9 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

Can anyone suggest a functional compound for making igniters. The electrical bit is easy, but what compound do you suggest, safe enough and yet sensitive enough. I've read of flash and BP being used and epoxy bonded flash and simple epoxy bonded perc (epoxy as binder and fuel)

Will an igniter set light to pressed BP?

[johndee]

I just dip them in BP slurry with 5% dextrin, the same as making black match, never had one fail.

[aquarius]

Dipping the igniter in BP-slurry is a quite good way of making igniters actually.
And you don't have to worry too much about incomprability with BP, like sulfur, aluminum and clorates.

A good way of protecting your igniters, is to dip the well-dried matchhead in NC-slurry to prevent if from crumbling and flaking up.
If you go this way, make sure the pyrotechnical comp is dry, if not and the e-mach has for instance a steel/iron bridge, it will rust away and fail.

As for lighting compressed BP, if surely will, if the contact between the e-match and comp is good and there is enough pyrotechnical material in the igniter.

Please keep your findings on this matter updated!

[YT2095]

I used to dip the bridge in Very dilute NC laquer 1`st, and then the BP paste/slurry, fully heat dry these, and then re-dip in a thicker NC laquer coating after, my NC laquer was color coded too, so I knew at a glance what match was rated for whatever job etc....

the initial dip in the thinned out NC was just to prevent Any would-be opportunity for moisture to get in as the BP dried.

other than that, there`s nothing else to tell

[pyrotrev]

I've had a few failures trying to light compressed BP (the core of Chinese shell fuse) straight from an commercial ematch, so now I always coat the end with some priming paste and dip it in BP meal - works every time now.

[Arthur Brown]

Thanks all!

Found a reliable supplier of commercial ematches now. They are quite happy to sell me boxes of 100 or cases of 1500.

[aquarius]

Would you care to share both price and name of the supplier?

[MMMMMM Pyro]

Hi,
Yeah... it'd be really useful if you could impart that information! Please do feel free to contact me through P.M. should the info not be suitable for public display!

Regards,

Mike

[Arthur Brown]

The supplier is certainly NOT for posting publicly! They do have their own very poor website!

People who I have met in real life or who's work (devices) I have seen working can ask for details. It's a lovely friendly company. They must NOT be inundated with requests for category stuff, from inappropriate people, or they will clam up tight.

[icarus]

the amateur rocket forums are best for igniters they have difficult to ignite mixes i always add iron oxide to igniter mixes for plenty of hot sparks and flame. Igniters can be made that have no filament to fail during construction