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Smoking Bullet case...


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#1 superspud

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 02:47 PM

Hi, for a film I am involved in making, we need a shot of a smoking bullet case. Ive got the bullet case, i just need the smoke.

Any ideas on how i could make it smoke, any chemicals or powders i could use?

Thanks.

#2 sizzle

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 03:20 PM

This has already been mentioned in the forums, But I shall tell you anyway.

There are several compositions used to make smoke, some are better than others but it is best to experiment by yourself and find which you think is best. Below are all for White Smoke.

I tend to use:

Potassium Nitrate.............6
Sugar..............................4

There is also:

Potassium Nitrate..............48.5
Sulphur..............................48.5
Reagar............................3

I am guessing however you are not looking for hundreds of litres of smoke eminating from the bullet so I don't know what to suggest, maybe just using a gram of Compostition one (Sugar/Potassium Nitrate) inside the case would do? as for detonation I leave that up to you, I have no idea how it can be done apart from e-match.

Edited by sizzle, 17 October 2005 - 03:23 PM.

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#3 superspud

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 04:03 PM

( :o the D word :o :D )

I can try, i tried boiling sulphur in the case then blowing out the flame and letting it fizzle... it worked ok but the smoke was quite thin

#4 sizzle

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 04:04 PM

Well I can tell you from experience Potassium Nitrate and Sugar gives a nice thick flowing smoke.
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#5 superspud

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 04:26 PM

(just tried it)

yeah, it does BUT it burns very quickly... can i slow the process down at all? what if i made a pellet of teh compound?

Thanks.

#6 sizzle

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 04:27 PM

I think a Sulphur/Sugar/Potassium Nitrate mix may be slower buring, compressing into a pellet would certainly slow it down.
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#7 superspud

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 04:46 PM

Hi, what ratios of the chemcals is needed for that>

Thanks for your help

#8 sizzle

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Posted 17 October 2005 - 04:54 PM

I don't know for definate but try:

Potassium Nitrate........6
Sugar........................4
Sulphur.....................2

If that doesn't work too well try experimenting yourself with the chemicals, you'll eventually find a ratio that suits your purpose.
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#9 Frozentech

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Posted 18 October 2005 - 06:04 AM

Hi, what ratios of the chemcals is needed for that>

Thanks for your help


50/50 KNO3 and sugar, can be melted together over low heat ( search the web, lots of examples) if powdered isn't working for you. I may have missed this in an earlier post, but you did want *white* smoke, yes ?
"The word unblowupable is thrown around a lot these days, but I think I can say with confidence..."
KAABLAAAMMM!!!
"OK... that shows you what could potentially happen."
--Homer Simpson

#10 alany

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Posted 18 October 2005 - 11:32 AM

Boil some glycerine in the shell casing, that should work nicely.

#11 Erwin

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Posted 19 October 2005 - 01:05 PM

Need the case be laying on the ground and smoke? then maiby a little piece os dry ice(CO2) wil work, but the smoke(CO2) is heavier then air.

#12 adamw

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Posted 19 October 2005 - 06:29 PM

Maybe as others have suggested, a chemical smoke is more appropriate (look up on the 'net' some glycerine + x x x mixes). Plus, for realism's sake you wont want billowing smoke and sparks etc. A round of nitro ammunition isn't completely 'smokeless' but a wisp of translucent white smoke is realistic.

This thread will be moved into SFX
75 : 15: 10... Enough said!

#13 RegimentalPyro

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Posted 19 October 2005 - 07:25 PM

Hmm - Doesn't ammonia and Hydrocloric Acid vapour produce just this sort of smoke? Ammonium Chloride particles precipitating into the air if I remember right.

As I recall the reaction is very easy to do. Just bringing the stoppers of the chem bottles together produced the "smoke"

#14 Richard H

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Posted 19 October 2005 - 07:26 PM

Yes indeed, I remember that from my school days!

#15 Frozentech

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Posted 19 October 2005 - 11:33 PM

Hmm - Doesn't ammonia and Hydrocloric Acid vapour produce just this sort of smoke? Ammonium Chloride particles precipitating into the air if I remember right.

As I recall the reaction is very easy to do. Just bringing the stoppers of the chem bottles together produced the "smoke"


Now, that sounds like the solution to his problem.

It also reminds me of an odd "experiment" I did when I was about 10 or 11, and lived in Texas. I had obtained some strong Ammonium Hydroxide solution from my father (who was into chemistry and pyro also :) ), and while messing around with a large mounded nest of red ants, decided to try and poison the nest with it. This was a 1 1/2 foot tall mound, which seethed with ants. I had already discovered that when they were disturbed, the air above the nest was filled with acid mist (formic acid ?) which you could smell, and would sting cuts and scratches on your skin... anyway, to make it short... a similar reaction occurs when thousands of pissed off red ants are bathed in NH4OH, and they *smoke*.
"The word unblowupable is thrown around a lot these days, but I think I can say with confidence..."
KAABLAAAMMM!!!
"OK... that shows you what could potentially happen."
--Homer Simpson




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