Most of the hardware and tools used in for fire spinning will be made of metal. We briefly describe these metals and how they relate to fire performance.
Aluminum Aluminum is a common metal used for fire staves, torches and and other tube based fire tools. Aluminum is relatively strong, light and inexpensive. The most commonly used alloy is 6061/6063. Aluminum conducts heat very quickly, so you do not want to have any wicks too close to where you will be grabbing it. Do not use aluminum hardware unless you know it is appropriate for your application.. Much of the aluminum hardware is made for decorative purposed and is not very strong. Also, aluminum has a low melting point and exposure to a flame will drastically reduce its strength. Do not use any aluminum parts in the length of a poi chain because they will break Brass Brass hardware is a fairly common. Brass is easy to machine, which makes it popular. It is fairly strong, however not as strong as steel. There is the possibility for toxic fumes being released from the zinc that makes up the brass, but the amount should be insignificant. Carbon Steel and Spring Steel High levels of carbon can be added to steel to make it harder. Special treatment can be done to this hard metal to make it springy. The hardening of the metal makes it stronger, however it also becomes more brittle. Most hardware is designed to take a fair level of impact before snapping, but be aware of the high impact levels that some some heavier tools can put on fasteners when dropped. Also the heat of the fire can effect the properties of high carbon steel. Many steels will loose their strength with heat. This is especially true of spring steels. Spring steel is great for the blade of a fire knife where the steel has a lot of mass, but is totally inappropriate for small hardware that will be exposed to fire. For example, some people have attempted to use split rings (key chains) to attach poi heads. Split rings, especially cheap cheap one, soften with the addition of heat and open up. Unless you are sure about the application, avoid spring steels. Cast iron
Aluminum is a common metal used for fire staves, torches and and other tube based fire tools. Aluminum is relatively strong, light and inexpensive. The most commonly used alloy is 6061/6063. Aluminum conducts heat very quickly, so you do not want to have any wicks too close to where you will be grabbing it. Do not use aluminum hardware unless you know it is appropriate for your application.. Much of the aluminum hardware is made for decorative purposed and is not very strong. Also, aluminum has a low melting point and exposure to a flame will drastically reduce its strength. Do not use any aluminum parts in the length of a poi chain because they will break
Brass hardware is a fairly common. Brass is easy to machine, which makes it popular. It is fairly strong, however not as strong as steel. There is the possibility for toxic fumes being released from the zinc that makes up the brass, but the amount should be insignificant.
High levels of carbon can be added to steel to make it harder. Special treatment can be done to this hard metal to make it springy. The hardening of the metal makes it stronger, however it also becomes more brittle. Most hardware is designed to take a fair level of impact before snapping, but be aware of the high impact levels that some some heavier tools can put on fasteners when dropped. Also the heat of the fire can effect the properties of high carbon steel. Many steels will loose their strength with heat. This is especially true of spring steels. Spring steel is great for the blade of a fire knife where the steel has a lot of mass, but is totally inappropriate for small hardware that will be exposed to fire. For example, some people have attempted to use split rings (key chains) to attach poi heads. Split rings, especially cheap cheap one, soften with the addition of heat and open up. Unless you are sure about the application, avoid spring steels.
Cast iron is not commonly found in hardware, but does exist. At the same weight and about half the strength of steel, there is little reason to use it. Some types of cast iron will crack if it hits the ground.
Copper Copper conducts heat twice as fast as aluminum and 8 times faster than steel. It is not very strong and is fairly expensive. Copper does offer some decorative properties that other metals don't, so you may see it used occasionally. If you don't need it, don't use it. If you do need it, be careful to not get burnt. Mild Steel
Copper conducts heat twice as fast as aluminum and 8 times faster than steel. It is not very strong and is fairly expensive. Copper does offer some decorative properties that other metals don't, so you may see it used occasionally. If you don't need it, don't use it. If you do need it, be careful to not get burnt.
