“I want to use a fire whip in a scene in order to throw fire balls at my sub. What fuel should I use?”

Fire whips, while exciting, are very dangerous and I would never recommend using them in a public D/s scene because there are so many variables that can go wrong. That being said I will try to help as best I can.

First, using a fire whip makes the assumption that you are already exceptional with a whip and fire play because you are essentially combining the two. So, when choosing a fuel for your whip you have to take into account your environment. So the first question you should be asking yourself is "Where will I be playing?"
If you are playing indoors and the room is small then anything you do is going to be dangerous, especially if there is an audience. You need room to throw a whip and you need ventilation so the smoke and fumes don't overwhelm you and the sub.
Next you have to ask yourself, "Is the area well ventilated?" If the play space is not well ventilated this really reduces the types of fuels you can use because most fuels smoke and all fuels give off fumes that can be flammable and/or noxious. I wouldn’t recommend white gas and lamp oil because the lamp oil smokes terribly and that can affect not only you and your sub but others in the room. Also white gas has to be covered and at least 5-10 feet away from an open flame because the fumes can trail back to the container and explode. (I have seen it happen.)

The only fuels that I would recommend for indoor use would be Isopropyl alcohol or Liquid Sterno. (FYI. Isopropyl alcohol has fumes that over time can cause flu-like symptoms due to its fumes and while that's not a big issue for the sub’s safety, it is for the Dominant if used often.http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/isopropylalcohol/recognition.html)

If you use 100% Isopropyl alcohol, it burns very hot and is a whole different animal than using the stuff that they sell in your local pharmacy. If lit fuel gets on your sub it will have to be removed really quickly or it’s going to burn them. The same goes for the Sterno.

This leads me to my next question, “how many spotters are you using?” If you begin using fuels with a higher volatility then you need more people to assist you. Not only to put out flames or anyone that is burning but to:

1. Wipe away any excess fuels. Relighting excess fuel can result in a fire that can quickly get out of hand.

2. You need someone to spin off the wicks before you throw your whip. Remember, a fire ball is essentially lit and unlit fuel flying through the air. So the whips have to be thrown in order to get rid of as much excess fuel as possible. If you don't, you are flinging unlit fuel around an open flame source.

The next issue you will have to contend with is, "What type of wicks are you using?" Some fuels are corrosive and can shorten the life of your wicks and whips. Kevlar wicks are the best for this but you should also make sure that the wicks are attached to the whip using Kevlar thread. If not you may throw a lit piece of fuel socked material at your sub or someone else.

As for the fire ball itself. The problem with throwing a fire ball low is that heat rises and may roll across their face and if it is too high then you are not getting the desired effect.

In closing I would say that using Fire whips in a scene are just not worth it. But if you have to have a fuel, go with the 100% Isopropyl alcohol.