DIY briefcase flamethrower

[White Jesus]

So I found an old briefcase the other day. I was thinking up uses for it when I realised it would make an awesome handheld flamethrower.
I was kinda thinking about having a retractable nozzle linked up to some LPG tanks stored inside.
I really have no idea how to build this so im looking for a little bit of help.

[Scarecrow]

I hate to post without giving input... but I think the idea of having a flamethrower briefcase is epic... and reminds me of the movie desperado. Either way it rocks... I want one.

[Mantikore]

so is it going to be modified briefcase that his held normally, or is it going to be a flamethrower that folds into a rifle shape, perfect dark style?

[I Kill Null Airtime]

badass

[kelsokid18]

I was thinking you could hold it normally, and rig up a trigger IN the handle, so that just a squeeze of the handle would activate it. But, how do you explain a hole in it for the nozzle to exit?

[Mantikore]

I was thinking you could hold it normally, and rig up a trigger IN the handle, so that just a squeeze of the handle would activate it. But, how do you explain a hole in it for the nozzle to exit?

make a line bunch of holes down the side, so it looks like a decorative design. one of the holes will be the muzzle

[Scarecrow]

I was thinking you could hold it normally, and rig up a trigger IN the handle, so that just a squeeze of the handle would activate it. But, how do you explain a hole in it for the nozzle to exit?

You could have it set up so that when you pull the trigger, it slides a side piece of the briefcase up to reveal the nozzle, and when the nozzle gets pulled up, it activates the fuel for the flamethrower, so the nozzle is never revealed until hell and fury are unleashed upon the unsuspecting business people
MUAHAHAHA!
/likes it

[White Jesus]

I was thinking you could hold it normally, and rig up a trigger IN the handle, so that just a squeeze of the handle would activate it. But, how do you explain a hole in it for the nozzle to exit?

Yeah I was kinda thinking the same thing but with a hose that you pull out.

Ill post pics of the case when I can find my camera.

[MunkeyQ]

Awesome idea. However, it's best to keep it simple - just have the nozzle sticking out, although the pilot light might be a problem.

Your best bet is not to use gas (LPG is only liquid inside the tank, remember) but a liquid like rubbing alcohol. It's difficult to get a coherent jet of gas without setting fire to yourself. Inverting the cylinder so the liquid gas in the lines expands at the nozzle might work though, although controlling it with a suitable valve is going to be tricky.

Controlling liquid fuel is easy - a safety solenoid valve from a car's fuel line is designed to withstand what you're putting through it, and provides quick on/off switching.

[Barney'sDealer]

People like Bino 101 keep the world spinning and at war.


Very creative:sailor:

[Scarecrow]

I've got an old briefcase kicking around too, I am going to try to rig something up. Post some schematics if you actually make one... or just try to do some schematics even if you don't intend to make one.
Out of curiosity and without having searched elsewhere first (sorry, idea came right when i started posting this) How would you make a flamethrower anyways? I mean without having to put it in a briefcase, how would you make one with standard household materials that you can get from a hardware/auto store

[Scarecrow]

http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/

To answer my own question
That's one badass nerd!

/runs to Canadian tire (hardware store for those non-canadians out there)

[Scarecrow]

http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/animation3.gif

85 bucks worth of hardware for that badass mother fucker!

[13579]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1707/picture001srw.jpg
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9586/picture004woz.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6476/picture003qkw.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/435/picture006ihw.jpg

:D

[White Jesus]

Awesome idea. However, it's best to keep it simple - just have the nozzle sticking out, although the pilot light might be a problem.

Your best bet is not to use gas (LPG is only liquid inside the tank, remember) but a liquid like rubbing alcohol. It's difficult to get a coherent jet of gas without setting fire to yourself. Inverting the cylinder so the liquid gas in the lines expands at the nozzle might work though, although controlling it with a suitable valve is going to be tricky.

Controlling liquid fuel is easy - a safety solenoid valve from a car's fuel line is designed to withstand what you're putting through it, and provides quick on/off switching.

I'm wondering how you would force the liquid out at a constant rate.
I think I will go with the liquid fuel idea.

[MunkeyQ]

I'm wondering how you would force the liquid out at a constant rate.
I think I will go with the liquid fuel idea.
Hmm, good point.

One option is to have the tank half-filled with fuel and pressurise the remaining volume with air, but the rate of flow would depend on pressure left in the tank...so as air runs low you'd dribble burning stuff on your toes. Not cool.

A variation on that idea is to have a seperate regulated high-pressure gas cylinder which is fed into the fuel tank to force the fuel out, which would result in constant flow...but as the fuel runs low, the airspace in the tank pressurises meaning fuel doesn't stop coming out as soon as you close the air valve.

IMO, the best, albeit most complex, way of doing it is to use a high pressure/low volume pump to draw the fuel out of the tank and through the nozzle. Cars with fuel injection have a relatively low pressure (but still high enough for your purposes) electric fuel pump in the tank which would be suitable.

[White Jesus]

Hmm, good point.

One option is to have the tank half-filled with fuel and pressurise the remaining volume with air, but the rate of flow would depend on pressure left in the tank...so as air runs low you'd dribble burning stuff on your toes. Not cool.

A variation on that idea is to have a seperate regulated high-pressure gas cylinder which is fed into the fuel tank to force the fuel out, which would result in constant flow...but as the fuel runs low, the airspace in the tank pressurises meaning fuel doesn't stop coming out as soon as you close the air valve.

IMO, the best, albeit most complex, way of doing it is to use a high pressure/low volume pump to draw the fuel out of the tank and through the nozzle. Cars with fuel injection have a relatively low pressure (but still high enough for your purposes) electric fuel pump in the tank which would be suitable.

