Members of the New Ipswich Photo Club gathered on a frigid evening at Water Loom Pond to photograph a demonstration of burning steel wool. After we had arranged our cameras and tripods, Steve Gallagher walked out on the ice with a metal whisk, some steel wool, a nine volt battery and a butane lighter.
The metal whisk is stuffed with a fine grade of steel wool which is ignited with the battery or lighter. When the whisk is spun around attached to a line, sufficient oxygen produces a cascade of iron sparks, The ice provides a nice safe reflective surface for the burning steel.
Some choreography is required to get a good spin and Steve is an expert. To produce a sphere of sparks he turned as he was spinning to get the three dimensional form. It was an interesting and productive evening.
Photo Club Gallery
Setting the night on fire with other photographers – during the daytime we act like adults.
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‘Try to set the night on fire’. Stunning! Like mid winter fireworks!!! A strange life is a good life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did this as a teen and ended up setting myself on fire, What made it more interesting was that I had a pack of firecrackers in my pocket.