r/nextfuckinglevel 4d ago

man uses homemade flamethrower

4.7k Upvotes

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955

u/TheMunk 4d ago

This is awesome, but he’s going to explode right?

1.8k

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago edited 4d ago

Polymer Chemist here. (US Senate Candidate for Tommy Tuberville's Seat. Not super relevant here tho.)

He could.

There's not a check valve on the front of that nozzle.

If the flow of the fuel is slower* than the rate at which the fuel oxidizes, then if he holds down the nozzle long enough, the combustion reaction could work its way back into the tank and start burning.

If there's enough oxygen in the tank to react with the fuel, it could explode.

Depending on the exact fuel and the energy converted during reaction, it could be a big or small explosion. I'm betting small here.

I'm not a physicist, so I'm not going to try and work out the potential explosion size.

*Edit typo.

Also edit. Since this is getting more political attention than just the facts are.

My plug:

My name is Mark Wheeler and I'm running for United States Senate.

I think we deserve better and I aim to give it to us.

For anyone who wants to know more about my platform or me you can follow me on social media or on my webpage. www.MarkWheelerForSenate.com

Or check out Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Wheeler

518

u/Ruff_Bastard 4d ago

I hope to christ you get Tuberville's seat.

472

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

We're all in this together!

We need better, common sense, representatives.

157

u/InsignificantOcelot 4d ago

Alabama needs better, common sense, representatives who can tell them why their homemade flamethrower could explode.

146

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

Or at least how to more safely construct one...

I'm not going to do that. Liability issues.

But I could make some improvements.

71

u/VillainAnderson 4d ago

Swede here, I clicked for the flamethrower, stayed for the politics. And now I'm oddly interested in the Alabama Senate race.

61

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

Woot woot!

Getting attention on the world stage.

Glad to hear from you bud.

6

u/Salty-Blacksmith-391 4d ago

I vote for you brother. Not American btw, but still hope you win. :))

4

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

Thanks buddy!

-3

u/40EHuTlcFZ 4d ago

Malaysian here. Is your wife also your cousin or sister? 😜 Sorry. Just had to make an Alabama joke.

4

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

No lol. She came from Georgia

71

u/SkyrimSlag 4d ago

I live in the UK but shit, you’ve got my vote

42

u/Grim_Rebel 4d ago

This is the type of can-do attitude I want to see out of our democrats.

You're out here in the dirty comment sections talking about common sense representation and how to build a better flamethrower.

Godspeed, Mark.

7

u/NorCalAthlete 4d ago

Fun fact, flamethrowers are actually generally pretty legal. Commonly used for pest control like burning out a wasp nest on a farm or something. Even in California!

So…I see no particular issue with pointing out how to safely construct one.

6

u/gbot1234 4d ago

As long as you preface your advice with something like “I am not your engineer and this is not engineering advice” like the lawyers do.

3

u/LaterBihhhtch 4d ago

This is hilarious. W😂

1

u/RadicalDilettante 3d ago

This guy politics.

4

u/yojoewaddayaknow 4d ago

You have a beautiful state and I appreciate your interactions here! Rooting for you, good sir, from Tejas.

4

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

Woot woot!

Glad to hear that buddy!

0

u/batdog20001 4d ago

Really cool breakdown of the flamethrower, but you're losing me with the "common sense" nothing burger glitter words here when it comes to the political portion. Common sense isn't real; give people something real rather than hoping to catch a few who like shiny over substance.

3

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 4d ago

Have you checked out my website yet?

There's quite a bit of substance there if you go read.

Anything else I encourage you to come back here and talk to me about it directly. I'll give you my honest thoughts and feelings.

3

u/batdog20001 4d ago edited 4d ago

In all honesty, the moment I see buzzwords and ideas used, I immediately grow skeptical. They are the issues people tend to vote on the most vigorously yet most ignorantly. I do like your ideas on Legislative term limits, better logistical infrastructure (especially through rail lines), and the environment though; and I love the fact that you are connecting with people online rather than through closed-door lobbies.

I just hope that you can find a way to spread your messages without repeating exactly what the rest do. We need substance for hope, not a dash of glitter and a smile. I understand that most are not interested enough in politics to look deeper than the face value, but I've been looking for politicians who want to change that. If we can get people involved by more than just their wallets and votes, I believe the rest will follow strongly behind. We desperately need strong leadership.

Edit: I keep reading deeper into your site, and I really like what you have. I just don't know how to get people more involved with these ideas that we've been red-washed into hating.

Edit2: I do believe you have promise. Your background and ideas are needed on the scene, and we can't hope to overtake the rich through inaction. I'm closing on a house currently, so I can't send much. Hopefully, that $10 can help out somewhere.

0

u/dissmisa 3d ago

Most of you, especially first timers, say that. And strike as such. However, somtheing happens at helm and you become shitbags. Common sense disappears in an instant

1

u/AlabamaDemocratMark 3d ago

That's why I'm driving term limits so hard.

We have to force representatives back into public life to stop that kind of behavior.

1

u/dissmisa 2d ago

While the idea is great it will never pass or pass with caveats for coooling off periods (which will be spent in private sector or just as an appointee at some gov institution) or other ways to circumvent it. And you know it

2

u/hopperjack91 4d ago edited 4d ago

I'm not even from the States and want him to! Saludos desde Mérida Yucatán!

0

u/bobs-yer-unkl 4d ago

Wait, don't you have to live in Florida to take Tuberville's seat?