| Campfire magic. No, we are not going to go into | | | | into the fire in small amounts. Toss them sparingly for |
| strange magic tricks, what we are going to do is tell | | | | the best effect. Use an old tea spoon or table spoon. |
| you how you can add some chemicals to your fire | | | | For all of the rest you will need to prepare the |
| and create a dazzling spectacle of colors what will | | | | chemicals at home before hand. You can purchase |
| amaze everyone. | | | | paraffin blocks or you can use old candle wax from |
| You may not want to do this all of the time as the | | | | around the house or pick some up at a goodwill store |
| novelty will soon wear off. Do them in a timely | | | | or a Salvation Army store. |
| fashion and keep the kids surprised. | | | | Using small paper Dixie cups, pour in about ¼ inch |
| Chemicals | | | | of a chemical into each cup. Melt the wax in a double |
| Adding a small amount of chemicals to a hot burning | | | | boiler. Pour just enough wax into the cup on top of |
| fire can have an 'Ooooh-aaaah' effect. It's important | | | | the chemical and using a stir stick gently mix the two |
| to do these only after all cooking has been done on | | | | together. You want to make sure each of the little |
| the fire and when there is little wind so the smoke | | | | pieces of chemical is coated with tax. |
| can rise up rather than into campers' faces. You may | | | | Once cooled, you may cut off the part of the Dixie |
| be able to purchase these chemicals in a grocery or | | | | cup that is not needed. Just toss one of these little |
| dry goods store, in the laundry or cleaner section. | | | | dandies into the hottest part of the campfire and get |
| Find copper sulfate in swimming pool supplies. You | | | | ready for a good show. You may want to mix a |
| may even try the local drug store. | | | | couple of chemicals together for an even better |
| Find copper sulfate in swimming pool supply stores. | | | | display of campfire magic. |
| Epsom salts, borax, and calcium chloride may be | | | | Another idea for the campfire is to make what |
| found with laundry/cleaning supplies. Copper Chloride, | | | | traditionally is called a Yule Log. |
| Strontium Chloride, and others my be best found at | | | | Instead of using it in the fireplace you can use it to |
| fireworks supply companies. A company called sell a | | | | create the campfire magic. Be careful that your |
| very wide range of items. Practice before using them | | | | children stay away from the coloring chemicals they |
| at a campfire so you know how much to use and | | | | can be harmful. To make these logs you must use |
| how to best apply for maximum effect. | | | | regular, not shiny, newspaper. |
| Listed here are some chemicals and the flame color | | | | This is something you may want to do during those |
| they produce. | | | | cold winter nights as they take at least a month to |
| Copper Chloride BLUE flame | | | | dry. |
| Borax (laundry) LIGHT GREEN flame | | | | Tightly roll and tie the newspapers about the size of |
| Copper Sulfate (tree root killer for plumbers) GREEN | | | | a fireplace log. |
| flame | | | | In a bucket, mix the ingredients, 2 pounds of coarse |
| Strontium Chloride RED flame | | | | salt, 2 pounds of bluestone and 2 gallons of boiling |
| Potassium Chloride (water softener salt) PURPLE | | | | water. Add in any of the coloring chemicals as above. |
| flame | | | | One ounce of each color. |
| Calcium Chloride BLUE flame | | | | Place the rolled up newspaper rolls into the bucket |
| Lithium Chloride PINK flame | | | | and let them absorb all of the liquid. After a couple of |
| Alum GREEN flame | | | | days, take them out of the bucket and place them |
| Sodium Chloride (table salt) ORANGE flame | | | | on a rack to dry for a month. |
| Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom salts) WHITE flame Sugar | | | | Once dried take them along for the first trip and |
| sprinkle into fire for tiny sparks | | | | create fantastic campfire magic for the whole family |
| Powder Coffee Creamer throw a handful into the | | | | to enjoy. Place one in the fire once it is nice and hot |
| flames above the fire for small sparkly flashes | | | | and it will burn for a long time giving off many |
| Flour toss a small amount into flame to make a flash | | | | beautiful colors. |
| flame | | | | Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler |
| Iron filings toss a small bit into flame to make gold | | | | Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many |
| sparks | | | | years. They have camped, hiked and skied the |
| Powdered aluminum toss a small bit into flame to | | | | mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and |
| make silver sparks | | | | lakes. Their website One couples guide to the |
| Magnesium shavings toss a small bit into flame to | | | | exciting Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone |
| make very bright silver sparks | | | | considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 |
| There are many ways to get the chemicals into the | | | | Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take |
| fire. The bottom six chemicals can be simply tossed | | | | a look. |