This article was first published in the November 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
One of the craziest characters in Mad Max: Fury Road was the Doof Warrior, a red-clad goon who strummed a flame-throwing guitar. Maker and Mad Max fan Caleb Kraft decided to design his own flaming instrument. He took it down a notch, though, by making a ukulele instead of a guitar. "I just thought it would be funnier with a ukulele," Kraft says. "But you can do it also with a guitar. I would choose a cheap guitar for this, though."Here are Kraft's instructions to rock it the post-apocalyptic way... but don't forget to first read our disclaimer below.
- Ukulele
- Metal hose - 50cm for a ukulele
- Insulation tape
- Caulking gun
- 150ml canister of butane gas
- Spark-gap igniter from a propane grill
- ShapeLock
- Zip ties
- Hot-glue gun
- Kettle
- Drill
- Fire extinguisher
BUILD YOUR TRIGGER[/b] You'll have to modify the caulking gun so it works as a trigger. Unscrew the nut on the top of the plunger and pull out the plunger rod from the gun. On the gun's handle there is a tab that pushes the plunger forward any time you pull the handle: take it out and then screw the plunger rod back in position. In this way, the plunger will return in place after every pull of the handle.##Description¬##DisplayStyle¬13]
LINK THE TRIGGER TO THE UKULELE [/b]With the drill, produce four holes (about 3mm in diameter) in the side of the caulking gun (two at each end). Drill matching holes in the back of the ukulele and attach the instrument and gun using zip ties. The gun's nozzle should point at the ukulele's neck. "If doing this to a guitar, use screws to fasten the gun into the guitar's wood," Kraft says.##Description¬##DisplayStyle¬13]
FIT THE HOSE [/b]Use the tape to secure the narrow end of the hose to the headstock. The hose's end should jut out a few centimetres. Use an all-metal hose. Boil some water to soften a spoonful of ShapeLock and use it to plug the other end of the hose. Measure the canister's nozzle. When the ShapeLock plug hardens, drill a hole slightly smaller than the nozzle at the centre.##Description¬##DisplayStyle¬13]
SET THE IGNITER[/b] Tape the igniter's electrodes to the end of the hose on the headstock. Use the tape to be sure they don't touch the hose. Bend the electrodes into an arc: they mustn't touch, but when you activate the igniter, they should produce a spark over the opening. If you notice more than one spark, use more tape. Paste the igniter's button on the side with hot glue.##Description¬##DisplayStyle¬13]
FIRE! [/b]Move to an open environment and keep your extinguisher handy. Insert the butane canister in the gun and link it to the hose through the hole you drilled in the seal. The gun's plunger should be placed against the canister's bottom. Turn on the igniter and verify it produces a spark. If the spark is there, pull the gun's handle and you'll shoot out a butane-fuelled flame.##Description¬##DisplayStyle¬13]
PLAY[/b] "If you're doing this for a concert, one or two butane canisters would last for a two-hour show," Kraft says. But he stresses that, although a flaming ukulele is great from a scenic point of view, you should stick to your old instrument if you care about the quality of the sound. "Having flames so close to the instrument causes the instrument to go out of tune often."##Description¬##DisplayStyle¬13]
Disclaimer
Building a flaming ukulele requires additional safety measures. Be sure to wear non-flammable clothes, to work in a safe environment (ideally, in the open) and to keep a functioning fire extinguisher available. As an extra precaution, work on this project with someone else.
I**llustration: Sara Andreasson.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
