Faux FIRE Basket

[beelce]

Hello haunters....
Here is the how-to for my FAUX FIRE BASKETS..... (all pricing from 2008)






I needed 2 baskets for Medusa's gates of death



I found these baskets at Big Lots....they are about 18" tall ....$8
It is important to use an open weave basket so that the fan can pull it's air from below through the bottom sides of the basket....if not, the fan will suck the fabric down instead of up.




Found these lights at Walgreen's after Valentine sale ....$5 for 2 set

[beelce]

Got these lights at Big Lots on the clearance rack $4 per set ....I pulled all of the leaves off and used them on another prop





I zip tied both light sets into the bottom and sides of the basket to look like "embers"

[beelce]

Here I plugged in all the light sets (LEDs, Hearts, and grapes) and the fan into one 12' extension cord. Then pulled the cord through a small hole in the bottom back of the basket...this will allow me to power everything with 1 cord



12" high velocity 3 speed fan.....Walmart $13. I wanted this fire to be large, so I needed a large volume of air to push a large fabric flame...I have tried many different types of fans, and found that every type has a different air dynamic, moves the fabric differently, and pulls air differently, So what works for me with these materials may work differently for you.



Here you can see the copper electrical wire (Lowe's) that I use to hold the fabric to the fans

[beelce]

I have these LED light sets custom made from scodarn@hotmail.com





I have experimented with many different LED light color groupings, and this is one of my favs.





At this point I have attached the LED wiring directly to the fan housing.

[beelce]

Got this fabric at Hobby Lobby $ 1.75 per yard....I'm not sure what it's called, I just bought the cheapest silk like fabric I could find



Here is the pattern I used for the big fire....



I use 2 silk flames for each fire basket...(same pattern)...I just make 1 flame 2" taller and wider than the other, so that they have a layered look when the fan is on.





Just trace around the pattern and cut out the flame shape with a good pair of scissors.

[beelce]

I used 3M High performance 2mil decal material to tape the flame to the electrical wire....I like the decal material because it is light weight, supper strong, waterproof, comes in many colors, and out performs ALL other types of tape hands down! (I don't even own a roll of duct tape anymore) I am in the decal business so we have lots of this stuff around, so it's easy for me....you can find some on e-bay or you can stop by any sign shop and ask for some scrap material...be sure to get the "high performance" 2mil type....the Intermediate 4mil stuff will not last more than 1 season.





The wire that holds the flames may need to aimed....I had to bend the wire in a "V" shape to get the flames to flow all the way up....I found that the 2 fabric flames seem to grab and hug each other when the fan is on, so I bent the copper wire holding the flames into a "V" shape to let more air flow between the flames. (looks like this from the top ...< < )



I like the fan on full speed....to really push the fabric....

I used no anchors on the fan...... it just sits snugly down into the basket on top of the ember lights...

[beelce]

Here you can see that the finished FIRE BASKET is large....about 36" tall and 24" wide. At night you can see this thing blazing from 1500' away.



After you have everything running, don't forget to tweak the basket fire....take a minute and aim all the LEDs thoughtfully at the flames.....be sure to light all the flame edges and especially the very highest tip of flame must have an LED aimed at it.....

[Fiend4Halloween]

What a great job! Thanks for the "how-to". Like I said before, the purple and blue lights make the flame so realistic!

[scareme]

Thanks for the how to, Beelce. I had the workings pictured differently in my head. The how to really helps. I have several strings of orange lights. Would the work in place of the red lights on the bottom? I think the problem I had with my flame in the past was not enough air circulation.

[naberhoodhaunts]

great job Beelce!! Thank you for the how-to