W
hen we brainstormed an
element to take this story
over the top, someone
joked that we should build
a flamethrower. After the
laughter and legality questions sub-
sided—flamethrowers are legal in 48
states (they’re banned in Maryland
and require a permit to be owned in
California)—I said, “I can build one.”
And with that, this project became
as much about building a flame-
thrower as about my becoming (onlysomewhat reluctantly) the envy of
my friends, the chief concern of my
loved ones, and maybe the top name
on a watch list somewhere.
The basic theory of flamethrower
operation is simple: An inert gas
pressurizes a vessel holding fuel, the
fuel is released via a valve, and the
fuel is ignited as it exits an orifice.
The biggest danger is the risk of
fuel leaking from the connections
between the components. Well, that
and the statement, “Hold my beer.”I knocked out a design, ordered
parts, and blocked off some time in
the shop for the build. One important
thing to acknowledge: Although all
the parts are rated for use at 2,000
psi or higher, none is designed for
use in a flamethrower. We used CO^2
at 800 psi with a regulator to control
pressure in our system. After a day in
the shop and a full pressure test with
water to check for leaks, we ended
up with one of the coolest toys—er,
tools—ever. —Brad Ford“THAT’S RIGHT: I BUILT
A FLAMETHROWER.”
TREVORRAAB78 December 2019