I need some help lighting a fire remotely

[Creedmoor]

My main concern about a spud gun is keeping the projectile lit.

And my only shot using mapp gas scared the crap out of me. Took the bark off a tree at 30 yards. That tater was MOVING.

All of us, went to a few good classes while in the service.
The last Potato we played with we used a 3" piece of seamless pressure pipe and oxygen mapp mix as a propellant. And a pezzo to lite it off.

 

[ditcherman]

All of us, went to a few good classes while in the service.
The last Potato we played with we used a 3" piece of seamless pressure pipe and oxygen mapp mix as a propellant. And a pezzo to lite it off.

I have a 2 1/2" ID 1" wall thickness piece of pipe under the workbench that has been there for a project like this.

 

[MindfulMan]

Jeff needs to give us more info !
For example: will the church allow the use of midget strippers ?

 

[Creedmoor]

I have a 2 1/2" ID 1" wall thickness piece of pipe under the workbench that has been there for a project like this.

I have a bunch of 4140 DM heavy wall up to about 2 1/2 or 3" from when I used to rebuild vibratory plow blades and put in the replaceable bullets or carbide tips in them.
I have welded up a few BP cannons for July 4 a few times. Friends tend to borrow them and they never return.
It will turn one back into a kid.

 

[Flingarrows]

Roman candle with a faux cannon or rifle crafted around it to look like the cannon was firing flaming balls


Soak the firewood with lighter fluid

 

[Creedmoor]

Jeff needs to give us more info !
For example: will the church allow the use of Asian midget strippers ?

FIFY.

 

[natdscott]

A flaming potato you say?

View attachment 305405

I mean.

You seem like you were REALLY prepared for that post.

 

[Creedmoor]

I mean.

You seem like you were REALLY prepared for that post.

You know about those Indianapolis boys.

 

[natdscott]

You know about those Indianapolis boys.

It seems like he must have been sittin on that tater for awhile, waiting for the right reason to pull it out and show it off.

 

[tv1217]

 

[Hatin Since 87]

This might be a stupid question, but why not just use a flaming arrow like you are wanting? Shoot it with a bow… thats the most accurate way of shooting an arrow

As for the target, i like what cm said. Something you shoot and drops the fuel onto a flame would be perfect.

I hope this isnt taking place in the middle of Indy. You guys have some land you are doing this on? If it is in Indy, I would call the local FD. One, they may have some ideas for you as they routinely deal with this type of thing, and two, they will send someone out to be there during the event to ensure safety (and the old lady across the street doesnt lose her house. Or cat)

 

[KittySlayer]

Have a backup plan.

All ideas sound fun but what is the plan for the bonfire if your flying projectile approach fails. Does everyone just go home for the evening?

Build something at the base of the bonfire where you can walk up with a Bic lighter and start the fire and save the day.

 

[Cameramonkey]

cable guided flaming arrow? That would give you the arrow, AND be safe. They build something to set it off and get sent down the wire into the pile.

 

[Hkindiana]

Back up plan could be a flare gun, which is a GREAT fire lighter

 

[hopper68]

 

[Gingerbeardman]

Cable guided bucket of gas that then hits a flipper and dumps onto a road flare. Each team builds a portion of the contraption.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Cable guided bucket of gas filled by a midget stripper that then hits a flipper and dumps onto a road flare. Each team builds a portion of the contraption.

FIFY

 

[Bassat]

This may or may not help, but it sure was fun. About 40 years ago, at Grafenwoehr training facility, an Armor Unit (3/35, 1st AD) was cross training with an Air Cav unit (2/2?). Our FO called in an air strike. The Apache Longbow 'copters showed up, and launched a 70mm rocket barrage on the 3 55g drums of MOgas we staged in the impact area. Spectacular, but probably not within a small church budget.

 

[femurphy77]

cable guided flaming arrow? That would give you the arrow, AND be safe. They build something to set it off and get sent down the wire into the pile.

We tried this during an Order of the Arrow event bitd when I was in Boy Scouts (far enough back that it WAS Boy Scouts). In our case it was a great idea but when they launched the flaming arrow someone tripped over the extra cable coiled up on the ground causing the arrow to dip down and catch the field on fire. Fortunately, we were prepared for such an event with the local volunteer FD on site.

 

[Cameramonkey]

So yeah, it sounds like keeping all fire and combustibles at the pile o sticks and knocking those over from afar seems to be the safest bet.