22 replies to this topic

[marble]

I just remembered about these awesome crackers I once got a hold of, they had no external fuses but instead had a dollop of red putty which when struck against a match box would ignite (I assume some sort of friction sensitive compound). Anyway they were completely waterproof and were filled with flash so they packed quite a punch.



Anyone know how they work? Would be nice to make something similar and use for ignitors to various things (thermite, flares, smoke)

Edited by marble, 05 November 2007 - 09:24 AM.

[overflow]

They sell a lot of these bangers in Italy.

Usually they are done this way:


The paste is a (i guess) potassium chlorate\red phosporus mix.
They clay is drilled and some visco is passed through to act as a delay.

[Arthur Brown]

The ignition as a simple friction compound look in the literature and you will find several I expect that there should be a striker or rubbing cap with the devices pictured.


The phrase "filled with flash" fills me with fear.

You need to be totally accurate in the friction and timing compounds before you hand ignite flash.


Friction compounds are two part - just like a matchbox. they have some uses now though they may be superceded by match or electric ignition. In really wild country friction compounds are favoured because they are self contained.

See the devices you showed in three parts, the friction compound (A + , the timing compound, and the flash charge.

[marble]

I was thinking more along the lines of using 1/4" tubes with a hot composition for igniting thermite or smoke

red p will be a problem, thank the bloody meth labs for that

[Arthur Brown]

No legit material is a problem to a legit pyro lab! It's getting accredited by peers and professionals and regulators that is hard. BUT then suppliers will seek you out to offer you things.

Be wise, be careful, read the literature (buy the books ( try abe books and online locator for secondhand books)).

Stay green and keep legal.

[marble]

As eager as I am to start playing with death mixes if I need red p this one will be staying on the table, im fairly sure its heavily restricted here.

There are a few interesting ones that don't require red p

http://come.to/PFP

Ill have another flick through AFN as they go over it a few times

Edited by marble, 05 November 2007 - 11:09 AM.

[alex000]

As eager as I am to start playing with death mixes if I need red p this one will be staying on the table, im fairly sure its heavily restricted here.

There are a few interesting ones that don't require red p

http://come.to/PFP

Ill have another flick through AFN as they go over it a few times

I have got a few hunderd of these one type has a crackle mix which ignites right after the top red mix has been lit, then the flash goes off. The other type I have has a delay mix wich I find too slow as most of the time it goes out so I have to stick a peice of visco in insted.

[icarus]

hi i dont like the diagram -_unless its for none surgical finger removal .The timing delay with that short piece of visco is very small if you want a really good banging firework use bp and make a few jumping jacks- plenty of info available or look up triangular crackers for a quick paper and masking tape banger If you must use flash powder i would rather pm you with a mix using potassium nitrate sulphur and aluminium i use it to burst small rocket headers its a lot less shock sensitive . dont consider red phosphorus there are plenty of other 2 part friction igniters and a lot more enjoyment and challenge than bangers 20 + years ago i made some dangerous ones and had unexpected near miss accident

[SwissTony]

I got a load of these match strike ones from somewhere.
The larger ones (1/4 inch) had a very good 5 seconds+ fuse on them.
I had some others called mini cicciolo which must have had maybe 1/8th ID and about 3 seconds fuse.
The small ones were impressively loud for what they were.
I used to carry loads of these match strike crackers round with me when I marshalled at a paintball site. The strike plate for the smoke grenades we used lit these crackers as well, which was useful.

[overflow]

hi i dont like the diagram -_unless its for none surgical finger removal .The timing delay with that short piece of visco is very small if you want a really good banging firework use bp and make a few jumping jacks- plenty of info available or look up triangular crackers for a quick paper and masking tape banger If you must use flash powder i would rather pm you with a mix using potassium nitrate sulphur and aluminium i use it to burst small rocket headers its a lot less shock sensitive . dont consider red phosphorus there are plenty of other 2 part friction igniters and a lot more enjoyment and challenge than bangers 20 + years ago i made some dangerous ones and had unexpected near miss accident

It's not my proposal, it's simply how they are actually made. (i know for sure )

I had some others called mini cicciolo which must have had maybe 1/8th ID and about 3 seconds fuse.

Ah, the mini cicciolo, i nearly blew up a finger by slicing it in half and using it as a sparkler while keeping it in my hand... for some reason (probably i had cut at the delay composition, which confined the inner powder) it exploded and i had a HUGE bubble of blood on my thumb and index for many days. This of course was MANY years ago, when i was still a young boy, attracted by fire, in all it's forms.

Edited by overflow, 05 November 2007 - 09:44 PM.

[SwissTony]

Ah, the mini cicciolo, i nearly blew up a finger by slicing it in half and using it as a sparkler while keeping it in my hand... for some reason (probably i had cut at the delay composition, which confined the inner powder) it exploded and i had a HUGE bubble of blood on my thumb and index for many days. This of course was MANY years ago, when i was still a young boy, attracted by fire, in all it's forms.

I know they may not be the most powerful or the most spectacular, but the mini cicciolo are probably my favourite out of all the crackers I have used.

Just been poking round my shed and found a load of strike top crackers that I thought I had used up, including, Mefisto Manna, Ercole and some Raudo Manna to.
The little ones seem to make a lot better noise than the larger ones.

[Asteroid]

I used some of these in greece. They are about 1" long and have around 5s of fuse in them. Rather than being filled with flash I guess there would be a tiny amount. The delay is non sparking, and just lets off smoke. They are more than happy to continue underwater after the delay has started, and will either sink and make a dull thud and a great flash at night or float and make an effect similar to that of a bullet hitting the water (think saving private ryan etc)

Edited by Asteroid, 06 November 2007 - 05:15 PM.

[MDH]

You could always just dissolve the powder off of safety matches if this whole idea tickles your fancy. I did this for home made sparklers once.

[dr thrust]

what did you dissolve them in?

[Jerronimo]

Match-crackers... brings back old memories for me.
They were banned in Holland in the early 1970's I think, but are still sold in Belgium.
Must have lit hundreds of those when I was younger.
The smaller one's were called ''pirate'' and shipped in boxes of 100 pcs. each, they were filled with a amount of flash and had a delay time of 7 seconds.
No internal visco fuse was used, they were filled with a delay powder called ''gluesatz'' which burns very consistent and slow.