I made Fire Flies!

[MAXX]

Well, I made one set of Fire Flies - for those who aren't familiar, imagine a fan with each stand-off (or section) without cross-supports and having total spring action flexibility. I used 1/2" kevlar tape for the poi heads. Each poi head is the tape tied in knots at the end of piano wire. Piano wire is extremely hard & strong spring steel - you can't even cut it with the biggest wire cutter - I had to use a thin grinding wheel to cut them, not even a steel hacksaw or drimmel tool head will cut it - so it's super safe! I made hooks on the ends by bending the wire into the poi heads so they wouldn't slide down (uh, had to use a vise for that - that's how tough the steel is!) Then I cut a copper tube (for the handle) and drilled teeny holes at different angles, put each wire thru and at the bottom I used a welding machine to create beads by melting the wire to keep it from sliding out. On the "top" side of the tube I used 1/32nd copper tubing for crimps to keep the wires from rotating. My wife is sewing the poi head knots (with kevlar thread) and when that's finished, I'll light them up & test them - each knot/head is about 3.5" in diameter. I've already tested the motion (lots!) to make sure the wires wouldn't tangle - & they don't. Each piano wire is approx. 3 feet long, so no dangers there & the heat will not travel thru the steel. Wish I could attach a picture of them, but I'll be demonstrating them this Sunday @ Confluence park (weather permitting). As long as I had the 1/2" kevlar tape I was trying to figure out what to do with it - now I know; I'm also expecting to get kevlar sheets.....a sword in the making perhaps :-)