823 replies to this topic

[The_Djinn]

PS, The Punkin Busting Was enjoyed by all and the Safety Crew were exemplary in doing their part!. It was quite spectacular, 6 Foot Craters   can be humbling to the most experienced Pyro.........

Must be getting old Burlhorse... only 6' crater ??... welcome back

Mark

[italteen3]

The Squad Gear Came from a military auction, Your end plug tool is a good Idea especially if you are formulating any "more than normal" friction sensitive comps.

As to German Blue Head, It was Manufacutered before the war i believe and was a Version of German Dark Pyro aluminum, It's mnufacturing process gave it a? pearlescent Color anomolie that was a dark blue if you looked at the Powder in the right light. There are others who say it was just dull grey, Who knows for sure when your talking 75 years ago.? It was said to be The Undisputed King of Pyro Aluminums, And had a tendency towards Being Pyrophoric. Thats about all the history I have on it as it is not available anymore (Manufactured) through any sources I know of. I suppose it could qualify as a 'NANO" Powder, it was said to be less than a Micron in some Production runs, thats pretty fine Stuff hehe.

As to the Paper, 48X48 inch pieces of Kraft are standard for Diapering in the Industry, as is the use of an anti static spray, just lightly sray the whole sheet, and hang it up to dry, it does NOT need to be wringing wet, just a light going over Will Do. After it is Dry it is ready for use. This is an added Cautionary exercise in safety, just don't mix Flash when the Barometer Says High Pressure and the Leaves are crunching under your feet, 65-75% Humidity will pretty much rule out the static issues, however, too much, like a rainy day could also be the precursor to a Mag-AL Nitrate/Perc reaction, so Define the Times, Heck, buy an old Yard Sale Barometer and Mark a safe zone on it, Nifty conversation starter for your shop if nothing else.

Stay Green,

Bear

I am actually thinking about submitting a design or idea to Wolter Pyro tools. Wont make doing anything quicker just hopefully save injury in the future. Never tried any other comps other then the standard 70/30 and no more then 50 grams.

That must have been a very powerful yet sensitive powder though. Im guessing its use was for the sole purpose of HE's.

Thanks for the tip on what to do with the paper. I will definately keep that in mind and jot it down in my notebook.

Tried my own punkin' buster last year with a 12" ............................................................................................. pumpkin and a 10g salute. I was amazed at the radius of where pumpkin was. No crater left behind nor a deep boom but was pretty crazy. Im sure it was no match for those entered in the contest heh heh. And if you need a host right away let me know anyone. I have around 450Mb of space so a few videos and pictures is no problem at all.

Edited by italteen3, 26 October 2004 - 08:43 PM.

[maxman]

Has anyone got a formula for a kn03 based flash? I have magnesium powder, its not super fine or anything but might be OK. I have tried 50/50 and its OK, faster than BP but I really wanted something for a salute on a stinger. ie meal fuel, delay,flash ,paper end plug. I think what I have would need more confinement but haven't tried it yet.

Are there any comps that use sulphur and might be a bit faster?

Thanks

[Rhodri]

Hi Maxman

Other forms of flash have already been discussed before on this forum - "Seek and Ye Shall Find".

But.......it's not really possible to make a good flash with KNO3 - you really need to substitute a more powerful oxidant.

With regard your question - one can manufacture a good aerial report with a 'FAST' BP at the end of a rocket / stinger. Just make the casing a little stronger and increase the BP load. Around 5g's of good Willow BP will generate a good report if a gap is left in the rocket / stinger's head.

Remember that the addition of sulphur simply reduces the point at which the oxidant relases its oxygen - it has a lower MP than the oxidant.

Sulphur, in this respect, may be regarded as a sensitiser.

That said - never think of sulphur as the magical 'make a powder burn faster' ingredient - it's a balance and KNO3 will never be able to provide the rapid oxidation required for 'flash'.

