How can I make rocks catch on fire?

Question

I'm spelling something out in rocks and I'm trying to make it flame the words. I tried brushing some Charcoal lighter on their but it didn't do anything, the rock just sat there and the lighter fluid eventually dried.

I need the fire to last long enough to take a picture but not too hard to put out. Any help please??

Answer 1

Try taking some Sterno cans and (with gloves on) generously smear the 'sterno jelly' onto the rocks. The flames should last long enough for you to take the picture-depending on how many rocks you have to light.

Hopefully you can do this is an open but dark area so the flames show up .

Answer 2

the rocks themselves do not burn, it is the lighter fluid that burns and when it is gone the fire goes out.  If you want to have a picture of "rocks burning" I would suggest getting a package of Charcoal briquettes from the local grocery store and light them...you can dig a little trench in the shape of the letters you want to glow.  If you want, you can throw in some small rocks once the charcoal is glowing...just to make it look like the rocks are on fire.  This procedure will probably work best if you light the charcoal when it is in a big heap, let it burn for...let's say 45 minutes, then place the glowing coals in the dug trench.  Remember also that if you leave the coals too long, they will burn down to nothing and you will not be able to move them.  good luck

Answer 3

You could try wrapping each rock around once or twice in newspaper, then squirting light fluid on it. Depending on how windy it is and how many rocks you need to light to have them all lit at once, this may or may not work long enough to take a picture.