The Impossible Fire pit Tornado 

I've thought about this project a lot also. It's a tough one to figure out. I've also played with making a desktop fire tornado that uses a candle. Tougher than it sounds.

Backyard scientist: I'm scared of commitment. Inner voice: oh wait, I'm married

I've built loads of these over the years and you were really close a few times, but move on from one design to a different one far too quickly. The slatted type will do it, but the gaps need to be tiny (2mm or less) if you're making it that high. The top ring also needs to have a smaller hole to concentrate the exhaust because all the versions you made had far too low backpressure to sustain a tornado effectively. The simplest way to make one is to cut the drum into 4 parts and overlap them in a spiral, and then cap it with a piece that has a hole 1/2 the diameter. If you go up to 8 pieces it can give a tighter tornado effect, but the tolerances are much tighter and the gaps need to be much smaller.

"I'm jealous of California because they're *lit*!" "I'm scared of commitment." "Epic welding montage!" Dude you're a meme lord lmao

Years ago without that plasma cutter, that project would've taken forever. Great job!

6:54 Backyard Scientist: challenges everybody to make their own fire tornadoes California: no! God please NO!

“Number two, they’re 400 bucks for a fire pit. Four hundred dollars for a fire pit. that’s pretty ridiculous, which is why I decided to buy 400 dollars of steel to try to make my own.” this is why I love his channel.

“Everything changed when the fire nation attacked”

The coolest Florida man is back

3020: DIY fire pit black hole!

Mark Rober and Science Bob used a ton of fans for making a really cool fire tornado.

If it's any consolation, fire whirls are incredibly rare and typically last only a few seconds. The fact that you were able to create one at all was impressive.

This man is the definition of chaotic neutral Edit: Chaotic Good

awesome florida man scientist back at it again

Thumbnail: he's a Firebender 🔥

Does anyone else get nervous when Kevin starts playing with fire? I keep thinking today's the day he catches himself on fire.

Alternate title: Florida man makes giant vortex of fire from scraps of metal

"California is lit" Australia: I felt that

"California is lit" hits hard for me. my house was burned down in the creek fire and we had to find another place to live. keep in mind that I'd been living in that house my entire life. #MountainStrong

"Eh, I didn't need that arm hair anyways"

Me: goes to park with blowtorch Uk: nah everythings wet and is always wet

How many times did he say "fire tornado"? Can someone count?

With some adjustments, I think the third one you made could have worked. 1) The angle of the fins at the top weren't angled enough. If you compare the angle of those to the angle of the 2nd one you made, it was much less of an angle. 2) You should raise the floor inside it up a little bit so that it's not quite so deep and and put holes in the bottom to allow fresh oxygen in to feed the fire at the bottom. That will get it really hot. 3) put enough wood in and let it burn long enough to really heat up the walls of the stove so that the fresh oxygen coming in at the top fins will be super heated. I think that would do it. I'd like to see you attempt round 2 of this with some of these suggestions, or other suggestions that you have received.

I love this channel! Im glad you guys are back!

Him says he has to put 64 pins on it My brain: a stack of pins

3:31 drops blowtorch right next to a gallon of propane

“I told you” - that sounded confident

You are awesome. Keep doing what you are doing!

If he accidentally caught the ground on fire “Florida man sets fire to local neighborhood”

California is lit! Yea man we have the BEST gender reveal party’s! You should come and join us sometime.

I can think of one additional part to create natural tall ones kind of... Ur right about the fan and how in nature it's usually as simple as a tornado meets a fire and what else would ya get. I think u should combine all of your set ups. The basic outer shell being the omnidirectional slat rig... The inner shell being the basic half wall set up the ring slats to connect the two shells. Then my additional part a tall propeller with a free axil facing up high above the fire. The idea isn't to add any motors just fuel. Pack it round the stalk of the propeller and then ignite it. Once the inner shell heats up the cold air will come in raising the velocity of the propeller and it should make a firenado. Cause the leaves were moving the right direction

I really like the design and the fire tornado for the vented (2nd) pit. I’d like to have a fire pit like that one day but shorter and wider

