magician

Hello

I am a magician trying to create an effect that needs a small amount of fire, and I would appreciate some help. I am not a pyrotechnic enthusiast although I suppose I might become one. And because I know that all newcomers to a forum like this must be a bit suspect, I should say that I am not a reckless youth but a man of mature years with reasonable practical skills and experience.

Anyway, to business. The effect I am trying to create is a self-lighting candle. The candle goes unlit into a “spirit cabinet”, the doors of the cabinet are closed; and when they are opened again, the candle is seen to have been lit by the spirit. The cabinet is examinable – although the candle is not.

The ignition would be done by remote control, and that much – the electronics and relays – I can do. My difficulty is getting the candle to light from batteries. My first plan was to wrap a thin strand of copper wire round the head of a non-safety match. A battery goes across the wire, which heats up and ignites the match, which lights the candle.

I know that people in the US have managed this but as far as I can tell, British non-safety matches are significantly less reactive than American ones. With six AA batteries (9V), I can just about get the match to light, but it needs fresh batteries, and the connecting wire (and battery pack) gets very hot. In other words, a lot of current is needed. I have not experimented with nichrome wire but I suspect the same will apply – though I could be wrong.

I have tried using flash wool and flash paper – they ignite much more easily but they do not light the match. I have thought about using lighter fuel but don’t really want to mess with liquids.

I feel sure that there is some chemical – magnesium powder? - which I could apply to the wick of the candle which could then be ignited by the wire. Something that is itself fairly easily ignited but which would then burn for long enough to light the wick. I don’t want to create sparks or an explosion, just a flame that lasts a few seconds. But what?