6 replies to this topic

[cooperman435]

Well my tests using resistors was dissapointing to say the least

The problem being that too much current and the resistor just pops and dies without generating enough heat to ignite the bp slurry

too little and obdviously nothing happens. this is all after having to account for the resistance of the wire used as a firing line.



So can anyone suggest a good swg for making e matches one they have personally had sucsess with and where to buy it

Thanks again chaps.

Phill

[Wyvern]

i found this on ebay, might be too thick though

Here

[BrightStar]

I don't know if you live in the countryside, but as a kid I used to take apart the polypropylene cord used for livestock electric fences to make improvised igniters. The cheap stuff is plastic string with very fine steel wire interwoven in to it (don't buy the more expensive copper based stuff). It costs about £4 for a 100m roll from any farm shop or online and can be unravelled to extract the steel wire. A 2cm length will reliably ignite BP from a 12v battery and is easier to work with than nichrome.

Edited by BrightStar, 29 November 2006 - 07:31 PM.

[Spudgun]

Maybe this is a stupid idea but could a fine strand from wire (steel) wool be used, as this burns out at fairly low currents.

The down sides are that the wire might not produce reliable e-matches that ignite at exactly the same current (due to the different thicknesses and therefore resistance(?) of strands) and it might be difficult to get a good connection due to its inability to be soldered.

[hoarp001]

I got mine from pyrotube. it was sent from america, but didnt take too long...

also

try mutr.co.uk, they sell it too....

[The Cruiser]

Ebay is alway a good bet.....

[Andrew]

Click here for the cheapest nichrome wire I've seen at rapid electronics. I'm sure they supply other lengths not in the education section but in the cables section.