Post by ogeezer on Sept 24, 2007 9:11:52 GMT -6
Everybody's seen those Yule Time Logs sold at most department stores, and some have even seen soaking baths for making Yule Time logs from rolled up newspapers, well, here's a variant for the coming festive months when sitting in front of a fireplace or outdoor campfire - Yule Time Pinecones.
Even tho the merriment of Thanksgiving and Christmas as still 2 & 3 months away, its time to be laying in firewoods and some of these yule time supplies -- and nothing beats those easily made at home.
Other than the fire burning components (mixed glue and sawdust logs, rolled newspapers, or pine cones), you're going to need materials for producing a variety of colors when the logs/pinecones are burning.
You can change the color of fire by adding metal salts to a burning object. The easiest way to accomplish this is to make a solution of the metal salt in water or alcohol, marinate whatever you want to burn, then let it dry. Pinecones are a good medium because they have a lot of surface area and act as a sponge.
Different metals will burn different colors. For now please accept the following conversion chart:
Lilac = Potassium Permanganate (at hardware stores as filter cleaner)
Carmine = Lithium Chloride
Red = Strontium Chloride - SrCl2 (road flares & model rocket supply)
Orange = Calcium Chloride (a bleaching powder)
Yellow = Sodium Chloride - NaCl (table salt)
Yellow-2 = Sodium Carbonate
Yellow Green = Borax
Green = Copper Sulfate - CuSO4 (swimming pool supplies)
Blue = Copper Chloride - CuCl2
Violet = 3 parts Potassium Sulfate + 1 part Potassium Nitrate (saltpe+er)
Purple = Potassium Chloride - KCl (Table salt substitute)
Purple-2 = Potassium Sulfate - K2SO4
White = Magnesium Sulfate - MgSO4 (Epsom salts)
In my experience copper chloride works the best by far, giving bright blue flaming pinecones that are sure to impress even the most discerning pyromaniac. The green and red from CuSO4 and SrCl2 are also attractive. Magnesium sulfate (white) and potassium sulfate (purple) didn't do much of anything to the color of the fire for me.
Of all the chemicals listed above, only MgSO4 can be purchased at the drugstore (in the form of epsom salts; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate). For the rest you'll have to do a little hunting. Strontium salts are commonly found in road flares, for example. Suppliers for pyrotechnics, photography and rocketry are also a good source. You may find these salts in their anhydrous or hydrated forms, which doesn't matter since you're going to dissolve them in water anyway.
NOTE: You don't have to use all the chemicals to make a yule time log or pinecone. Pick 2 or 3 easily obtainable chemicals and be satisfied with that.
STEP 1 - PREPARE SOLUTIONS:
Make solutions of the different colorants for soaking your pinecones. Place a bunch of the metal salt in the bottom of the glass jar (the actual amount doesn't really matter) and enough water to dissolve it all. Stir in colorant until you can't dissolve any more. For strontium chloride and copper chloride you can use 70% isopropyl alcohol instead, which I prefer because it dries a lot quicker.
Add the pinecones and let them soak for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight.
When making Yule Logs from sawdust or chainsaw choppings, add some liquid glue, which will allow the pieces to stick together and form larger chunks. Soaking the sawdust or choppings in the chemicals, then drying them before adding the glue (i.e Elmers white glue, obtained in gallon containers at lumber yards).
STEP 2 - DRYING THE PINECONES
Use a pair of tongs to remove the pinecones (don't get the salt solutions on your skin) and place them rags, paper towels, or newspapers out in the sun. If desired, pinecones may be placed in a paper or mesh bag. You can spread sawdust or cork out on paper, which will also produce colored flames. Once the pinecones are good and dry you are ready for action.
STEP 3 - EVALUATING RESULTS
Grab a propane blowtorch and set a few pinecones on fire!
From experience, I'd rate the colors (in my opinion) from the blue ones (copper chloride) to red (strontium chloride) and green (copper sulfate) to yellow ones (sodium chloride OR sodium carbonate) as being the best choices for yule time aesthetics ..BUT.. again, the choice is yours.
Now, a few PRECAUTIONS for preparing and using these yule season items:
Now, get busy! There's not much time left 'til the festive autumn and winter months are upon us...
Even tho the merriment of Thanksgiving and Christmas as still 2 & 3 months away, its time to be laying in firewoods and some of these yule time supplies -- and nothing beats those easily made at home.
Other than the fire burning components (mixed glue and sawdust logs, rolled newspapers, or pine cones), you're going to need materials for producing a variety of colors when the logs/pinecones are burning.
