- Elon Musk’s Boring Company has gotten its $500 flamethrowers into the hands of consumers for the first time.
- One thousand people got hold of the devices at a Boring Company headquarters pickup party over the weekend, where they torched marshmallows.
- For legal reasons, the machines are named Not-a-Flamethrower.
- Some people have already been torching things at home and sharing the images on social media.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company got its $500 flamethrowers into the hands of consumers for the first time on Saturday.
The company sold 20,000 of the machines, but the first thousand were distributed at an event at The Boring Company’s headquarters in Los Angeles. People formed long lines to get hold of their very own flamethrower.
Musk was happily tweeting away from the so-called pickup party.
First 1000 Boring Company Flamethrowers being picked up today! pic.twitter.com/hBMp5fGzAB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018
Flamethrower obv best way to light your fireplace/BBQ. No more need to use a dainty “match” to ignite! If no wood, just drop your flamethrower in fire place! It will generate way more warmth than a quaint pile of logs.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018
The name of the fire-spewing machine is Not-a-Flamethrower, owing to shipping and customs regulations that restrict the transport of anything termed a flamethrower.
Almost forgot! Due to recent regulatory/customs rules enacted to inhibit transport of anything called a Flamethrower, we have renamed our product: “Not a Flamethrower”.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018
Musk tweeted what he claimed was the terms and conditions for the machines, some of which were presented in the style of the US children's author Dr. Seuss.
Terms & conditions for “Not-a-Flamethrower”
Please use as directed to avoid unintentionally burning things down. For simple & concise instructions, we drew upon wisdom in great Dr Seuss book “Green Eggs and Ham”. #ThrowFlamesResponsibly pic.twitter.com/kgj8W8EOLJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018
Last month, Digital Trends walked through what it called the "ridiculous" terms and conditions for the Not-a-Flamethrower.
The YouTuber Justine Ezarik unboxed the device in a video over the weekend, in which the tech reviewer Faruk Korkmaz commented: "Read the terms, they're not joking. Even though it's written in a joking manner."
At the pickup event, customers tested the flamethrowers (which are definitely flamethrowers) by torching marshmallows.
Firing up the @boringcompany flamethrower. I forgot to eat the marshmallow! pic.twitter.com/lkSIA7BK71
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) June 9, 2018
☑️ flamethrower
☑️ roasted marshmallowsthanks @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/725sGGsXE8
— Brownies & Lemonade (@TeamBandL) June 9, 2018
#MarshmallowRoasting pic.twitter.com/ht7cXckgTF
— Misty Lee (@Misty_Lee) June 10, 2018
After customers took the flamethrowers home they started sharing pictures and videos on social media. These guys flame-roasted steaks.
Musk's terms and conditions recommended using them for crème brûlée - these people obliged.
Also here's some creme brulee @risknc made #notaflamethrower pic.twitter.com/sn3cYngSWN
— pinguino 🐧 (@pinguino) June 10, 2018
Not all of the images depicted safe or controlled use of the machines, however.
This included Ezarik, a vlogger whose YouTube channel has over 4 million subscribers. She accidentally burned a section of her garden's artificial grass when making a cooking video.
I made a mess... but loving my flamethrower hahahahaha. Can’t wait for you guys to see these videos! @iPhonedo pic.twitter.com/SgqkMOgaaV
— Justine Ezarik (@ijustine) June 10, 2018
This guy lit something he was smoking with the device.
You knew this would happen! @elonmusk @RAWLIFE247 #NotAFlamethrower pic.twitter.com/iJgsZmkEDN
— Maxamilian Demian (@Maxoplata) June 10, 2018
While another man sprayed flames dangerously close to his feet.
Some have criticized the sale of the Not-a-Flamethrower to the general public, viewing it as a major safety risk.
What possible reason is there for this product to be made available to consumers? For a product such as this to be available for purchase is wrong and very well unsafe. Someone will get hurt. #ElonMusk #NotAFlameThrower https://t.co/ZLhnttfv6a
— Marshall Brentnall (@MarshBrentnall) June 10, 2018
One good way to test whether a public figure is sincere about climate action is whether they sell flamethrowers to private citizens during California's fire season #NotAFlamethrower
— Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) June 11, 2018
With 20,000 flamethrowers soon to be in circulation, expect more flame-throwing displays on social media.