5 replies to this topic

[HerbertMunch]

This website describes a bloke making bp banger and blowing off his hand.

"
The victim, whose name was not released, and two other men were playing with several explosive devices packed with black powder and attached to fuses, police said. The group was throwing the explosives off a bridge when the incident occurred.

The explosion blew the man's right hand off above the wrist. Police said he also sustained burns.

"


Ive made bangers with bp, but ive certainly never made anything that could blow my hand off!

How much bp do you reckon this would take?


thanks

[pudi.dk]

That may or may not be black powder. Many people (including the police) do not know correct terms. Often "black powder" is used to descripe a pyrotechnical composition. My guess would be flash powder...

Whatever it was, it was not clever.

[marble]

Its flash powder, its difficult to have a pure black powder banger blow off a finger let alone a hand.

Hes lucky, i remember some idiot decided to fill a metal pipe b**b with 100gm of flash, capped it and then decided to drill the fuse hole. His funeral consisted of a few chunks of flesh and a few toes.

Edited by marble, 06 June 2007 - 11:56 AM.

[maxman]

Yes, blackpowder is just that " a powder that is black" I could have been anything.

The question is why has it gone off? He could of lit the fuse that was too short. We don't know what fuse was used. Don't forget blackmatch can jump especially if there is a gust of wind. Fuse could mean string soaked in petrol to some people!

Blackpowder needs a source of ignition to ignite it. It doesn't go off on its own. It could have been made with chlorate and sulphur (which can go off on its own)

Be under no illusion, blackpowder can remove your fingers and hand easily! and much much worse! I for one would certainly not hold anything other than a sparkler and light it, bought or otherwise. Always try to use a decent length of visco, light at arms length, get well out of the way.

I find no use or interest in flash powder or using chlorates. I would rather make a 8" shell with BP than a 2" with flash powder. I urge everyone to steer clear of it and enjoy making beautiful fireworks the old fashioned way!

[HerbertMunch]

I find no use or interest in flash powder or using chlorates. I would rather make a 8" shell with BP than a 2" with flash powder. I urge everyone to steer clear of it and enjoy making beautiful fireworks the old fashioned way!

I tend to agree with you about flash powder, apart from I am interested, but far too scared!

Edited by HerbertMunch, 06 June 2007 - 12:28 PM.

[Andrew]

Yes, blackpowder is just that " a powder that is black" I could have been anything.

Interestingly real 'black powder' is not always as black as you might think, many shades of grey are more common than black; dependant on several factors is the colour of BP.

At least it was not described as 'gun powder', in which case it could be one of any number of comps/explosives.

The lax use of terms does at least confuse the lay person.