823 replies to this topic

[Caramanos2000]

The dextrin ones act like my flash made with 625 mesh. The vaseline ones pop and spark, probably because of the Mg.

[rocket boy]

Alright, yes flash powder is and should be a sensitive topic, but I haven't really seen anybody hit the subject that directly on this forum, so I feel that I should start up the questions and answers.
Alright, first off, I know that flash powders are to be used only in small amounts, perhaps larger amounts in mortors, but what are good formulas for specific flashes?
I have found several, but I think I'll ask if I can share them online before I actually do?
until my next response,
-mini
by the way, I was reading a post about BP growing white stuff, and you guys referring to it as 'mould'. Do you guys really spell 'mold' that way? I was confused, and thought it was pronounced "mowld". Hmm. That's all I wanted to say...

O.K. Lets not fool ourselves. Bangs in pyrotechnics is a must. I just cant imagine going to a fireworks show and watching stars and comets all night long without some bags in them. I've put on many commercial fireworks displays and one of my signature shells was an 8 inch b**b shell flash salute to begin the show. It got everyones attention believe me!!! We made our own speciality shells in our shop to add to the jap ball shells in the displays. One of the best formulas that we used was.....Potassium Perchlorate 12 oz. dark German pyro aluminum or dark indian blackhead powdered aluminum 4 oz. and Sulfur 4 oz. or 75%,25%,25%. Mix the potassium and sulfur first and screen in three or four times. Then mix the aluminum very carfully folding it with a plastic spoon in a plastic container and screen this three or four times. Make sure you use a disposable face dust mask or do it out side in the shade to keep the dust from getting all over the place. This mix is very explosive but not shock sesitive and will not degrade. Excellent shelf life. rocket boy.

[Creepin_pyro]

Are you sure using a disposable face mask is going to protect you from extremely fine Al powder?

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 02 May 2007 - 05:55 PM.

[Pyromaster2003]

20 ounces of flash powder containing sulphur!? You meant grams not ounces?

[Andrew]

20 ounces of flash powder containing sulphur!? You meant grams not ounces?

Because 20oz is enough to level a building! Hell even 20g packs a pretty powerful punch.

[paul]

I don´t know why you overreact in this way ?!?! The maltese shoot houndreds of grams of flash powder PER shell into the air (often NO perchlorate flash powder, you know what that means...). Houndreds of them per show... You all know the videos!

May I quote rocket boy?!

I've put on many commercial fireworks displays and one of my signature shells was an 8 inch b**b shell flash salute to begin the show. It got everyones attention believe me!!! We made our own speciality shells in our shop to add to the jap ball shells in the displays.

I guess he´s an professional shell builder who´s aware of the safety precautions to be taken. Additionally I think he doesn´t screen the whole batch of flash and secondly he surely won´t do 20oz flash at a time!

[cooperman435]

Guys read the post!

he actually says he mixes the sulphur and pot perc and and screens that together THEN adds the al powder.

I cant imagine he would still have enough fingers left to type the post if he regulaly screened together completed flash comps.

[Pyromaster2003]

You can guess all you want but you don't 'know' nothing about him, he is new i want to get a bit more info about this mixing over half a kilo of sulphur flash powder he talks about. If he doesnt make this amount in one go why state that he used a formula of ounces not grams?
Just bringing it up incase a newbie reads his post and thinks he can mix perchlorate, sulphur and the finest and most reactive pyro flake al available in amounts over half a k - which the most experienced pyro shouldnt do without a death wish!

[cooperman435]

Sorry wasnt having a go or defending the dangerous quantities mentioned earlier.

Just that that as a group we should read procedures very carefully and that his procedure was wrongly quoted or interprated.

Indeed the quantities are well beyond safe practice though

[EnigmaticBiker]

Guys read the post!

he actually says he mixes the sulphur and pot perc and and screens that together THEN adds the al powder.

I cant imagine he would still have enough fingers left to type the post if he regulaly screened together completed flash comps.

I did read the post, he actually says:-

"Then mix the aluminum very carfully folding it with a plastic spoon in a plastic container and screen this three or four times"

Maybe he's been lucky, not something I'd try.

[paul]

For me it sounds like he´s just screening the Al three times to get rid of lumps...

[Creepin_pyro]

Since when did German dark Al need screening to remove lumps?

[rocket boy]

O.K. Lets not fool ourselves. Bangs in pyrotechnics is a must. I just cant imagine going to a fireworks show and watching stars and comets all night long without some bags in them. I've put on many commercial fireworks displays and one of my signature shells was an 8 inch b**b shell flash salute to begin the show. It got everyones attention believe me!!! We made our own speciality shells in our shop to add to the jap ball shells in the displays. One of the best formulas that we used was.....Potassium Perchlorate 12 oz. dark German pyro aluminum or dark indian blackhead powdered aluminum 4 oz. and Sulfur 4 oz. or 75%,25%,25%. Mix the potassium and sulfur first and screen in three or four times. Then mix the aluminum very carfully folding it with a plastic spoon in a plastic container and screen this three or four times. Make sure you use a disposable face dust mask or do it out side in the shade to keep the dust from getting all over the place. This mix is very explosive but not shock sesitive and will not degrade. Excellent shelf life. rocket boy.

As far as the screening go's....in Florida we have what you would call high humidity......like tropical weather and yes some of the dark pyro aluminum dos cake a little.....like little balls but once you screen it a few times it wont do it. I would say living in a much drier area you wouldnt have a problem like that or even think of mixing the compo so much. Yes we have air conditioning, but the compo is mixed outside in the shade and then brought in to keep any dust build-up in the shop. As far as safety.........I've been mixing this compo for more than 40 years and never ever had a problem....I'm still here!!!! rocket boy

20 ounces of flash powder containing sulphur!? You meant grams not ounces?

You can use grams, or ounces as long as its a mix of 75% 25% 25%This orginal formula was and still is used by the Grucci family in long island New York. rocket boy

[cooperman435]

yes but as ounces is a quantity of weight not a percentage of the composition the comments made are valid as they are questioning the volume of the mix not its ratios.

[dr thrust]

hi i know its no good for flash,but atomised ali powder how do they "atomise" it at the factory,any body know the process,just interested