40 replies to this topic

[Dan]

i was wondering "saran wrap" would work for saran if i file or sand it down or chop it up in a coffee grinder?

[Richard H]

Hmm, I would be sceptical. Why not just buy some from Skylighter? For example, some people ask if it is possible to file down PVC drain pipe and use as a chlorine donor, but this is not the case.

[Dan]

i guess i will just try to chop it up.
i dont like ordering stuff online because i hate paying 6.95 or what ever. I sometimes pay more for shipping that i do the thing i buy.
thx

Edited by Dan, 08 July 2004 - 08:32 PM.

[BigG]

i was wondering "saran wrap" would work for saran if i file or sand it down or chop it up in a coffee grinder?

Don?t be daft No, it would not work. There is quite a difference between then two polymers in question.

[Dan]

i found an msds for it and it contains 70% Copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride

saran wrap msds

[BigG]

Fine, cut it and add it to a composition. I'm sure you will be able to "intimately" mix the film onto the composition, and that it will disintegrate at the temperature that is required for if to provide you enough chlorine....

Dan, get yourself the chemical, or PVC, or Chloraz, or even sculpy. MSDN on clear film or paper wraps are really not of interest.

[Phoenix]

I would tend to agree with BigG that it probably won't work, but I guess there's no harm in trying. Rather than trying to chop it up (which definitely won't work) it may be better to dissolve it in a solvent and then mix that into the composition, so that it will serve as a binder too.

However, a bit of saran or similar from Skylighter will go a long way. Alternatively, you could probably get a chlorine donor off eBay. Buying it from Skylighter should not be too expensive, really.

[Dan]

i can get sculpy easily from the hobby store. could i substitute it for saran, pvc, etc? would it work also as a binder?
thx
Dan

[bmiller14]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but I am a "yank" so I don't know what alot of these things are you guys got many difforents names for stuff.

[Sparkler]

PVC is Polyvinyl Chloride[(C2H3Cl)n]. Its used as a chlorine donor fuel.

Saran is Polyvinylidine Chloride [(C2H2Cl2)n)] Used as a chlorine donor and fuel. Im pretty sure it donates more chlorine that PVC.

[alany]

You'd be very lucky to get any significant amount of saran to dissolve in anything, it has excellent solvent resistance. Just buy it pre-powdered.

[phildunford]

Before I got Saran powder from the states, I had some limited sucess using pvc glue. This is the glue you use for joining PVC plumbling pipes. You can get it from builders merchants or 'screwfix'.

As it's a liquid it's a bit hard to judge quantities, but I just added enough to get the star mixture to start to 'clump'. I acts as both a binder and a chlorine doner. I suspect the solvet in cyclohexanol from the smell.

Skylighter quote acetone or xylene as possible sovents for saran. it might be worth trying this with saran wrap.

The experts round here have to remember that a lot of people are trying to experiment with very limited money or resources and what might seem crazy or a waste of time to you, might be the only way some people can do their pyro...

(ps also got a tolerable blue once using filed PVC from a pipe - very hard to get a decent powder though as the material is soft and has a low MP and tends to melt - also probably has alot of inert fillers in it which limit the effect - no harm in trying though)

[Pyromaster2003]

I'l try to disolvle saran wrap in acetone today and add it to a composition, il let you know how i get on.

Edited by Pyromaster2003, 11 July 2004 - 12:50 PM.

[Loci]

Jsut thought I would say, most drain pipes or down pipes are not PVC but ABS. The difference between the two is that ABS is made or a very brital honeycomb structure that shatters and splinters, hence why you dont use it for morters. PVC on the other hand just ruptures and does not go into bits. Its also pressure rated so you could use it in a morter...

Fraser

[alany]

I beg to differ!

Almost all SWV pipe around here is PVC and it is quite brittle. It depends on how fast the force is applied, bend it by hand and it just turns white as deforms, hit it with a sledge hammer and it shatters like glass. ABS is fairly similar actually, but more pseudo-plastic at room temperature. They are both death traps for mortar use. Don't do it!

I'd recommend not using anything but Paper or HDPE for amateur mortars, and I'd highly recommend leaving Steel to to the professionals. I'd also suggest not building your stargun out of steel, one day you'll forget and put an experimental insert in it and blew it to pieces. Even if you are missed by the shrapnel it will piss you off a lot!