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I can only echo the sentiments of those above, it was a really good day and I also feel that there were some really good ideas for taking the Society forward. It was really good to meet you all and I hope to see you again in the future, not too distant though!

 

The fireworks were awesome! Thanks guys!

Excellent day. Special mention for Rob L for organizing the food & Karl for a great display.

 

Been pretty despondent about UKPS lately, but this was a great AGM - lots of enthusiasm and great ideas. Hopefully a chance for us to put recent petty squabbles behind us and start building up the society agaiin.

 

Was great to see new faces as well as some familiar ones...

I had a great afternoon too, it wasn't a huge turnout but those that attended were just the right people and it was a real pleasure. I feel UKPS has turned a corner and the discussion about where we as a community are going to start heading was extremely productive.

Steve - the award for best explosives infovideo goes to you and Billy Bass - 10/10!!

Glad you all enjoyed the display - the triple peanuts were nice!

Here's to the future

Since posting the above, I've had a further E-mail from Andi Jamieson, who is the ELO for Northants, and copied to the enquiry officer handling my application. In it, he says that having seen my E-mail responding to their E-mail copied in my previous post and having a look at the updated UKPS Good Practice Guide via the link that I sent them, he now believes that the Police are responsible for issuing licences for pyrotechnics. Consequently, he's advised my case officer to go ahead and issue me with an appropriate certificate.

 

It seems that re-sending them the link to the GPG has done the trick and broken the stalemate so is, perhaps, something that future applicants should include with their application covering letter.

 

I'm not going to celebrate until I have the piece of paper in my hand but, a big thanks to all of you that posted advice and support for my endeavours and a special thanks to Wayne.

 

I'll let you know when it arrives.

Absolutely, it would be great to be involved.  I'll be in touch once I know more.

 

Also, just for every bodies reference, I've updated the good practise guidance to include UN MAN2 in explosive certificate applications:

 

http://www.pyrosocie...ctise-guidance/

hi m8,,why dont u make some 3/4"id rammed black powder(75/15/10) thunderflashes...i did unintentionally when i started trying to make rockets... and you dont need a ball mill.the kn03 is ground to talc in a mp,the sulphur will just need the lumps kneaded out if its pyro grade i do this on a small sheet of plastic with a teaspoon and you will need airfloat charcoal,,i think it was vine i had then...now for the tooling...lol u will need,,,a 1" thick pice of wood,,4"sq is fine,, a 6" nail and a 3/4 piece of round dowel 7"long with a hole drilled 5.5" deep thru the centre the same dia as the nail and another length with no hole....i mix my bp shaking in a coffee can untill my arms are sore,,you will want to put tape round the lid so you can do this indoors without any dramas you can then open it outside to disloge all the powder trapped in gaps without making a mess....hammer the nail thru the centre of the wood,,by the time your doing this your 3/4 id 7" long cardboard pyro tubes will have arrived,,, place 1 over the top of the nail and centre then pour a teaspoon of bp in(a paper funnel is a must) insert the hollow rammer over the nail, slide down and bed firmly in the powder now your redy to ram (if you dont have a soft mallet pad a hammer with rags untill u do) 4 or five sharp smacks will do,you will feel the bp compressing with the first few hits,repeat this process untill your above the nail then switch to the solid rammer untill ur 1/4" from the top then twist off the nail and there you have it,,,now you may want to have another nail sawn in half so you can make smaller ones..a piece of visco is inserted well into the core taped up and the other end plugged..the 7" one will have 35g+ of rammed green meal and will make a lovely thump but halfsize is more doable in the garden...to give you an idea about flash,,,3g with a light confinement will be louder than the 7" bp thunderflash but its a sharp bamg not a lovely round thump and the smell of bp...aaahhhhhhh...u can also ram foutain compositions in ur tubes

Was ya pi553d when ya typed this lot up dude

Just a request but could the agm do some more hands on practical demonstrations, we have the 100g rule. let use it to our advantage.

 

we come to forum to learn safely a hobby we all enjoy. all could be done within 100g rule

 

star rolling

Comet making (using Resorcinol Resin so they dry within 10 min)

BP competition ( bring 10g of your best bp and have it tested and timed to other competitors)

Charcoal making demonstrations

Maybe vic could make a 100g rockets being made and tested.

