DIY Flame Book

This is a book that produces a flame (caution) on command (recharge after use).

Ideal for some spectacle when playing a TTRPG like DND.

1. A book at least as thick as a AA battery.
2. A box cutter and cut-proof gloves.
3. A heating element: Nickel Chromium wire. 80% Nickel.
4. Flash paper: bought from a magic shop. I use the smallest size.
5. A battery: at least 2x AA. 9V not recommended but it's the only one I had a connector for.
6. A button. Make sure it's small enough to not be pressed when the book is closed.
7. A decent soldering iron and tin or clip-on connectors. I must admit it looks good with the connectors.
8. Glue
9. (A resistor: it saves the battery but heating up takes longer.)

Cut off some Nichrome wire and bend it in a W shape.

Make sure the ends do not touch each other or you'll short the wire out (and it will not heat).

I put the connectors on and taped it to a MDF wood piece with electrical insulation tape so it won't touch the paper. If you do not use connectors, make sure that it stays elevated off the paper so it doesn't burn it.

One side of the Heating element is connected to the pushbutton, the other one is connected to the battery.

Solder 2 wires on the pushbutton. When using the same one I use: cut off the remaining legs after soldering on the wires.

Connect the wires: 1 goes to the battery, the other goes to the Heating element.

Cut out a decent sized hole in the book.

I cut out a big space to fit the wires and a small space on top so the flame shoots up.

When done: glue the heating element, the pushbutton and the connector of the battery in place as shown in the picture (push button in the lower right corner so it's within thumb reach).

I taped the wires so they stay nice and flat.

I fold the paper like a dumpling and tuck it in the "W" shaped wire. Make sure that there is no wind blowing when testing this out and don't touch the heating element.

First look the book over and check if

1. the heating element is "free floating" when the book is closed.
2. the push button is not pressed when the book is closed.
3. the battery is removable and is only inserted right before usage.

To test: Move to a controlled environment (non flammable and preferably no wind)

Open the book, push the button and hold it. As soon as the flash paper ignites, release the button.

Precautions:

1. The Nichrome wire basicly has no resistance and that means you're actually shortening the battery: this delivers the current needed to heat up the element. If you're worried about building pressure in the battery then use a resistor, but know that it will take some time to heat the element enough for it to ignite the paper (I tried with 100ohm and it melted before the element was warm enough since I don't own a resistor rated high enough.)

1. Nichrome has a higher melting point than copper, meaning your wires will melt before the Nichrome does (if they're the same gauge).

1. I used Insulation tape to somewhat protect the paper from catching flame. Usually the flash paper will burn up before it can ignite anything: but under special circumstances this might not be the case.

1. Don't use when windy: the flame might be blown into your face or a flammable substance.