[BurlHorse]

The best flash , ie the most powerful is obtained with the following formular as long as the materials are correctly mixed and sourced in the finest mesh sizes

64% Potassium Perchlorate
25% Magnesium Powder 600mesh or finer
10% Antimony trisulphide 325mesh.
3.5% sulphur
By mixing the non oxidiser components for an extensive period then diaper mix the pot prechlorate in haveing screeded it to remove any lumps. once this is complete i put the compound in a rubber ball mill with about 8-10 corks from wine bottles to help in the mixing. Although it is recommended that ball milling is a definate no no this is just a gentle tumble together with no friction. For supply info please e-mail me, Missileman

While I can appreciate your Imppresion of that Formula, I't is by no means the "Best". Where did this Formula Come from, Personal Experience? , I am sure the use of the words "Rubber Ball Mill", Which I assume Meant a Rubber Lined Ball Milling Jar, were strategically Placed in the post to Avert the Eyes of the Safety Cops...... Did'nt work........

1. "Rubber, an insulator, Being Placed betwenn two Conductive surfaces, becomes a capacitor......The 2 Conductors Being the Metal inside the drum Being Set on the "gentle" cycle of your Whirlpool Ball Mill....the 2nd conductor being the Milljar or components thereof. Some of which go from the inside to the outside of the Jar.....Like a FUSE from an electrical Standpoint..... You still have to pick up the 1,000,000,000,000 Farad Capacitor you just built (Mill Jar) to Get to your Proposed "best" Flash after the Silk undies Gentle Frictionless Wine cork Spin Cycle. As there are rollers, Corks, Very Fine Metals, Motion/Agitation, be it claimed "Frictionless" or not (It's NOT), all of these Compound themselves into an electrically Charged (And with Antimony Sulphide too.....Ooooooo), IE; Of a Different Potential to You, Ground or what ever, Problem that I Guess Has not occured to or for you YET.

2. 600 Mesh or finer Mag. That would Be I am Assuming 2 Micron "Thunder Dust" as I Call it....Cool stuff, Very Pyrophoric, But Neat all the same......I admittedly use 2 Micron MG.....ALOT, scary stuff on it's own, but your Preparation "Instructions" Are over the top and Frankly from a Darwinian Outlook, well.....I'm sure I've Made my point.

3. There are Many things that Make a Formula Qualify for best...... Saf-ER than others, Simpl-ER than others, Cheap-ER than Others and Of Course, Loud-ER or Bright-ER than others.............

One last thing, Screeding your Perc will do nothing to increase the Power of your Flash, Ground to Talc and Then Screened, By it self, may prove to be helpful......

Might I suggest that you Stick with the 1st ER and you might prove to be The Last ER of the ER's

Sorry for the Blast, 70:30 til your 30 might get you to 70, Years Old That is.

Regards, Be responsible, Stay Green,

Bear

[BurlHorse]

Must be getting old Burlhorse... only 6' crater ??... welcome back

Mark

Some things you have to ease into slowly Mark...hahahahaha.

Thanks,

Stay Green,

Bear

[broadsword]

Where does everyone buy their magnesium from, I have seen somewhere that sells it for ?2.95 Per 100g But thats bout it!

[Pretty green flames]

Where does everyone buy their magnesium from, I have seen somewhere that sells it for ?2.95 Per 100g But thats bout it!

I get it from a local chemical supplier at ?10 for 100g which is a total rippoff
Not to mention it's not a fine powder as they say....more like 4Fg BP

[missileman]

I get it from a local chemical supplier at ?10 for 100g which is a total rippoff
Not to mention it's not a fine powder as they say....more like 4Fg BP

I have some for sale Contact me on anthonyhansford@wight365.net for details

[missileman]

I get it from a local chemical supplier at ?10 for 100g which is a total rippoff
Not to mention it's not a fine powder as they say....more like 4Fg BP

I have some for sale. Contact anthonyhansford@wight365.net for details

[Pretty green flames]

I got some left so i don't need any right now

Thanks anyway

[they say im crazy]

hi i have seen formulas for flash powder which uses perc and aluminium powder but no sulphur however in bangers when it has gone off it produces a sulphur smell ( and i know that bangers contain fp ) so can you make effective fp without sulphur?

[Pretty green flames]

I think they use nitrate based FP in firecrackers which has sulphur in it.

And ofcourse you can make effective FP without sulphur, just look at Perc/al flash.

[Richard H]

Industry standard flash powders do not use sulphur. They use compositions based on KClO4 and Al or Mg.

[Rhodri]

The sulphurous smell may have been due to the use of a sulphur based black match type fuse in the ground device.

Lancaster states that sometimes a piece of blackmatch (BP based) is inserted into the device to ensure flash ignition reliability.