Mild steel is the standard material for most hardware. It is strong, inexpensive and takes heat well. So long as your hardware is large enough and in good shape it will rarely fail under normal use. Steel rust easily which can rapidly weaken it. Most hardware will have a zinc or nickel plating to protect it from rusting. A black oxide coating is also common, but does not provide much corrosion protection. Nickel You will rarely see hardware that is made of pure nickel. Nickel is often used as a coating for steel to prevent rusting, or as an alloying element in steel to make stainless steel. Nickel is also used to coat brass for protection and appearance. The addition of nickel to any of your hardware typically is a good thing.
Mild steel is the standard material for most hardware. It is strong, inexpensive and takes heat well. So long as your hardware is large enough and in good shape it will rarely fail under normal use. Steel rust easily which can rapidly weaken it. Most hardware will have a zinc or nickel plating to protect it from rusting. A black oxide coating is also common, but does not provide much corrosion protection.
You will rarely see hardware that is made of pure nickel. Nickel is often used as a coating for steel to prevent rusting, or as an alloying element in steel to make stainless steel. Nickel is also used to coat brass for protection and appearance. The addition of nickel to any of your hardware typically is a good thing.
Stainless Steel Stainless steel is an ideal metal for many fire tool application. While it is not quite as strong as regular steel, it holds its strength into high temperatures. It also looks very nice, has low heat conductivity and is highly corrosion resistant. This is an ideal material for quick links, chain, machine screws and small torches. Good stainless hardware will last a long time. There are many alloys of stainless steel. The most common are 304 and 316. The 304 alloy is stronger, but not as corrosion registrant as 316. If 304 is available us it, because it is cheaper and plenty corrosion resistant. There are a lot of alloys used for fasteners and you nay not know the exact alloy. Typically this is not a problem, because the manufacturer chooses a metal that is best for their part.
Stainless steel is an ideal metal for many fire tool application. While it is not quite as strong as regular steel, it holds its strength into high temperatures. It also looks very nice, has low heat conductivity and is highly corrosion resistant. This is an ideal material for quick links, chain, machine screws and small torches. Good stainless hardware will last a long time.
There are many alloys of stainless steel. The most common are 304 and 316. The 304 alloy is stronger, but not as corrosion registrant as 316. If 304 is available us it, because it is cheaper and plenty corrosion resistant. There are a lot of alloys used for fasteners and you nay not know the exact alloy. Typically this is not a problem, because the manufacturer chooses a metal that is best for their part.
Titanium Titanium gives you the strength of steel at the weight of aluminum. This is a great material, especially for making staves. Titanium allows you to make lighter weight tools than any other metal. however, the price of titanium is extremely high and the availability is low. It is unlikely you will have the luxury of using this metal. Zinc Zinc is used to make hardware and used as a protective coating. Any part that is listed a zinc die cast is going to be very weak and brittle. Do not use zinc die cast parts on fire tools. Zinc is also used as a coating on steel. This greatly increases the corrosion resistance of the steel. When zinc burns, it releases toxic fumes, but the amount released in most situations is very minor and usually insignificant compared to the fumes released by the fuel you are burring. While a zinc plated steel part is usually considered inferior to a stainless steel part, it can have an advantage in situations when you can't get the hardness you need from the stainless steel.
Titanium gives you the strength of steel at the weight of aluminum. This is a great material, especially for making staves. Titanium allows you to make lighter weight tools than any other metal. however, the price of titanium is extremely high and the availability is low. It is unlikely you will have the luxury of using this metal.
Zinc is used to make hardware and used as a protective coating. Any part that is listed a zinc die cast is going to be very weak and brittle. Do not use zinc die cast parts on fire tools. Zinc is also used as a coating on steel. This greatly increases the corrosion resistance of the steel. When zinc burns, it releases toxic fumes, but the amount released in most situations is very minor and usually insignificant compared to the fumes released by the fuel you are burring. While a zinc plated steel part is usually considered inferior to a stainless steel part, it can have an advantage in situations when you can't get the hardness you need from the stainless steel.
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