Le Maitre flash wand demo

[Krais]

Hi All,

 

I have suggested a local village panto consider using a le maitre flash wand in their pantomime, but haven't been able to find a video demo of this online anywhere.

I don't suppose anyone knows for one?

 

Thanks

[ImagineerTom]

What it "looks like" depends entirely on what chemical(s) you put in it - it's JUST a firing device (like a regular pyro pod base) so you won't find any reliable video demo's anywhere.

[Jivemaster]

It may be "just a firing device" but it is specifically for flash cotton or flash paper. it usually propels a small ball of fire a couple of feet. You shouldn't be experimenting with chemicals without some serious knowledge, or the consequences may be bad, even ignoring the legality of making compounds.

[ImagineerTom]

//cough// worked with TheatreFX (the manufacturers of this product) to refine it and develop a couple of other products in the range and put them in to a number of shows//cough//

 

It is JUST a firing device, there are a wide range of (especially made) chemicals that you use with it to create the effect you want (fire, sparks, balls of fire, etc) and if you use it JUST to ignite a lump of flash wool you'll burn out the element surprisingly quickly.

 

What happens is it has a small glowplug inside which triggers the ignition of a tiny piece of flash wool. This then ignites and launches whatever secondary effect/chemical you've added to it - so by adding a small piece of flash paper you could "shoot" a ball of fire as described. By using the many different compounds and additives available (either as ready-made pellets or as compounds you add to flash wool balled up in a piece of flash paper) you can shoot sparks, flames, twinkles, time-delayed sparks, the list is endless.

 

You have to manually load it with the raw materials for each performance and they are relatively fragile in performance - something you need to consider if you want to avoid non-fires.

[scjb]

Jivemaster, however, is perfectly correct in pointing out that the principal importer of these units only mandates the use of flash paper and flash cotton. To the best of my knowledge, with the exception of sparkle additive, LM do not supply any other loads for this device. If the OP doesn't know what the effect is from a flash wand, I'd suggest that the discussion of additives may be a little early...

 

Krais, where are you based?

[boatman]

...

 

Krais, where are you based?

 

Looks like Berkshire, but it would be helpful if his profile was updated.

[Krais]

Thanks for the replies, although went slightly off course.

 

I appreciate the device may be able to be used to fire other compounds, however personally I would rather stick to the generally recommended use of flash cotton and flash paper.

 

I'm aware of how the device works, so that isn't the issue. We have a couple of hand flashers, although I don't have any consumables currently, so was just hoping someone might have a link to a video of the flash wand firing flash paper as the manufacturer recommends :)

I am just suggesting the effect to another group, who haven't used anything like this before, and wanted to show them the effect rather than just describe it.