28 replies to this topic

[Aussie Pyro King]

I also had this problem when first starting out. It turned out that my green mix black powder just burned too slow and burnt a hole in the tube, and as soon as I made a ball mill, everything went well. With the icreased quality of my BP, the quality of my blackmatch also increased so much higher reliability all round.

[neo]

use match head powder! it can make some really impressive reports! Love to make them, and they are easy to make!

[Phoenix]

Hmmm... sounds risky. Match heads are pretty similar to death mix, you know. They are designed to be friction sensitive. It would also work out pretty expensive, and stripping matches must take ages. I can't claim to have tried this, but I doubt that this composition would be as fast burning as good BP, just much more dangerous. A decent black powder salute the size of your thumb will make a deafening report, and is pretty safe to make. Stripping match heads will propably get yu hurt sooner or later. You'd be much better off spending the time making some good BP.

[neo]

but you can't use strike anywere maches!!! the other ones are made out of red phosphorus and potassium chlorate, the phosphorus is on the match, (atleast thats how I think thay are made... )
and, well it takes some time to strip the matches, but I'm happy whit the resault...

[Patrick]

I also had this problem when first starting out. It turned out that my green mix black powder just burned too slow and burnt a hole in the tube, and as soon as I made a ball mill, everything went well. With the icreased quality of my BP, the quality of my blackmatch also increased so much higher reliability all round.

The quality of BP has a lot to do with your charcoal. I ordered some airfloat from DiscountPyro and made some of my own Willow. They don't even come close. The purchased works good for blackmatch as it burns a little slower, and I use it for the rockets I have built, works great for them.

[Chaoticentity]

but you can't use strike anywere maches!!! the other ones are made out of red phosphorus and potassium chlorate, the phosphorus is on the match, (atleast thats how I think thay are made...  )
and, well it takes some time to strip the matches, but I'm happy whit the resault...

the red phosphorus is not on the match it is in on the stricking surface, most matches are indeed a chlorate/sulfur/whatever mix and are fairly friction sensitive. Try lighting a regular match on smooth concrete sometime it'll light. Match heads work for a simple report but I would recommend fast BP, whistle mix, or flash, the easiest would be to make BP.

My first reports were a fuse taped into a plastic bag with BP then wrapped in tape. These worked great. In this case I would focus on better blackmatch, once you make blackmatch that will burn under a brick you'll have no problems with a cracker

[al69]

If you have access to Mg powder and potassium permanganate or perchlorate, you can make flash that self confines and you dont have to confine it much at all to get a good bang. (good KMnO4/Mg powder flash self confines at 0.5-1 grams). or you could just use aluminium from a fibreglass supplier and KMnO4 from a garden centre to make good flash that you can use to make very good firecrackers. If you are interested in getting Al and KMnO4 and want to know where to get it PM me.

[Jerronimo]

al69 you must be mad .

It's very clear to me that you don't know what you are doing.
KMnO4 is one of THE most unstable oxidisers, and together with magnesiumpowder you are just asking for alot of trouble.

I know it's difficult to get proper chems, but there's no reason to mess around with
unstable chems and your life!!!

[Creepin_pyro]

Wise words there, Jerronimo. Please listen to him, al69. Kmn04 is nasty stuff which deserves no place in ANY aspect of pyrotechnics whatsoever, let alone making flash from it

Making flash from a friction sensetive, unstable oxidiser and Magnesium is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

[al69]

yes it is . But i dont really do it much, still isnt KMnO4 and Aluminium ok?. i mean i agree about the magnesium and i dont really make it often except for when i want a big bang, but surely aluminium and KMnO4 can be used to make flash?. Oh and i know what you mean about the KMnO4, horrible horrible stuff, i really hate working with it.

[BigG]

Al69 ? browse around ? you will see that the forum does not advocate even small quantities of materials that are dangerous. This forum puts a great focus on safety in procedure and formulation. KMnO4 is not use in modern pyrotechnic and any new formulations. You can get a great bang from BP alone. You can increase it by adding a bit of whistle powder. There is absolutely no need to make suggestions that use KMnO4 whatsoever.

Please post responsibly, there are many new members around.

[BurlHorse]

yes it is . But i dont really do it much, still isnt KMnO4 and Aluminium ok?. i mean i agree about the magnesium and i dont really make it often except for when i want a big bang, but surely aluminium and KMnO4 can be used to make flash?. Oh and i know what you mean about the KMnO4, horrible horrible stuff, i really hate working with it.

What exactly do you mean by "But I only Use it WHEN I WANT A BIG BANG"? and if you "Really Hate working with it.....? Your Not "Working" with anything even remotely considerable as a Viable Flash Compound in the FUTURE of pyrotechny. The G-Miester said it right when he said There are alot of newbies around here and just what we need is for a UK Pyro NEWBIE to be Commenting on what I consider more Anarchist Cookbook C**P. You want a really Big Bang, try this, Put Headphones on, Good Ones, not the little Walkman Kind, Turn Stereo up to 10 or whatever denominates Highest or in this case BIGGEST/Loudest, Then Pop in an AC/DC CD Heatseeker Track and listen for a few days.....should relieve your need for a Big Bang concocted with POISONOUS, UNSTABLE in combination Chemicals.

I am A Salute Affecianado, so don't think I don't Play with some wicked toys that you would call me crazy for even attempting, however I, in 20+ Years have never Knowingly used Permanganate for ANYTHING in those years. I've watched others play with it, I've visited very Sick friends who did not heed the many published warnings, use any safety gear (Inhalation) or even look at the simple MSDS...And even saw one of my favorite friends dog die (an animal I REALLY LIked and Enjoyed Hunting With, Best Bird Dog I've Ever Known, God Bless you Scotty) a horrid death because he had a nip of the purple stuff..........So Don't assume I don't Know the Chemical or its effects.......Worried yet?

Do your Mates a Favor, do Unknowing and Undeserving Animals in your firing area a favor and Safely Dispose of your Purple Stash before you do someone else harm. I work alone when working with Energetic Materials that can Kill you, so If I choose to Vapourize myself into the ethereal plane of nothingness, thats my deal, but the Remnants of anything I make won't easily poison anyone who has to find the parts, or any animals that decide to have a lick...............Worried Yet?

How many times does this Chemical have to be brought up, discussed, THRASHED or whatever with the same warnings and resultant "Hey there's some of that in the Chem Locker in Chem Class". Only to Have another person try/steal/experiment it because it was disdained again........I think the Word should be put in the white list of the forum so it's name is'nt even seen by "Newbies". I'm all for education, and WE ALL KNOW what a Loudmouth I am on safety or should I say the relative degrees of safety in Pyro, what to do what to do.....any answers?

Stay Green....DOH...Green

Merry Christmas,

Bear

[adamw]

AARRGGGH MY HEAD!

Whats all this BS talk about match heads and permanganate!! STOP IT!

Learn the dangers! This is not proper pyro!!