DIY enthusiasts have an obsession with fire. Last June we saw a kind of helmet that imitated Cyclops' eye beams. Last August we published a flamethrower that activates with punches, in the best style of Avatar's firebending. And now it's the turn of a glove with a miniaturized flamethrower on top. It requires butane gas, several 3D printed parts, and a significant amount of courage to ignore (temporarily) the fact that it could explode…
I wonder what must go through the mind of a person who gets out of bed and says "I'm going to build a flamethrower." Is it the challenge, the need to flirt with risk, or are we facing the classic "I do it because I can" and that's it? The DIY world practically has no limits, especially when it comes to making weapons, but I guess the flamethrower has something… "extra", so to speak. The most conclusive proof is on YouTube. A simple search for "flamethrower" teaches you to use them, maintain them, and of course, to make one.
Today it's Simon's turn from the RCLifeOn channel, who created a 3D printed glove equipped with a small butane gas tube. Granted: From a technical point of view it's not a flamethrower, but a torch, but the principle is similar. A wireless transmitter sends a command to a speed controller and a servo to heat a filament at the end of the glove and press the butane tube, releasing the gas. The whole assembly is powered by a small 7.4V 370mAh battery, commonly used in radio control applications.
I must admit that the "flamethrower" works much better than I expected, but personally I worry about the use of plastic for the main structure. The flames pass very close to the glove, and we all know that 3D printed material tolerances are not the best. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to make an additional prototype combining metal and leather for better insulation. What do you think?
