal.
Other metals:-
Copper This is ok to use briefly, but it will stretch when heated up, and can kink. It also transfers heat really well, and so if you accidental catch the chucks near the wicks you'll end up getting burnt. Not good. It can also give off smelly fumes when it overheats.
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Aluminium Is an ok metal for chucks, but tends to buckle quite easily unless you get thick tubing. Also tends to conduct well (unless dowel is used inside).
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Brass Sorta tough & strong, but if heated too hot it will release fumes as well, and lose it's strength. Best to avoid.
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Others If it isn't here, it's probably not good, but feel free to drop me a PM or post here, and I'll look it up.
Metal Coatings:-
Zinc Platings Metals with zinc platings are best left alone. You can tell if something does buy asking what you're buying or by looking for a bluish tint in the light. While great for preventing corrosion, they give off zinc fumes when heated up. This can cause what's known as 'Metal Fume Fever'.
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Nickel Platings Basically the same thing. Avoid if possible.
Metal Fume Fever:Metals like zinc and copper release some noxious fumes if heated above around 150 degrees. If these metals are on your spinning equipment, you'll be breathing in lots of fumes you don't really want to be for a prolonged time.
If you get metal fume fever, you'll know about it. It feels a lot like the flu. A dull headache, disorientation, raised temperature and dry mouth are among the most common symptoms. The important thing is, if you feel any of these symptoms, stop spinning immediately. Extinguish, sit down and drink a glass of water If you're lucky and you caught it in time, you should feel ok within a couple of hours (though I'd advise against spinning for the rest of the night). If you're less lucky, you'll feel crap for about a day.
So by all means go out and get yourself some stuff to make some chucks with. Just read this first!
