A retro sci-fi inspired flame and sound effect build using off-the-shelf gas hardware.
The Gas Flame Popper started after seeing a crude but mesmerising online build made from taped-together bottles, clear tubing, and a plumber’s gas torch. The effect was undeniable. A visible flame races through a spiral tube, shoots through a central chamber, and ends in a loud, satisfying pop. Visually, it looks like something straight out of retro science fiction. Structurally, it looked like junk.
Rather than copying the duct-tape approach, this project set out to turn that raw idea into something that felt intentional and engineered. The core principle stayed the same. Butane gas from an off-the-shelf plumber’s soldering torch feeds into a clear helical tube, ignites, and propagates visibly before exiting through a reduced central chamber. Where this build differs is execution. Every major component was redesigned and 3D printed to replace tape, wood, and guesswork with precise geometry, repeatable spacing, and a deliberately sci-fi aesthetic.
Multiple versions were built using different inner chambers and tube diameters to explore scale and visual impact. The result is a large, two-handed prop that looks the part and delivers an impressive sensory payoff in low light. While tubing kinks prevent consistent firing, the project succeeded visually, mechanically, and experientially. Solving the tubing issue remains the final step toward reliability, not proof of failure.