Alright, I have decided to get started this weekent.
Auto yards would have the pumps that i'm looking for right?

[13579]

I'd just use a co2 tank (Not air, I'd rather not have it combust inside the tank) and a regulator. Regulated co2 is fed into fuel tank.

Though, with a briefcase, you'd have to hold it a certain way (Wouldn't work upside down, fuel wouldn't come out, co2 would).

Interesting device though, original idea too. Never heard of this before.

[asilentbob]

Personally... I think I'd go with a bike pump rechargeable water fire extinguisher... 2.5gallon is a common size. Then Instead of air, I'd charge it with nitrogen. Personally i wouldn't use CO2. I'm sure you could find one that is smaller than 2.5gal and would fit in your case... But it would be tricky to get the lever action of the handle hooked up nicely...

You might want to check stuff on ebay.

But yeah those 2.5gal ones when pressurized will shoot water a good distance and fast, just what you would want in a flame thrower... Though really it could easily get out of control... So you would need a VERY big open area to test.

Oh, and be sure that if you go with a fire extinguisher, completely take it apart and put it back together to make sure there are no plastic pieces that would get dissolved. Another reason why an alcohol might be better, it would be less likely to dissolve plastics inside the extinguisher than say gasoline... Though alcohol would be much more expensive than gasoline too :[... I don't know about kerosene...

Take video!

[Unholy Batman]

keep in mind, military flamethrowers shoot like .5 gallons of fuel per second with a range of 30 meters (or alot more). Your not gonna really incinerate anything with a tiny stream. hard to get that kind of flow rate imo.

[RDProgrammer]

A Flamethrower is as much a psychological weapon as an actual one.

RDP

[Minority Deport]

A Flamethrower is as much a psychological weapon as an actual one.

RDP

You're right. Just walk into a office building and tell people your briefcase is a flame thrower, that's just as fun.

[MunkeyQ]

You're right. Just walk into a office building and tell people your briefcase is a flame thrower, that's just as fun.
I do this sometimes. Not as cool as it sounds...instead of epic flames there's just a load of papers...


Now for something actually useful.
Asilentbob, that's along the lines of what I suggested, the only problem being range decreasing as air pressure drops. And 13579, that again is similar to what I said, but as the air space increases inside the tank as the fuel level drops, it will act like a giant spring meaning when you stop gas flow, fuel will dribble out until the residual pressure is all gone. However, having a regulated supply means that range/flow rate is constant until the gas supply drops in pressure.

You could however add a second valve on the nozzle which opens and closes at the same time as the gas valve, which will effectively prevent residual pressure making a mess.

Nozzle design should be fairly straightforward - use a metal hose nozzle to direct it into one controlled stream. Atomising the fuel wouldn't be good as you'd get a giant fiery cloud at the nozzle.

Oh, and if you do make it, paint "Molotov Everything" on the side. It would be fitting... :D

[xian]

The link posted is pretty much it. Just make sure that the out line comes from the bottom of the tank to make sure you get the most out of your fuel.

[Pringles]

Thank you! Now i have a fun summer project. Hell knows what you could do with some thing like that. :D

[Metafire]

How about a one-shot rechargeable flamethrower? A simple quick release valve using a small tank of nitrogen to propel a burst of fuel? Using that rechargeable fire extinguisher mentioned.

No ideas for an easily concealable nozzle though. =/

[Comrade Phil]

So the idea is to have the tank of nitrogen--->fuel tank---->valve connected to the trigger and a piezo---> nozzle?

Why not also connect the nozzle to a small pulley system inside the briefcase? or make it spring loaded?
or if you're being really posh, just set the trigger up to be a pushbutton which ignites, ejects the nozzle and opens the valve? You could even make it remote controlled with an all electronic ignition :D

[SHARP]

I see a lot of potential in this thread...

Mostly for getting hurt...

Good luck, and don't screw up.

[Irukanji]

I deliver a picture.

It looks like shit, and paint isnt exactly the greatest for drawing pictures, but you get the idea. The empty space is for fuel lines, etc to go, aswell as electrical wires to power the solenoids/ignition circuit. Well, you said 1 push :)

If you do it right, you should be able to press the button to open the solenoids, then after you're done with it, press it again to shut the whole system off or maybe make it push to fire, release to stop, so if you drop it......w.e.

You would need much pressure, since it's going to be in a breifcase and would be suited to an office environment, something with a range of 5-10m would be good. Do your research of course, and find a fuel which is easy to put out, but has a high burning temperature. Also make sure it is reliable, like petrol(although i dont recommend this since it is pretty volatile :))

http://i41.tinypic.com/2d1sthc.jpg

Self-explanatory.

And only 4 weeks late :)

Just had a thought. If you connect the barrel to the handle, then all you will have to do is "cock" it, that is, move the handle forward to expose the barrel/ignitor, then it is clear of the case and should hopefully not melt the case :)

[JREwing]

Expelling liquid in a forward direction will create a significant backward pressure. Your arm will swing back, and you'll end up burning your self. Which you deserve, as flamethrowers are horrible weapons.

That desperado movie briefcase would have had the same problem, except that it was firing small charges instead of real bullets.

[happy_one_hit]

Expelling liquid in a forward direction will create a significant backward pressure. Your arm will swing back, and you'll end up burning your self. Which you deserve, as flamethrowers are horrible weapons.

That desperado movie briefcase would have had the same problem, except that it was firing small charges instead of real bullets.

They have these things called guns. They are compact and very effective.

[Irukanji]

Dont turn this tread into a bitch thread.

Post something interesting or gtfo.

~space reserved for an autocad drawing~