Backyard sciencetist: posts Everyone: RUSHES TO COMMENTS I make vidz

thanks for the shoutout! (im the person on discord)

While I've wanted exactly one of these for years, I've only RU-vid researched the topic if fire vortexes and burners. A strong updraft from intense heat is one of the prime forces between tornados. Simply rotating air may be insufficient. After the hot air and fire raises, it can easily hit a ceiling of cold air and smother the lift and rotation needed. If the air above the top of the fire chamber can be induced to turn, that could help, but having strong lift from intense heat is very important. Maybe if a vacuum or fan could be mounted a few feet higher than the flame, that could help.

I imagine anyone who successfully achieves a fire tornado in their backyard will probably need a new house!

I built a 'Vortex Incinerator' several years ago. It was like a vertical jet engine with a chimney. The base was a 55 gallon drum burner with a shielded axle in the center, it had a grate in the bottom where fresh air entered. Under the grate was a many vaned fan attached to the axle to spin away the ash if it didn't blow up and out. Up above, the axle had large helix vanes inside a chimney to provide motive force. There was a space between the burner and the chimney to load wood and see fire and the lower part of the chimney had a funnel shroud to concentrate the fire up the chimney. It was all made of scrap metal. The bearings were pins in cup and a large tripod held up the top of the chimney. It worked spectacularly once, the burner drum got red hot and glowed in spiral waves and the axle spun nicely, then the axle got red hot at the top and bent. And that was that. Too many moving parts of junk to last. Then it was art.

I live in Cali and everyday seems like “get lung caner in two days” simulator

1:52 I love the design of that shirt so much omg

can we talk about the hard work he did?

5:40 - then why don't you add a fresh-air intake at the bottom of the fire pit, to make sure a lot of oxygen gets in at the base of the flames?

Kinda looked like you was building a turbine engine with all those fins! Another great video! Also, I want to thank you, I just finished building my own fire fountain! Absolutely awesome! It really surprises people that come by and see it.

Dude you are living out my fantasy!! I want to make a fire pit/tornado to maybe 1) have the tornado tend to direct the smoke straight up and away 2) be dope to look at 3) maybe achieve really good combustion. Then, I am looking for a 'Tensile tarp structure' that I can A) raise, B) lower for when not in use, and C) close off more if its windy. Smoke would exit a hole in the center, which would also be the highest point. Back to the hearth: what if you had a series of steel pipes in a spiral that would feed air into a large steel bowl that contains the burning wood. Cold air, which is heavier, begins orbiting the fire and gases, which stay in the center because they are lighter.... producing a swirl. My summer project!!!

'Just wait, it's not going to spread.' Famous last words.

Is it just me that absolutely loves all his T-shirt in his videos

The backyard sure gets more scientific with a fire in tornado form, awesome stuff.

Dude this is one of the most hilarious anybody could do that for cheaper ideas I have seen in a long time. I’m sure any extra metal will be used resourcefully

That’s not scared of commitment, that is forward thinking.

You need a narrower body and a choked neck. It's about increasing ambient temp to drive of wood gas for a cleaner burn. The impeller neck was GREAT! I've actually made a fire tornado stove out of an old thermos. Lots of 3/8" air holes at the base. I drilled and bent few smaller 3/16" angled holes. They were in the old threaded neck. They created a great vortex and afterburner effect. I could heat my whole shop off of it and some large soup cans as a chimney and radiator. Surprisingly simple and effective. When I hooked up an old CPAP as forced air it was almost scary in my home shop!! With your shop you could knock that out of the park!

Life before quarantine: Oh a backyard scientist video Life in quarantine: BaCk YaRd scientists video👀

I didnt even know fire tornadoes existed until recently, they and other fire related events are my favorite natural occurrences.

"I couldn't start a fire if I tried!" *burns down entire forest*

What a pleasant surprise in my sub box mid day. That intro was great as always.

The low production value makes this channel extremely watchable (I know that sounded sarcastic, it's not). Stuff like this is what makes me really like the internet. That and Bee Movie memes.

