Ultimately, your fuel of choice should be the one that is least offensive to your senses; everyone has their own personal preferences for fuel, so a little trial and error is necessary to find yours. Fuels like kerosene and paraffin have high flash points, meaning they don’t ignite easily. This is desirable for fire blowing because you want to minimize your risk of “blowback” or igniting the fuel’s fumes while performing. [2] X Research source Kerosene produces a lot of smoke and is also the most dangerous (due to its mostly unrefined quality) of the high flash point fuels; many people also say it tastes and smells terrible![3] X Research source All petroleum-based fuels are extremely toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing); these should never come anywhere near your mouth! Even non-toxic fuels such as paraffin should not be inhaled; even minor inhalation of these fuels can cause serious respiratory issues like lipoid pneumonia. [4] X Research source
Find binding specialized for fire blowers or that is specifically designed to resist burning; this can be found through juggling specialty retailers online (such as at Dube. com). Stay away from cotton cord or typical rope, as these burn easily![6] X Research source You may use anything for the stick portion of the torch that is not flammable. Many people use bent wire coat hangers for this because they are non-flammable, lightweight, and do not transfer heat easily. The stick should be at least 12 inches long. Choose a wick material that does not burn quickly; otherwise your torch will burn itself out too early. Make your wick tip small for your first few practices. Once you have figured out whether you are getting the right sized flame, you can adjust the size of subsequent wicks to reduce or enlarge your flame. Bind the wick to the handle at the base of the wick material, leaving enough exposed material to easily soak with fuel and let it burn for a while.
Make sure no fuel gets onto the handle (stick) of the torch when it is dipped. Even though this material should be non-flammable, it will still light if it has fuel on it.
Make sure there is no fuel on your hand before you light the wick. Choose an ignition source that can be easily started with one hand, since you will be holding the torch with your other hand. Select an ignition source that allows you to keep your hand at least a few inches from the wick when you are lighting it; something with a long handle or nozzle, such as a barbeque lighter, is a good option.
In order to prevent accidental inhalation of fuel vapor, try to inhale through your nose. If you can get into a rhythm of inhaling nasally between each blow, it will eventually become natural.
Hold your fuel container with your palm on the backside, with your thumb and fingers pointing toward you. This will help prevent spilling the fuel onto your arm when you pour it. Make sure your fuel is in a container that is easy to pour from; having a spout or small sized opening will help with this. Practice doing this with water before using fuel so you know how much you can hold in your mouth without choking or accidentally swallowing some.
Hold this cloth in your non-torch-holding hand. This way you can keep the torch as far away from your face as possible while wiping away excess fuel. Consider having spare cloths available in the event that the first one becomes saturated.
Practice doing this without a torch (no fire) until you have mastered the fuel spray procedure. You should make sure the fuel does not make you choke or gag; also, ensure that you are able to quickly and smoothly spray all of the fuel out of your mouth, leaving none behind. Continue to exhale with force even after you have expelled all of the fuel in your mouth. This will prevent any vapor from remaining in your mouth and will keep the flame from wanting to travel back toward your face. Wait several seconds after exhaling before inhaling again in order to prevent yourself from ingesting any fuel.
If you choose to use a damp cloth for this, have a bucket of water nearby that you can use to wet the cloth when needed. Make sure the cloth you use is not flammable or likely to melt. Cotton, for example, is a poor choice of material because it can burn easily if it is not thoroughly wetted.
Fire safety training for guards is a good idea; however, since the guard’s main job is to keep the audience at a safe distance from you and your equipment, it is not critical that they be extensively trained in this.
Spotters need to be attentive to the safety needs of the audience, the venue, and you (the performer). It is important to include your spotter in your practice sessions so he can become accustomed to your routine before you perform it with an audience.
Your costume should be able to withstand 800 degree temperatures for more than three seconds without catching fire in order to be considered flame-resistant. [21] X Research source If your costume is not already flame-retardant, you can treat the material with a flame retardant substance made for clothing. Practice with your planned costume before wearing it for a performance. Make sure spotters and guards are also equipped with flame-resistant clothing.
Your first aid training should include CPR and proper techniques for immediate treatment of burns. You should always have a first aid kit on hand when practicing or performing fire blowing. Guards and spotters should also have first aid training. If you are performing a large, organized event, arrange to have an ambulance standing by in case you or someone else is injured during your performance.
