65 replies to this topic

[cunning_plan]

Ok thats resolved those issues then. is there any safe comps that use chlorates?i have some nitrates now so all good there. also with metal powders is there a grade issue? because i can get aluminum easy enough but no others and was wondering if the grade used in home casting tye things would work? thanks again.

[Richard H]

There is no such thing as a 'safe' composition. Those containing chlorates extend this fact more so. My advice is avoid them at all costs.

[cunning_plan]

advice noted, thankyou.
would it be dangerouse to use it to make crappy fuse as i have just ran out and have lots of now useles chlorate lying around.
is there a good reliable source of perc in the uk?being new i realy dont know where to buy much and always wory about the legality. is there 1 a site explaining what is and is not legal to have and how much and 2 somwhere to buy perc cheaper than kno3 as it seems a bit excesive.

[Pretty green flames]

Chlorate IS NOT USELESS, it's just so damn dangerous.

And yes making a fuse out of chlorate + something, would be dangerous, especially when used to ignite sulfur mixtures.

[cunning_plan]

surely the chlorate on its own would be ok to create a crappy fuse(soaking cotton string in it)? seemed to work with kno3. quite unreliable though. if its not useless just dangerouse surely to me only been doing pyro for 6+months it is useles. does anyone know a safe(though as richard said no comp is so safer than normal chlorate) mixture using them? if not im going to seal them up and hide them somwhere uber safe for a few years. Making perc seems a little dogy so...

Edited by cunning_plan, 20 February 2005 - 11:35 AM.

[Richard H]

Chlorate is often used in smoke composition, it's certainly not useless. The point I'm making is, it requires a degree of experience and knowledge to handle chlorate. e,g, seperate work buildings, seperate tools, seperate mixing equipment and so on.

[cunning_plan]

seperation i thankfuly remebered as ball milloing i presume would have the same effect as a claymore mine...i think il take everyones advice and steer clear of the stuff pro tem, making perc also sounds way out of my reach at the moment and as i cant afford it its good old nitrates for me. on the subject of nitrates, if i dont have a ball mill is it worth spending 3 quid more to buy it ball milled from kno3 rather than garden direct?ie how much does it need grinding down etc. cheers

Edited by cunning_plan, 20 February 2005 - 11:47 AM.

[Pretty green flames]

surely the chlorate on its own would be ok to create a crappy fuse(soaking cotton string in it

Chlorate + Cotton string is not very dangerous on it's own. But the hazard depends on what you are igniting with this fuse.

[Pretty green flames]

seperation i thankfuly remebered as ball milloing i presume would have the same effect as a claymore mine...i think il take everyones advice and steer clear of the stff pro tem, making perc also sounds way out of my reach at the moment and as i cant afford it its good old nitrates for me. on the subject of nitrates, if i dont have a ball mill is it worth spending 3 quid more to buy it ball milled from kno3 rather than garden direct? cheers

Get a coffe grinder, and you'll have a very fine (airborne) powder in seconds

[cunning_plan]

ah, i see so i wouldnt be able to use it with comps chlorates are "bad" with eg sulphur? is there a reson for this?would it be ok if stored seperate?
ok so use a coffee grinder. after all these warnings im told to use a coffee grinder! oh well spose itl be ok if i use it for nothing else whatsoever yeah?

Edited by cunning_plan, 20 February 2005 - 11:50 AM.

[Pretty green flames]

ah, i see so i wouldnt be able to use it with comps chlorates are "bad" with eg sulphur? is there a reson for this?would it be ok if stored seperate?

You'll be fine so long as you keep you work place clean to avoid any sulfur contamination of chlorates. Chlorate is very unstable with sulfur, so you could get an unwanted ignition, which is bad.

Use chlorate fuse only when igniting composition which have NO traces of any uncompatible stuff.

ok so use a coffee grinder. after all these warnings im told to use a coffee grinder! oh well spose itl be ok if i use it for nothing else whatsoever yeah?

You can grind only one chemical at a time, and clean it reguralry.

[cunning_plan]

anyone able to explain why chlorates and sulphur such a bad mix(intrest more than need).thanks to all, hopefuly now im less likely to injure myself or screw up. does anyone have a mix for a more relible chlorate fuse?

[Pretty green flames]

Chlorate + Sugar is a nice fuse (So i hear)

I suggest you stick to normal Blackmatch.

There's just to many complications with chlorate mixes

[cunning_plan]

can chlorates be turned into anything safer other than perc?ive got 500g of potassium chlorate which i now have no "safe" use for.can it be used for stars or as a propellant without mixing it with undesirable chemicals?

[Richard H]

I guess organic star compositions (based on metal carbonates for example) are a relatively 'safe' way of using your KCLO3 up. Just be careful to avoid any friction or shock when handling dry stars. e.g. ramming operations.