I shared this with my brother (an MBA type guy).  He has what I believe is an outstanding solution.

“The PI can tie his beard in a tight knot near his chin, cut the beard off and suspend it from tongs.  He may then do the alcohol burning test without unacceptable risk.”

I’m sure his students and colleagues will be amazed, with or without pedagogical benefit.

Keith Butler

Chief Chemist

American Ordnance, LLC

Milan, TN  38358-3177

phone (731) 686-6172

kbutler**At_Symbol_Here**aollc.biz

All - Please let me know if anyone out there has had any any experience with this situation.

I have a PI who has a full beard (we are talking ZZ Top style beard here).  He is insistent on doing demos with flames - including fire eating.  Don't ask me what chemical principal that is demonstrating.  Yesterday he asked me what I thought about doing the classic "money burning" demo where you dip a  dollar in a 50/50 isopropanol/water mixture that shows how evaporation cools the money and prevents the alcohol from burning it,  only he wants to use his beard instead of the money.  I am not sure if he was serious or just trying to get a response out of me. 

Anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent this fellow from burning his face off?  In general, I would like to tell him that if the beard stays, he cannot work with flames.  Is that an option?  It is so long that he can actually tie it up and fold it in on itself, but it is still hanging pretty low and could easily catch on fire with a Bunsen burner.

Sammye