to my knowledge there is no really ideal solution.

alcohol is virtually worthless to spin with. I doubt you could keep it lit.

methanol is more toxic than naptha, and boric acid & those types of things - most things that will produce colors - are toxic.

CO2 i wouldn't worry about but unburned hydros are a bitch. All I can say is: your senses are a good indicator. As a general rule of thumb, the cleaner burning your fuel is probably the less pollutants you are putting out. (tho I'd say spills and spin-off are worse) if you're belching out black smoke thats hydros.

basically, white gas and *anything* will light.

I keep hearing about biodiesel but haven't had a chance to try any. Anybody else out there had experience with it?

I am a mere non-burning poi spinner at this point but have become entranced by the fire. But, I am so turned off by the fossil fuel and smoke that I was wondering about these very questions.

I found this:
www.fire-gear.com/testing2.php
(scroll half way down the page)

Biodiesel is hard to light but once lit it should stay burning. I use biodiesel in my car, and would love to do some experiments - is anyone down for that (I'm in Berkeley)? I am an engineer and will try to do a little more research into this question, I know some geeks who do combustion research.

I speak only for myself But for me spinning fire it is helping the environment as Ian stated in his post 1/2 gallon of fuel burnt = 15 miles of driving .

If I am playing with fire I wont be driving I am sure the time spent dancing I would have driven alot more than 15 miles not to mention the oil my truck leaks on the ground or the rubber that wears off of my tires(where does all that rubber go?).Or the empty twinkie wrappers I throw out the window.

So picture this 30 fire dancers toghter for an eve of burning
that saved over 450 miles of drive time on the environment at least 4 quarts of used raw oil on the ground ( I dont know a fire dancer whos car doesnt leak ) and only god knows how many twinkie wrappers.

Many we should focus on more important things that are ruining the environment than the little we do playing with fire. I am off to start a new tribe I think I will call it "Burn out rabbid beavers " all the trees they eat is the real cause behind global warming The goverment is just covering up that fact.

If you look at the Kennedy assassination footage in slow motion , backwards while standing on your head after drinking a 5th of Jack Daniels you will see one of the mouth foaming beavers chewing on a tree on the grassy nole.If you look real close you can see the US Military issused M-1 sniper rife in his paw.