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The Pop Tart Blow Torch Experiment
July 3, 2004

Strawberry Pop Tarts are a cheap and inexpensive source of incendiary devices. Toasters which fail to eject Pop Tarts cause the Pop Tarts to emit flames 10-18 inches in height.

Last year, an article by well-known newspaper columnist Dave Barry noted that Kellogg's Strawberry Pop Tarts (SPTs) could be made to emit flames "like a blow torch" if left in a toaster too long.

Materials Used
Only three primary materials are needed to cause SPT-combustion:

A Toaster (Figure 1)

I got this sharp-looking machine free for opening a savings account some years back.

This toaster is an Emerson Model MT-7R, rated at 120 volts, 60 Hz and 850 Watts.

Wow, 850 Watts!!! That's more than my microwave oven. Plenty of power...

Figure 1 - The Toaster

Kellogg's Strawberry Pop Tarts (Figure 2)

The ingredients may explain some of the incendiary properties of this "food", but I have a feeling it is just the combination of gooey sugar and LOTS of heat...

Auxiliary equipment will include: digital camera, video camera, chemical fire extinguisher, electric extension cord, intermediary surge-protector/circuit breaker, leather gloves, and a few whips to keep the neighborhood kids away from our experiment and professional stunt/idiot team. And a backup garden hose turned on full blast in case my garage electrical system starts on fire.

Figure 2- The Pop Tarts

A Few Professional Idiots (Figure 3) - For our experiment, this includes: a photographer, a videographer, and a fire suppression technician.

These roles fall in the hands of (in previous order): Tony Rogers, Dan Horn, Darryn Wallace.

 

The Pre-Rigging

I drilled a hole through the ignition handle and wired it up with Oklahoma™ Brand Electric Fence Wire.

I have seen documentation of other experiments and they used heavy packing tape or duct tape to hold the toaster handle down. When the ensuing fire engulfed the toaster, the heat threatened to melt the tape and prematurely end the experiment.

That will not happen here, man...

This bitch is starting a blow torch fire...

Drilling the wire hole.

I ran the electric fence wire down to a handy base hole and snugged her up. I tied the wire off on another plastic loop just for backup.

The wiring of the ignition handle.

This baby is ready to go!

My initial plan was to go to Goodwill and trade in this fine Emerson toaster for a piece of crap, so I didn't just waste a good toaster. But I went to Goodwill yesterday when I was taking photos at the Port Authority, and none of them looked like they would look good in photos, so I canned that idea.

Plus, this toaster was free...

The wiring of the ignition handle.
z
 

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