Ohhh, you are going to have to re visit this one! I feel like you are on the verge of figuring it out. I believe in you man!

Woah, I haven't watched this dude since I was like 10, glad to be back Florida man.

Makes my day whenever BackyardScientist uploads

i give you prop on the " just be a man, grab the hot metal and move it, WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!" 1:30

Nice to know this principle of fire building!

2:08 hope your girlfriend doesn't watch this video!

I was craving a good dose of Backyard Scientist.

You know what's cool fire tornadoes -backyard scientists

So I was wondering if you had given any idea to trying to make those directional airflow blades be able to spin powered by the upwards draft of the fire? This addition of essentially turning it into a mini turbine might have the desired effect you are looking for.

Seller: will you like to buy a fire pit for $400? Backyard scientist: thats too expensive Seller: will you like to buy steel for $400? Backyard scientist: Take my money

I've been watching since 2015 the fire sword. I love this channel❤

4:49 "and then beat this thing into submission"🤣 lol

You’re giving Colin Furze a run for his steel fabrication. Interesting video.

Maybe if the inflow was channeled in a few longish tubes to store up some directional momentum instead of swirling past a sharp orifice/slit into the chamber that could be creating unwanted eddy currents and drag losses. Also some more height proportional to width on the chamber might help to increase draw and feedback.

Very interesting - thinking about all of the work that you had to do for this very short 7 minute video. Yikes. Thanks for sharing.

You are the nerdiest looking metal worker I've seen and that is awesome! When I contracted in Afghanistan and working out all the time I got pretty big and nobody believed that I was actually working on my aerospace engineering degree. Muscle heads can't be smart. lol I love people that shatter stereotypes. Great video!

heyyy i just started watching a few hours ago and i am already addicted!!!!

"I still challenge anybody to try to make their own fire tornado..." *no no no please no don't*

In the powered tornados they tilt the blowers up a bit. Adding a vertical component may help yours remain stable as it grows taller.

This video was really well edited in my opinion

everyone gangsta until the yard is on fire

The Backyard Scientist today :- I didn't need those arm hairs anyway. The Backyard Scientist next video :- I didn't need those arms anyway.

"Ok, I'm seeing some circular rotation". Yes, I am a tautology pedant.

Prison who had the water heater: were’s my water heater???

EPIC short WELDING MONTAGE !!

Add 3' high temp glass offset half cylinders on top of the solo stove - will look amazing

“I had to beat this thing into submission... it was really hard”

This guy works so hard to entertain us !

Outstanding random intro vid 👏👏👏 Subscribed 👍 This bro in the vid's a bona fide Dark Souls pyromancer! Forgotten sciences 🌞🌻🌀⚡🔥

There's a type of fire called a blue whirl. Apparently it's a top-like vortex of fire that burns perfectly clean. It looks amazing and is apparently really difficult to make, but it would be really cool to see you give it a try and maybe get some cool video of it!

This is how you flex on all the neighborhood grill dads and their inferior basic fire pits

post more pleasee! so funnnnn!!!

He only posts like once a month, but it’s totally worth it.

Have you considered a loose fitting sort of turbine at the bottom to improve vortex formation? I have no idea if it would work, but in theory, the fire sucking in the air could cause a turbine to move if it were designed with little enough friction.

For some reason I thought this said “Fire Potato Pit”

California "its lit!" Florida " it not lit."

This guys backyard is the only place where you can play with fire and not destroy the environment at the same time

I love how many times the air horn sound effect was used in this video 😂

Early mans where you at

I have seen some of the comments and reply’s and I would really like to see a backyard scientist community website or something as such it would spark some ideas or maybe help for peoples upcoming projects!

This guy is insane and I love it

Hey guys backyard scientists here! And today I will try to power my WiFi with a single lemon and we are going to see if we can upload this video with it.

The name of the game is trial and error. I experience that a lot when working at the research lab. Great video!

had me dead asf when you said your jealous of California Because they're lit💀💀

The future is in this man's hands😂

Yes this is exactly what we need right now in california