Making a Flame Thrower: Safety Tips & Risks

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the construction of a homemade flamethrower, focusing on safety tips and potential risks associated with its design and operation. Participants explore various aspects of the device, including materials, pressure systems, and ignition methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a flamethrower design using a PVC tank pressurized to 80psi, connected to a metal pipe gun with a valve for releasing denatured alcohol.
  • Another participant highlights the inherent risk of using a pressurized flammable liquid near an open flame.
  • A suggestion is made to ensure that the vacuum breaker used in the design provides a gas-tight seal to prevent backflow.
  • There is a humorous warning about pointing the device away from friends, implying the potential dangers involved.
  • One participant questions the motivation behind building a flamethrower and expresses concern about the legal implications and safety of such a project.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of concern regarding safety and the risks involved in constructing and using a flamethrower. There is no consensus on the safety of the proposed design, and multiple competing views on the risks are presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not fully explore the technical specifications of the materials used or the safety measures that could be implemented. The discussion lacks detailed analysis of the potential hazards associated with pressurized systems and flammable liquids.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring DIY projects involving pressurized systems, those interested in safety considerations for experimental devices, or participants in forums discussing homemade equipment.

dusty8683
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my friend and i recently made a flame thrower that was posted on other forums. it has a tank made from pvc that we pressurize to 80psi, the tank connects to a hose, through a vacuum breaker, through more hose, to a gun made from 1.5in. metal pipe. the gun has a valve where you can open it to spray whatever is in the tank out. we've tested it with water and it works excellent... no leaks... pressure holds. to make it into a flame thrower, we would fill the tank with denatured alcohol and add a pilot light about 8in. away from the nozzel (propane torch). the stream of denatured alcohol would pass through the torch flame and create a massive flame. the vacuum breaker is to prevent any backflow into the tank. does anyone have any other suggestions on how safe this will be and what inherent risks we may have overlooked? thanks
 
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Inherent risk which has perhaps been overlooked: The issue of pressurised flammable liquid being squirted at a naked flame!
 
You want to make sure your vacuum breaker provides a gas-tight seal.
 
and point away from your friends...unless you don't want to share the flamethrower with them
 
Why do you want to build a flamethrower?

Are you in the running for a Darwin Award?

Seriously... if you get hurt, you got no advice whatsoever from here. We can't afford the potential lawsuit, either from you, or from the 8 year old lurker who got the idea from you.

Sorry.
 

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