Tribe.net. Local Connections Travis http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#b1a63e80-7114-4cb8-a441-b93462a8083a 2009-08-11T21:14:21Z 2009-08-11T21:14:21Z

do you have any pictures you could throw up of it? you ran the steel cable through the whole length of kevlar, and then tied the monkey's fists so that they have kevlar inside them as well and not just the part that you play with? and the nomex hose sheath? i don't get why you'd need it when the metal is covered by the kevlar. . . .i'm looking to make a fire metoer and i like your setup more than what i was thinking about with just chain and nomex sheathing. . . pictures would be much appreciated.

Travis 2009-08-11T21:14:21Z sam "problem solved" http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#b0f1ad95-d4fd-4056-9293-8baefe04c8fa 2009-04-20T04:57:41Z 2009-04-20T04:57:41Z

Kevlar was 30 bucks, because I skimped and only got 15 feet, then stretched it. Steel cable, 18 feet: 5.50$ Nomex hose sheath: 8.50ish Hose splash guards: 4.50$ 4' of 2" x 1/16th" kevlar wick, ??? so.. We'll say it's a 50 dollar parts prop. Then there's aramid thread that we have a big spool of, so I don't know the cost of that or the roll of wicking I used for the middle of it, or the bolts I threw in there for extra weight. Sew the monkeyfist up into a big goober so it doesn't tighten or loose bits from the middle, and call it done. Labor? If you're good at running cables through ropes and making perfect monkeyfists and sewing kevlar (use pliers to pull/push the needle), then it'll probably be a 5-7 hour job. Took me around 15 hours, because I had to tie 5 monkeyfists to have 2 that I liked.

sam "problem solved" 2009-04-20T04:57:41Z squid http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#058aa977-5b3b-48d7-8091-aadc0681f0e7 2009-04-19T20:41:31Z 2009-04-19T20:41:31Z

whoof! That sounds like a tedious project. Thank god for warm Tecate and wine. :) What's the overall cost you think it ran to acquire all the kevlar, nomex, cable, etc? (labor not included)

squid 2009-04-19T20:41:31Z sam "problem solved" http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#b98c3cb1-665c-4d48-affc-b298093e04fc 2009-04-18T07:55:11Z 2009-04-18T07:55:11Z

no chain, 3/16th inch steel cable. Steel cables are pretty unfairly demonized in fire props... probably because if they are exposed and hot, they can saw through flesh to the bone amazingly fast. Anyways, yes. i just finished it. took nearly 2.5 hours of cable feeding, 1 hour of drinking warm tecate, 1 hour of fuddling with hose sheaths, 3 hours of monkeyfist tieing and tightening and stitching, and a celebratory bottle of wine. so now between these and my firesocks, i've got two fire props with zero exposed metal. I like. Without swivels, the plane behavior is vaguely different, if you spin flat without twisting the wrist to relieve tension, there is a minor distortion to the plane, but it is totally fine if you expect it and practice with it.

sam "problem solved" 2009-04-18T07:55:11Z squid http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#e3a81d4f-aad8-4628-abcb-ade0c51cbc23 2009-04-16T23:15:57Z 2009-04-16T23:15:57Z

do you mean that one where he described using a McMaster nomex sleeve and ran a kevlar rope with the fiberglass core pulled out and replaced with a chain?

squid 2009-04-16T23:15:57Z sam "problem solved" http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#2080517d-0bd0-453b-b82a-350f78ded8c2 2009-04-15T23:03:35Z 2009-04-15T23:03:35Z

I use #20 ball chain on my rope dart, and had dog chain without swivels on a meteor that I used a bunch. I'm currently without a meteor, but gathering bits to make a Jared style one, with no swivels.

sam "problem solved" 2009-04-15T23:03:35Z squid http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#82b06310-3a4e-46f2-b940-7aafef5e8b5b 2009-04-15T22:47:46Z 2009-04-15T22:47:46Z

If you aren't a fan of ball bearing swivels, do you forego them altogether or have an alternative?

squid 2009-04-15T22:47:46Z sam "problem solved" http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#0259c412-4fc5-409a-9ecc-c7b57e9d8a6b 2009-04-15T18:23:12Z 2009-04-15T18:23:12Z

I was going to do some freshman physics kinematics centripetal force equation here, but I keep mangling things. assume force sustained to be something like 8* mass of wicks for 2 revolutions per second (quick) or 18* mass for 3 rps (verry quick.), and you outta account for force max to be something like 3x force sustained. meaning, for 4lbs of wics+fuel (a lot), you're looking at 32-66lbs of sustained force. (but that said, I could have totally bungled those equations) I'm personally against redonkuliously overbuilding hardware, because it leads to overconfidence in the tool and a lack of inspections. No matter how much you overbuild it, it should always be suspect, and you should always inspect it, and retire it in a timely manner, or replace suspect components. Also, ball bearing swivels get gummed up by solvents, like white gas. I'm really not a fan of them anymore.

sam "problem solved" 2009-04-15T18:23:12Z Travis http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#d3ae238d-ca21-4b87-bc7a-95543292dbb5 2009-04-15T08:16:58Z 2009-04-15T08:16:58Z

yeah. . . they ended up coming out real well. the split rings are actuallly hella strong, so i'm not worried about them at all, and for the connection to the chain i simply used a double fisherman's know with a loop and lark's head (google these knots if you don't understand) cause that way they're secure, yet i can vary the length if i so wish.

Travis 2009-04-15T08:16:58Z squid http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#6a3592ff-36a1-45a6-b3e8-198652906b79 2009-03-29T16:36:09Z 2009-03-29T16:36:09Z

I agree. Quick links would be better than split rings, but the swivels should hold up ok. I mean, as long as you check your equipment regularly, everything should be fine.

squid 2009-03-29T16:36:09Z Dyami http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#695842b3-3287-4874-bd0c-f6bbbbf270d9 2009-03-28T19:19:25Z 2009-03-28T19:19:25Z

Is this bearded Travis from Santa Cruz? If so how did you end up designing yours? Otherwise. The ball bearing swivels seem pretty heavy to me and I wouldn't doubt them, but still get the larger size offered. Those split rings also look legitimate but meteors exert a big force and I would still double up the rings at each point they are used. For some slightly additional security. The oval quick links may be a better bet then the split rings though.

Dyami 2009-03-28T19:19:25Z Travis http://fire-meteor.tribe.net/thread/e5303b26-b331-470b-b201-c9265c2f95b3#c6d47878-a2a0-490b-a82a-ca624a71daee 2009-03-02T00:29:45Z 2009-03-02T00:29:45Z

Hey all, so I'm gearing up for Firedrums and i want to build myself a meteor as they look like a lot of fun. I do quite a bit of contact staff, and figure that a meteor will be a fun extension from that and will allow me to start exploring aspects of poi as well as rope dart (yay!) As seems to be the problem for most people though, I'm trying to figure out how to keep the flaming head of fury attached to the rope and not fly off. . . . cause that'd be bad. Anyone have any idea how much force the ends of the meteor will be putting on the components? I'm thinking of getting some 8mm static climbing rope, which should be plenty strong enough, to use as the rope. I'll put about 6 inches of chain in between the rope and the head, and i'm going to construct it so that i can use the same rope/chain part with both practice heads and real firey ones. my concern though is whether ball bearing swivels (rated at 300 lbs http://tinyurl.com/as3yuk) and split rings (rated at 220lbs http://tinyurl.com/b3txhw) will be able to stand up to the force exerted on either end. . . am i worrying to much and these will stand up fine, or should i consider other components? any other thoughts or ideas for construction?

Travis 2009-03-02T00:29:45Z