Kevlar Wick & Kevlar Tape (Fire Wick)
What is Kevlar®?
Kevlar's features and properties make it an ideal material for use in fire poi and other fire toys as a fire wick. It is flame resistant and has high chemical resistance and low thermal shrinkage, which helps kevlar wicking last a surprisingly long time. Because Kevlar fabric is self extinguishing your fire toys will extinguish as soon as the fuel saturating your kevlar wick has been burnt.
Kevlar cloth can also be used in kevlar sleeves, to protect your arms when performing wraps and other poi tricks.
Luxotica uses kevlar para-aramid fiber cotton blend in all of it's fire toys to ensure a brighter and longer burn time. We use a variety of weights, measured by diameter/width: kevlar string (1/8"), kevlar cord (1/4"), kevlar rope (3/4"), kevlar tape (2"), kevlar tape (4") and sheets of kevlar cloth. Kevlar para-aramid fiber cotton blend helps absorb more fuel for longer burn times, is easier to work with and is less expensive. Our fire toys contain kevlar wicking, and we also sell kevlar wick by the foot.
For more information about Kevlar® see DuPont's website on What is Kevlar?
Common Amount used in Kevlar Fire Wicks
- Fire Juggling Torch: 2 feet to 4 feet of kevlar wicking per club, with standard 2" wide kevlar tape for your fire wick.
- Fire Poi: I have seen from 3 feet to as high as 10 feet of fire wick on each kevlar fire poi.
- Fire Staff: 2 to 6 feet at each end of the fire staff, standard kevlar wick (2.5 inch) or wider (4 inch) fire wick.
- Fire Fingers & Fire Eating Torches: 1 to 3 feet of 2 inch wide kevlar tape on each, or a few feet of 1/8 inch kevlar string or a few feet of 1/4 inch kevlar cord on each. (For Fire Eating Torches ensure that the kevlar rope or kevlar cord you buy does not have fibreglass in it, a lot of kevlar has a fibre core and I would not suggest fire eating with this.)
- Rope Poi (or as we like to call them Fire Wings): 2 - 2.5 feet of the 3/4" wide kevlar rope for the fire wick portion.
- Fire Hula Hoops: 2 to 3 feet of 2" wide kevlar tape on each prong. Some find more than that is too much flame in their face *(* and any less just goes out too quickly.
Generally the more Kevlar on your fire wick, the bigger the flame or the longer the burn.
Extend the life of your Kevlar Wicking
This summer we picked up a tip that will help extend the life of your fire wicks: Don't let your fire toy burn out. As the fuel runs out your wick will start to burn. Instead put out your toys slightly before your fuel runs out. First, completely extinguish your toy with a wet wool blanket or towel and then immediately dip your fire toy into fuel to cool the wick down. This works best for fire dancing toys that do not have a metal core. (If your toys have a metal core be extra careful to make sure the metal has had time to cool down before you dip in your fuel.)
Want to buy the supplies to make your own poi or read more about how to make poi or how to make other fire toys?
