Seven
November 9, 2002, 11:05am
1
It’s a cool little trick.
Take the brown strip off a matchbook (the part you strike the match on)
Turn it face down in a glass ashtray and light it on fire.
After all the paper had burned away, blow off the ashes. You’ll see a light brown goo on the glass.
Put a little of this goo between your thumb and index finger.
Do some hocus-pocus bit for your friends then rub your index and thumb together… watch as smoke magically appears from nowhere …
My question. Why?
What is that goo anyway? What is that brown strip made of?
Ah… I can’t answer your question, but I remember that during my trip to Japan, we bought this stuff called kemurigami (smoke-paper) which is paper covered in a sticky powder. When you put some on your index and thumb and rub them around, this stuff that looks like smoke comes out. It’s actually some sort of fibrey stuff, because if you do it enough you’ll notice some white powdery stuff around you on the floor.
astro
November 9, 2002, 1:10pm
3
This is what is in the strip -
How do safety matches work ?
When you strike a safety match, phosphorus sesquisulphide in the rough “striking” strip reacts with potassium chlorate in the head to give an initial spark. This sets off a solid state reaction in the match head which raises its temperature and starts to decompose the organic components to create a cloud of smoke. The sulphur vapour, which has a very low ignition temperature, bursts into flame and sets fire to the cloud of gas, in turn igniting the wood. Otherwise the match would simply fizz like a sparkler
Phosphorus Sesquisulphide
Phosphorus Sesquisulphide (P4S3) is used for the production of strike-anywhere matches.
Physical and Chemical properties
Phosphorus Sesquisulphide igintes on friction at room temperature, or it comes into contact with sparks of static electricity. It ignites spontaneously at temperature near the melting point.
Principal characteristics
Sulphur content % 43.80 - 44.20Arsenic max. 70 ppm
This link suggests soaking it before burning it.
How to Be So Hot You Smoke
OK I am sending a tip on how to get initially noticed if you’re extremely shy. But be warned, you will get more then one person surrounding you if you do it right, and do it in a room that will allow you to see smoke. It is a magic trick that is inexpensive and can be done virtually for free.
Ok find a matchbook or match box. Now take the striking strip and cut it out. Soak it over night in water. Next day let it dry out. Burn the strip. Now there will be a brown sticky substance. That’s what to use, not the black ash. Now place the brown substance on your hands. Find a crowd of ladies and rub your hands like you’re cold. Your hands will be smoking. This is great not just for girls, but a great way to meet people in general.
tip burn the strip on a spoon that way the substance is easily caught.
tip remove ashed strip immediately or most of substance will burn away.
tip this stuff smells, so if you can, be near the washrooms so you can wash your hands quickly.
tip you can freeze this stuff on a spoon, and put it on 5-10 minutes before you use it.
It really is a good icebreaker. I’ve already met 10 different girls doing this trick.