You can change the color of fire by adding metal salts to a burning object. The easiest way to accomplish this is to make a solution of the metal salt in water or alcohol, marinate whatever you want to burn, then let it dry. Pinecones are a good medium because they have a lot of surface area and act as a sponge.
Different metals will burn different colors. For now please accept the following conversion chart:
Lilac = Potassium Permanganate (at hardware stores as filter cleaner)
Carmine = Lithium Chloride
Red = Strontium Chloride - SrCl2 (road flares & model rocket supply)
Orange = Calcium Chloride (a bleaching powder)
Yellow = Sodium Chloride - NaCl (table salt)
Yellow-2 = Sodium Carbonate
Yellow Green = Borax
Green = Copper Sulfate - CuSO4 (swimming pool supplies)
Blue = Copper Chloride - CuCl2
Violet = 3 parts Potassium Sulfate + 1 part Potassium Nitrate (saltpe+er)
Purple = Potassium Chloride - KCl (Table salt substitute)
Purple-2 = Potassium Sulfate - K2SO4
White = Magnesium Sulfate - MgSO4 (Epsom salts)
In my experience copper chloride works the best by far, giving bright blue flaming pinecones that are sure to impress even the most discerning pyromaniac. The green and red from CuSO4 and SrCl2 are also attractive. Magnesium sulfate (white) and potassium sulfate (purple) didn't do much of anything to the color of the fire for me.
Of all the chemicals listed above, only MgSO4 can be purchased at the drugstore (in the form of epsom salts; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate). For the rest you'll have to do a little hunting. Strontium salts are commonly found in road flares, for example. Suppliers for pyrotechnics, photography and rocketry are also a good source. You may find these salts in their anhydrous or hydrated forms, which doesn't matter since you're going to dissolve them in water anyway.
NOTE: You don't have to use all the chemicals to make a yule time log or pinecone. Pick 2 or 3 easily obtainable chemicals and be satisfied with that.
STEP 1 - PREPARE SOLUTIONS:
Make solutions of the different colorants for soaking your pinecones. Place a bunch of the metal salt in the bottom of the glass jar (the actual amount doesn't really matter) and enough water to dissolve it all. Stir in colorant until you can't dissolve any more. For strontium chloride and copper chloride you can use 70% isopropyl alcohol instead, which I prefer because it dries a lot quicker.
Add the pinecones and let them soak for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight.
When making Yule Logs from sawdust or chainsaw choppings, add some liquid glue, which will allow the pieces to stick together and form larger chunks. Soaking the sawdust or choppings in the chemicals, then drying them before adding the glue (i.e Elmers white glue, obtained in gallon containers at lumber yards).
STEP 2 - DRYING THE PINECONES
Use a pair of tongs to remove the pinecones (don't get the salt solutions on your skin) and place them rags, paper towels, or newspapers out in the sun. If desired, pinecones may be placed in a paper or mesh bag. You can spread sawdust or cork out on paper, which will also produce colored flames. Once the pinecones are good and dry you are ready for action.
STEP 3 - EVALUATING RESULTS
Grab a propane blowtorch and set a few pinecones on fire!
From experience, I'd rate the colors (in my opinion) from the blue ones (copper chloride) to red (strontium chloride) and green (copper sulfate) to yellow ones (sodium chloride OR sodium carbonate) as being the best choices for yule time aesthetics ..BUT.. again, the choice is yours.
Now, a few PRECAUTIONS for preparing and using these yule season items:
- Many of these things are bad for you if ingested, so be careful to wash your hands after handling, and try not to spill the CuSO4 in your coffee. Gloves might be smart.
- It's always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher on hand when you're burning things. And don't breath the fumes from the colored flames. Make sure the flue is open when burning anykind of yule time materials (homemade or retail) in a fireplace.
- The element SODIUM (chloride or carbonate) burns with the usual yellow flame. The presence of this element can overwhelm any other color. If you are making a dry mixture of colorants or colored pinecones/sawdust, go light on the sodium-salts.
- If you are using alcohol-based colorants: Remember that alcohol is flammable. If you don't allow it to evaporate before use, you will get a lighter-fluid effect. Use with care!
- Don't color a BBQ fire! The colorants may produce pretty flames, but they can also produce toxic food. Don't roast chestnuts or any other edible nut over an open fire containing these yule time items.
- Keep the colorants away from children and handle them with the care and respect due to potentially hazardous chemicals. Read and adhere to any warnings listed on product labels.
Now, get busy! There's not much time left 'til the festive autumn and winter months are upon us...