Halloween is coming!

I built this for my yard a few years ago. It was quite a success. I’m hoping to be able to use it again this year.

This diagram is almost exactly what I built for the propane plumbing. For this project, the solenoid valve system is the only way to go. The flaming scarecrow wasn’t my first flame effect and most of this stuff I already had from other projects. Instead of the barrel and pilot tubing shown here, I used 1/4” copper tubing for both that ran up the scarecrow’s support pole and into the pumpkin. I wrapped them both with steel wool. It took a bit of adjusting to get it to look right in the pumpkin but eventually turned out well. I mounted the triggering button to a square of plywood that I sat on the porch so that I could hit it with my foot. On the next one, I want to change the valve on the pilot line so that the pilot flame is smaller, more like a candle.

You may want to check your local laws. I live in STL and was visited by the fire marshal. He was impressed with the set up and satisfied with my safety precautions. No fines! If you do this, be sure to use regulators. Also, check for leaks with compressed air and soapy water before using propane. Yellow and white thread tape are not the same. Use yellow for propane. Have fun. Be careful. If you have any flame effect questions, send me a message.

The Halloween I set up the scarecrow, I sat on the front porch in my gorilla suit, as still as possible, holding a bowl of candy. When the kids came up to get the loot, I would shake the bowl or move a little. They would get scared and leave the porch. That’s when I would hit the button for the scarecrow. Good times!

The gorilla suit is pretty fun. I got mine here http://undeadmonsters.com Expensive but worth it. I’ve had it for 12 years and wear it at least once a year. It is really warm so pretty nice in cold weather.

Zooming in on this, it’s obviously hand made. I love that someone made this message. I printed a small copy and taped it to my bathroom mirror.

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