 

All we would need is a small marquee.

:-) 1/2 of the new stash arriving :-)

As long as there is no simple way to prove your bona-fide to a retailer there will always be a premium on easy to buy fuse.

It seems that you have to be 'in the club' to buy fuse from a firework company, and it's not an easy club to join...

I've mentioned before that I would like to see UKPS membership as at least a nod in the right direction of proving good intent. Any retailers out there willing to get involved, please message me.

As to any individual providing a service it's caveat emptor (more Latin!) and if you don't like the price you dont have to buy it.

Keep calm and carry on chaps!

I suggest a nice bottle of wine, a chair in the garden, a blanket to wrap up in then watch everyone else's fireworks.

I am very seriously looking into taking my business and life over to the USA where I can pursue my peaceful hobby of making pretty lights in the sky legally and even attend competitions and join active clubs. This country is dead to me.

Hi kali and Luke Great to see you are still around . Displays are good but they all come at the same time of year and as i am  a lazy old git averse to anything resembling hard work I have stopped assisting at them.There is all that setting up and cleaning up to do that i dont like !!. The answer is to specialise in  small weddings parties and birthdays ,Ive even done a funeral rocket. My max display size is normally 4 to 6 fireworks, Birthdays often one cake or rocket . Cat 3 although more expensive is big enough , no storage problems on small quantities I  only have 2kg of stored fireworks for events . I normally take about  1 hr max to set up and I often get a superb meal-especially at asian weddings. I wander round afterwards handing out business cards .Clearing up takes 10 mins .Also none of the larger companies out there want this work  .Insurance per event is reasonable so no big outlay . Do pm me for more info if you want to try this where you are . I turn down and pass on the requests i receive for larger displays because as stated earlier i dont do hard work!!. Also this work occurs all year round. My next job is a wedding where the bride takes a replica machine gun and destroys a large pile of fishing tackle belonging to the groom (he is giving up fishing once married ). I must admit this one has taken a lot of pre -event set up time done at home but has been  great fun to prepare.

Another route  is local amateur dramatic societies they dont pay but are great experience .

                                                                                                                                                      Very best wishes Steve

I think they got damp in November

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

Whoever it was was GOOD a nice round stable ring for long enough for someone to photograph it. If it wasn't one of us then there is a potential new member there!

This is a good way to make a big loud and hot fireball that produces a great smoke ring every time.

 

Use a 3 or 4 inch mortar tube (fiberglass works fine for 3 and 4 inch, make sure first it is leakproof) Fill the first 2 inches with water then  fill to within 2 inches of the top of the tube with a mix of Petrol and Diesel  85/15 or 80/20 works just fine.

For lift charge approx 60 gms of 2FA for a 4 inch and 45gms for a 3 inch is placed in a double plastic bag along with 2 e matches ( test to make sure the e matches are good ).

Twist the neck of the bag around a few times and bend it over against the sides of the bag. Now wrap tightly with some good quality black PVC electrical tape. First cover the bag surface in one direction then again at right angles to the first wrap so none of the plastic bag is visible and it has 2 layers of tape all over. You now have a ball of B.P with 2 matches poking out. You don't need more tape the B.P does not need to be confined well to work

 

The bag can be placed into the mortar up to an hour before firing.....Putting the 2 inches of water in the mortar first ensures the tape is not softened by the Petrol/Diesel mix. Give yourself a good 30 foot of scabwire to connect to your firing device....you don't want to next to this if it goes off unexpectedly !

2 matches ensure ignition.....it's no fun having to empty out the mortar if it fails to fire.

2 inches of water and 2 inches empty at the top of the tube will ensure no petrol ends up burning on the ground.

If you're worried about the mix not igniting add a pinch of Titanium to the B.P.

 

http://youtu.be/irWSLaSvcw0

 

http://youtu.be/vX7L-0689dA

Many thanks Bob, a very concise answer, very helpful..thank you again to all who have taken time to answer my question. Right when is the next roll over??

1lb core burners are very good work horse for lifting a multitude of effects.

I know how you are feeling right now

Did you use a top plug?

Proceed with caution if you are blending the whole lot in a coffee grinder - you may find that some of your bp makes its way to the innards of the grinder, ignites and ruins your day.

OK hands up who used to take them apart and make an uber snap-it