A campfire is magical.   How the coals glow and the flames flicker andthe sparks pop and shower, its mesmerizing.   But, you can make it evenmore magical with these simple tricks.   It will get old if you usethese all the time, but an occasional surprise makes a campfire at thatspecial place or time something to be remembered.

Chemicals

You may be able to get ahold of these chemicals in a grocery or dry goods store, in the laundry or cleaner section.
Find copper sulfate in swimming pool supplies.
Epsom salts, borax, and calcium chloride may be found with laundry/cleaning supplies.
Copper Chloride, Strontium Chloride, and others my be best found at fireworks supply companies.    Practice before using them at a campfire soyou know how much to use and how to best apply for maximum effect.

Chemical	Flame Change
Copper Chloride	BLUE flame
Borax (laundry)	LIGHT GREEN flame
Copper Sulfate (tree root killer for plumbers)	GREEN flame
Strontium Chloride	RED flame
Potassium Chloride (water softener salt)	PURPLE flame
Calcium Chloride	BLUE flame
Lithium Chloride	PINK flame
Alum	GREEN flame
Sodium Chloride (table salt)	ORANGE flame
Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom salts)	WHITE flame
Sugar	sprinkle into fire for tiny sparks
Powder Coffee Creamer	throw a handful into the flames above the fire for small sparkly flashes
Flour	toss a small amount into flame to make a flash flame
Iron filings	toss a small bit into flame to make gold sparks
Powdered aluminum	toss a small bit into flame to make silver sparks
Magnesium shavings	toss a small bit into flame to make very bright silver sparks

So, then how do you get the chemicals into the fire?   Well,throwing the powder in gives a burst of color, but then quickly diesout.   You might want to do this for special effect when telling astory.   But, to make the colors last longer, create wax pattieswhich are made just like the Wax and Woodchips fire starters.

Don't use these patties if you want sparks, just toss the dry chemical on.

• Melt old candle wax in a double boiler.
• Get a bunch of small paper dixie cups.
• Pour about 1/4 inch of chemical into each cup.
• Pour melted wax into the cup to just cover the chemical and quicklystir it with an unfolded paperclip or other small stir rod. This is tothoroughly coat all the chemical.
• Let thoroughly cool and then peel or cut off the sides of the paper cup. I leave the paper bottom on.

You can always use the old way of sliding a length of garden hose inside a piece of copper tubing and tossing that in the fire.