Juggling Torch Care and
Maintenance <br />
<br />
Renegade Juggling torches are designed to feel just <br />
like your clubs in both weight and handling. <br />
All the tricks possible with clubs should transfer <br />
over easily to your Renegade torches. In order to <br />
keep your torches in good condition <br />
it is very important that you follow <br />
our recommended instructions for proper use and safety. <br />
<br />
Fuels<br />
<br />
There are many types fuels that can be <br />
used on the torches. The best to use in <br />
regards to safety and getting the maximum <br />
life span out of your torches is lamp oil <br />
(kerosene, paraffin or charcoal lighter). <br />
This type of fuel is not explosively volatile <br />
like white gas (Coleman Fuel, camp stove <br />
fuel), and it burns at a much lower temperature. <br />
Many jugglers prefer white gas, as it <br />
produces a brighter flame, and lights very <br />
quickly. It is much more dangerous than <br />
lamp oil and reduces the life span of your <br />
torches. <br />
<br />
Equipment Use and
Techniques <br />
<br />
You can either dip the torches in a <br />
container of fuel or squirt on the fuel, (a <br />
plastic charcoal lighter fluid bottle works <br />
good). After applying the fuel be sure to <br />
shake out any excess fuel from your torch <br />
wicks before lighting them. If you do not, <br />
the torches will spray little fire droplets off <br />
the wicks as you juggle them. Shaking off <br />
the excess fuel, is also important, so that the <br />
fuel does not run down the metal sleeve and <br />
onto the rubber gasket. <br />
The rubber gasket in not fire proof and <br />
must be kept away from prolonged contact <br />
with the flames from the wick head or <br />
another torch. Fire may come into contact <br />
with this rubber gasket when a torch is held <br />
in a downward orientation or when several <br />
torches are held in one hand. If the rubber <br />
gasket gets too hot it can melt or in extreme <br />
cases catch on fire. If this happens blow out <br />
the torch and let it cool before re-lighting it. <br />
Always hold your torches upright, when not <br />
juggling. Never leave the torch on the <br />
ground while burning. <br />
Do not install more than the recommended <br />
amount of wick on the torch as this <br />
will produce too much heat and melt or burn <br />
the rubber torch gasket. You will increase <br />
the life span of the wick if you always extinguish <br />
the torch before the flame dies out. <br />
This is because you will burn the wick <br />
material after all the fuel is used up. Let <br />
your torches cool off for several minutes <br />
before refuelling and lighting again. <br />
<br />
Safety <br />
<br />
Obviously this is where a lot of common <br />
sense plays in. The surface you are <br />
juggling on should not be flammable, (dry <br />
grass, carpet or such). You should not be <br />
wearing highly flammable costumes or <br />
loose polyester clothing that can easily <br />
catch on fire. The best clothing to wear is <br />
tight fitting 100% thick cotton or leather. <br />
Pay particular attention to what you do <br />
with your fuel container after you have <br />
fueled up your torches. Never leave fuel <br />
containers open, a dropped torch can knock <br />
over the container and start a fire. Always <br />
store your fuel in an appropriate container, <br />
which is made for fuel storage. <br />
Always have a spotter watching you <br />
juggling fire who is paying attention and is <br />
ready to respond to an accidental fire. They <br />
should have a damp 100% cotton towel (fire <br />
blanket) on hand to put out any small fires <br />
that might occur. This damp towel is also a <br />
good way to put out the torches if the flame <br />
is too large to blow out. It is prudent to <br />
rehearse safety routines and to have a code <br />
word like ?STOP? in case the person is on <br />
fire themselves so that the spotter can reach <br />
the performer without getting hit by a juggling <br />
torch. When performing swinging <br />
torches you should also have a CO2 fire <br />
extinguisher on hand in case of fire. <br />
Inspect your juggling torches regularly <br />
for any signs of wear or failure. Do not use <br />
fire equipment that looks damaged or is in <br />
poor repair. <br />
<br />
Replacement wicks<br />
<br />
Replacement wicks and other repair <br />
parts may be purchase directly from our <br />
website at www.renegadejuggling.com. You <br />
will need 18 inches of 2" X 1/8" for each <br />
torch. Remove the old wicks by cutting the <br />
staple in half with wire cutter and remove <br />
each leg of the staple. Tape the leading edge <br />
of the new wick on to the torch dowel and <br />
then tightly wrap the wick around the torch, <br />
folding over the last half inch to making a <br />
finished end. Temporarily tape the wick <br />
with electrical tape to hold it while you <br />
attach it with (2) 1 1/4 inch sheet rock <br />
screws. You can request screws with your <br />
replacement wick or buy this type of screw <br />
at any hardware store. Predrill a 3/32 hole <br />
through the folded wick edge and into the <br />
club dowel. Screw into this pilot hole and <br />
fully tighten so the screw head is below the <br />
surface of the wick. Any exposed metal on <br />
the surface of the wick will become hot and <br />
can burn you if you catch the wrong end of <br />
the juggling torch. <br />
<br />
Storage and Transportation<br />
<br />
Torches should be stored in a preferably <br />
air tight metal container or tool box. <br />
The torch wick may contain unburned fuel <br />
that remains flammable. Stored torches <br />
should not be able to come in contact with <br />
sparks. Many commercial airlines will no <br />
longer allow torches in checked bags that <br />
have residue fuel on them and it is possible <br />
that they will not be allowed on the plane. <br />
