115 replies to this topic

[neo]

made my first fireball today!!
it was made of over 100 machhead-powder and 2 15ml of acetone.
the fireball was only something like 30cm across but it was still cool!
will try a bigger next time...

just wonder, if I take BP and some standard flour, will that work to make a nice fireball? I have seen it on tv, but I never saw how it looked like...

[Loci]

I made a nice fireball the other week 150grams mill dust for lift in the bottom of a metal tea bag tin with a litre of petrol on top inside 2 plastic baggies to seal it. Also added some FeTi for effect, got it on my uncle digi cam, and I havent had a chance to get it off yet, but tomorrow I'm gonna do another one this time with 1 less bag because Im sure some petrol got trapped in it as it got vapourised and some (alot) came back to earth and set me field a blaze :S

I'll keep you posted....

Fraser

[burrelly]

It was petrol / maroon method.

Those aint jerry cans there big empty ink containers. Its a paintball site.

http://www.hawkfx.com

[spawned]

Oh well i was still right

[burrelly]

Ahem .......

Edited by burrelly, 03 September 2004 - 08:02 PM.

[KingVinny]

This could be a really stupid idea, but would it be possible to make an aluminium powder fuel-air explosion. As I know that extremely fine Al powder like any other fine powder becomes an explosive danger when in the air. So if you had a can, filled the bottom with BP and then poured some 3 micron Al powder on top, would that work? I don't have much 3 micron Al to spare to try it out so please tell me if you don't think it will work or if it will be incredibly dangerous to attempt.

[paul]

Let me throw in an excerpt from "Ellern - Military And Civilian Pyrotechnics". He says something about fine Al as a cloud in the air and then ignited...


Copyright Chemical Publishing Company Inc. 1968


So I think this method would?nt be suitable for creating a "fireball" effect....
Of course we/you would not work with a high explosive as a bustcharge, but I think the effect would more look like a big flash anyway.... Furthermore the good 3micron Al is too expensive to waste it

Edited by paul, 03 October 2004 - 02:26 PM.

[KingVinny]

Thanks Paul, how about a naphthalene aluminium powder fire ball? If you mixed naphthalene and some Al powder could that produce a good affect?

[adamw]

Thanks Paul, how about a naphthalene aluminium powder fire ball?? If you mixed naphthalene and some Al powder could that produce a good affect?

I've seen Dark Alu and Nap used to very good effect in fireballs. A lot nicer than standard 'Nap charges (more 'umph')

Also, Neo - Using match heads for anything is not a good idea. We all know that they contain Potassium Chlorate!

[KingVinny]

What sort of ratio of Al to naphthalene do you reckon would work? If no one has any idea i'll try a 1:2 when i get some naphthalene

[Loci]

Here are two fireballs that I have been lucky enough to record

http://www.elitewebd...ff/P8080008.MOV
(3.4meg MOV)

http://www.elitewebd...ff/fireball.wmv
(900k WMV)

And a fountain I did the same night

http://www.elitewebd...f/fountain1.wmv

(2.88meg WMV)

[Pyromaster2003]

Nice fireballs. Loved the fountain, what where the dimensions of it and what comp did you use for it if you wouldn't mind sharing...?

[Loci]

The fountain was meal based with 4 tea Spoonfuls of FeTi mixed in and 1 spoonful of Al 350#~ I never did it accuratly as it was jsut some spare BP I had left over. The fountain was a cone as you might have guessed, stood 14inchs tall, 5inch wide base 1 1/2inch at top. Choked with an 8mm hole. Not sure how much BP was in it exactly, I just pressed s much in as I could 4inch PIC green as fuse.

Fraser

[adamw]

Alu / Nap ratio: 1 : 9