10 replies to this topic

[scjsean]

As I am unfamilliar with ammonium perchlorate, I have some of it that someone gave me from an Estes rocket engine. I have done fireworks before and I need advice on it's sensitivity (e.g. whether or not I can crush it with an unused mortar and pestle) without getting my hand blown off, or worse. Also I hear that it coats when wet with water and dried, making it burn faster. I am asking if I can crush it safely with a mortar and pestle? Also when to wet it; either before or after I crush it?

[dr thrust]

best disposing of it in a safe manner, because it has come from a unkonwn sorce ie a rocket motor, its not going to be pure ap, it'll have binders and fuel mixed in, which makes it more sensitive to friction

[pyrotrev]

Yes, it could be very hazardous to try grinding a fuel mixture! You might be able to extract the AP by dissolving it in an goodly excess of warm water - the fuel/binder are very likely to be insoluble and could be filtered off, then evapourating and crystallizing.

[vaslop2005]

As I am unfamilliar with ammonium perchlorate, I have some of it that someone gave me from an Estes rocket engine. I have done fireworks before and I need advice on it's sensitivity (e.g. whether or not I can crush it with an unused mortar and pestle) without getting my hand blown off, or worse. Also I hear that it coats when wet with water and dried, making it burn faster. I am asking if I can crush it safely with a mortar and pestle? Also when to wet it; either before or after I crush it?

If you are talking about the common Estes 'black powder rockets?' and do you infact have a black solid block, instead of a white crystaline powder? If I where you I would leave it well alone, and read up on what the hell you are doing, before you blow yourself and others up and give us pyro's a bad name.

pyrotechnics is a complex science, mostly mis-understood by outsiders. and the differeneces between black powder and ammonium perchlorate composite propellant are huge, and both need completely differing treatments (when these are ignored you will easily and up with no hands, before it even reaches a pestle and mortar)

Atleast you have asked, but I would never recommend dis-assembleing anything like this, especialy if you only have a freinds word for it's chemical composition

[exat808]

If you are talking about the common Estes 'black powder rockets?' and do you infact have a black solid block, instead of a white crystaline powder? If I where you I would leave it well alone, and read up on what the hell you are doing, before you blow yourself and others up and give us pyro's a bad name.

pyrotechnics is a complex science, mostly mis-understood by outsiders. and the differeneces between black powder and ammonium perchlorate composite propellant are huge, and both need completely differing treatments (when these are ignored you will easily and up with no hands, before it even reaches a pestle and mortar)

Atleast you have asked, but I would never recommend dis-assembleing anything like this, especialy if you only have a freinds word for it's chemical composition

To re-inforce vaslop2005's comments - please remember that the "unmaking" or disassembly of an explosive article or substance is defined as an act of manufacture (MSER 2005 Reg2) and would require a license.

[dr thrust]

To re-inforce vaslop2005's comments - please remember that the "unmaking" or disassembly of an explosive article or substance is defined as an act of manufacture (MSER 2005 Reg2) and would require a license.

hmm agreed, but boys will be boys! you may have missed the point of the forum, its a melting pot of amateur experiments, experiences, ideas, from all around the globe, if fact it would be a pretty dull forum otherwise lol

[exat808]

chris m - accept your point and wouldnt want to curb enthusiasm at any level. But ( in my opinion) this must be balanced with compliance, especially if you take into account other threads on this forum where UKPS is seeking to promote itself as a driving force to influence change in legislation that would lawfully permit the activities that many forum members aspire to.

Enjoy your hobby safely and lawfully ( in no particular order)

[fruitfulsteve]

Agreed, but NUKE found a forum that he could ask a question on and was given good advice that if he's heeded it has probably saved a digit or two. So all is good

[phildunford]

This is a very difficult line for the UKPS to tread!

As an organisation we strive to stay legal & want to make things easier for experimenters by negotiation with the authorities.

Firstly, we must once again make it clear, that although this forum is paid for by the UKPS, it is open to all and nothing said here is necessarily endorsed by, or the opinion of the UKPS. A quite small proportion of the posters are actually UKPS members

Secondly, in the internet age, all manner of information is available to everyone and illegal experimentation has always and will always go on. We feel it is much safer to allow open discussion of these matters, with input from knowledgeable people, rather than let people 'go it alone' with possibly disastrous results. No amount of telling people - don't do it, it's illegal! will have any effect - so we would rather people had access to the best possible information.

[exat808]

Agreed, but NUKE found a forum that he could ask a question on and was given good advice that if he's heeded it has probably saved a digit or two. So all is good

Absolutely agree - it is far better to ask the question and get appropriate advice and guidance than to be another statistic and with the courtesy of the ever present media to have some unwelcome attention drawn to the hobby.

[dr thrust]

chris m - accept your point and wouldnt want to curb enthusiasm at any level. But ( in my opinion) this must be balanced with compliance, especially if you take into account other threads on this forum where UKPS is seeking to promote itself as a driving force to influence change in legislation that would lawfully permit the activities that many forum members aspire to.

Enjoy your hobby safely and lawfully ( in no particular order)

thanks, id love to be able build and test motors at a legit club site with like minded people, i rarely experiment these days because i don't want to become foul of the law, which is a shame because i LOVE ROCKETS!