Sparkle Ropedart

Gora Sparkle Ropedart (Charcoal Ropedart)

Though this effect is visually astonishing, we recommend it only for the most experienced performers, as charcoal ropedarts present significantly higher risks for both the performer and the audience.
This tool is absolutely not recommended for beginners!

What Is a Sparkle Ropedart?

Unlike traditional fire props, a sparkle ropedart (also known as a charcoal ropedart) uses a metal cage filled with burning charcoal instead of soaked Kevlar wicks.
As you spin the cage, a shower of glowing embers – sometimes described as a swarm of ember angels – flies around the performer in a random, chaotic pattern far different from that of titanium sparks or fire trails.

Due to the increased risk, we’ll begin with safety precautions.

Safety Instructions

👕 Clothing & Protection

Wearing full-body protection is absolutely mandatory.
There are two main sources of danger:

1. Randomly flying embers

2. The red-hot metal cage itself

✅ Required clothing:

• No exposed skin!

• Use cotton or natural-fiber clothing (no synthetics).

• Wear closed shoes.

• Tuck pants into your socks, or wear two layers of pants and tuck in the inner layer.

• As a top, we recommend a thick sweater with a hood, and a shirt underneath tucked into the pants.

• Eye protection: use clear safety goggles (not tinted sunglasses).

• For maximum protection, consider a balaclava-style hood that leaves only your eyes exposed.

• Use leather gloves to protect your hands.

 Safety Distance

Keep a minimum of 10 meters (33 ft) clear space in all directions – this includes:

• Audience

• Fellow performers

• Flammable materials or decorations

Do not light the ropedart if:

• You cannot ensure that the audience is outside the 10 m radius.

• There is wind. Even a light breeze makes ember movement unpredictable.

• There are dry plants or grass nearby.

All nearby people must either keep a safe distance or wear the same full protective clothing described above.

 Equipment Check

• Always inspect your ropedart before use.

• Make sure the metal cage is securely closed.

• Be extra careful with fuel contamination: the cotton cord is not fireproof, so avoid getting fuel on it during preparation, storage, or use.

• Optionally, wet the cotton cord before use for extra safety.

⚖️ Liability

Gora Professional Fire Gear assumes no responsibility for any injury, damage, or incident resulting from improper or irresponsible use.

Construction Details

The Gora Sparkle Ropedart features:

• A steel double-layered cylindrical cage

  • Outer mesh for strength

  • Inner fine mesh to control ember size

• A 2.5 mm twisted steel chain (35 cm length)

• Triple ring connections and a super-strong swivel

• 10 mm cotton cord for grip and control (not fireproof)

How to Use & Prepare Charcoal

🔍 Choosing Charcoal

There are many types of charcoal, varying by wood type and preparation method.
You should test different types available in your region and find what works best for you.

Some use charcoal tablets (like those for hookahs). These are easy and safe, but:

• They are expensive

• They produce less spectacular visual effects

 Charcoal Preparation

1. Place charcoal in an old rug or cloth.

2. Sort out uncarbonized pieces (feel like wood) – don’t use them.

3. Wrap the rug and hit it with a hammer to break large chunks.

4. Open the rug and sort the charcoal:

   • ✅ Small, even pieces → keep

   • ❌ Large chunks → repeat the hammering

5. Experiment to find your ideal mix of small/medium-sized pieces:

   • Smaller = stronger but shorter effect

   • Don’t use dust or particles that fall through the mesh

Tip: You can mix unused charcoal dust with lycopodium for other effects (e.g. in a Vul-Cane).

Lighting Up the Ropedart

Once the charcoal is inside the cage, you have two main methods to ignite it:

1. With fire accelerant (fast but can be risky)

2. By holding it above a strong flame (e.g. torch or fire pit) for 15–30 minutes
   🔥 Recommended method – gives a stronger, more consistent ember effect.