Making Your Own Staffs Description: Staffs consist of a long, light-weight alumiminum pole with kevlar wrapped around each end. These ends are then dipped in flammable liquid and set alight. The staff can be twirled around the body in the hand, or through the fingers for more advanced users. When experience is gained, two staffs may be used at once. Staffs may range in size from 80cm (for double use) to 130cm (for single use). Tips for Staffs: While learning staffs, it is best to use a single, small staff until you have better control of it. Make sure you always practise as much, if not more with you "bad" hand as this will prevent you looking unbalance when you progress to using two staffs at once. Only light up once fairly confident you wont hit yourself.
Instructions: Step 1 Drill holes through one side of the aluminium piping 2.5cm and 5cm down from both ends. These holes should be big enough for the screws to easily fit through. Make lines level with the holes on the aluminium so that you can find them again later. Step 2 Put some glue inside the piping at each end, then slide the dowels inside the piping until it is sunken in about 5mm. Allow the glue to dry. Step 3 Tape one end of the kevlar strip to the piping with the paper tape, so that the end of the kevlar strip will just cover the drilled holes. The side of the kevlar strip should start about 10mm down from end "A". Wrap the kevlar strip tightly around the piping. Tape the other end of the kevlar down when done. Repeat this step for the other end. Step 4 Using the lines marked earlier, mark dots on the kevlar where the holes in the aluminium should be. Make sure that the kevlar end will be held in place by the screws, if not, adjust the length of the kevlar strip. Repeat this step for the other end. Note: Less kevlar will give a smaller flame which can be better for beginners. Step 5 Carefully drill through the kevlar using a reasonably fine drill bit. Do this slowly to avoid the kevlar catching on the drill bit. If the kevlar does catch, pull the drill out and try again (this will get easier with practise). When you feel the drill bit fit into the hole and touch the wood, stop drilling. Do this with both ends of your staff. Step 6 Screw the button head screws into the holes in the kevlar by hand. Make these as tight as you can. The screw should have passed through about 1.5cm from each end of the kevlar. This will hold the kevlar tight in place. Do this on both ends of your staff. Step 7 Remove the tape on the outside of the kevlar. Don't worry about the tape on the inside ... it will burn off. Step 8 Seal both ends of the aluminium piping entirely with the sealant. Step 9 Make a handle you feel comfortable with in the center of the stick. The main function of the handle it to provide a visual point in the center of the stick, making balance a little easier. Handles can be made of thin foam, tape, leather etc. That should be it |      
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