27 replies to this topic

[Gor]

Actually it needs to be a bit of a different concept from flash. Imagine rather getting a 3m length of 25mm angle iron and filling it with something that flashes and spits and emits a hell of a white/blue light, whilst lasting about 20 seconds. Perhaps a big 'voom' at the end. Imagine mounting several in a rack. Dunno, just looking for ideas...

I built a dragon a while ago from 60mm paper rope which I soaked in KNO3 and dried until it was encrusted. I split it down the back and inserted pure Mg powder, about 500g, Wings were of spirit soaked cloth, and the mouth contained a small bottle full of petrol. I draped it artfully on some metal poles and lit the tail with a blow torch. It worked brilliantly, including the flame spurting from its mouth, but the Mg burned in about 5 seconds, and I would have liked it to have gone a bit slower. Any ideas?

After the Mg, the rope caught and for a while the whole thing glowed red hot. Nice.

[burrelly]

My First Flash Pot

Well the above is of my first atempt at making a flash pot. I think it worked out fairly well for a first try.

Only used a tea spoon worth of powder out of a model rocket engine

[adamw]

What you have there sir is a Tic-Tac container (am I right?) with black powder in. A flashpot typically contains a magnesium based composition.

[burrelly]

was just a small tub, half filled with black powder, grease proof paper lid

[BurlHorse]

hi all, just wondering if anyone had seen/made any nice flash pots and know how they where made?im kinda into these flash pots now and have been just using the standard 70/30 flash with 250 Al on top, gets a nice affect. also iv tryed a weaker lash 50/50 with the 250 Al on top and that was a good affect aswel. could i simply add PVC and strontium carbonate to produce a nice solid red flash?also barium carbonate for green and copper carbonate for blue with pvc?Cheers, Chris.

o and if anyone is interested on my flash pots check my site out in the videos section, put em up a bit later today.

Chris,

For Colored Flashes, I would not use Coloring Agents, I.E; Carbonates Etc. The problem being the noxious nature of smoke versus the effect. Are these pots for close proximtry, or indoor use?

Instead, you might want to try Strontium Nitrate finely divided and Magnalium, or 325 Mesh Mag, 65/35 will give you a really Brilliant Fed Flash. Barium Nitrate really finely divided and Magnalium or 325 mesh Mag, 70/30 will result in a nice green Flash, though not quite as nice as the red I.E; kinda washed out green. There are others, I think Kosanke wrote the article on colored flashes, but I would not swear to it. I'll see what else I can dig up for you...

Regards, Stay Green,

Bear

[Pyromaster2003]

Thanks, il give the green one a go when i get some more Mg powder.

Oh, i don't suppose extremely fine flake Al would work instead of Mg?(5 micron Al)

Edited by Pyromaster2003, 11 January 2004 - 10:20 AM.

[BurlHorse]

Yup, it'll Work, But leave Barium Clorate out of the peicture, stich with Barium nitrate as to the ratio, I dont know, I just went out back to the shed and tried 65/35 Barium Nitrate to 5 Micron Aluminum, got a nice, kinda washed out green, but I only made ten grams, and it has a Nice WHOOSH sort of report, so yes it will work, just be careful and keep it binary until show time.......

Regards, Stay Green,

Bear

[Pyromaster2003]

Great, thanks alot, will have to give that one ago sometime when some problems i have go away.

[pyrotrev]

What you describe as "washed out" green would be typical of barium nitrate + metal powder, to get a deeper green you need to add a chlorine donor. If you're avoiding (probably wisely) barium chlorate, I guess you could try a bit of something like parlon.

[BurlHorse]

Actually, parlon does not seem to work so well with the Nitrate, Chlorowax or Saran, about 5% percent improved the color dramatically

[PyroSpFx]

[font=Arial][size=5][color=#FF6666][i]Guys, I don't post alot on this site. Probably cause I'm a Yank from across the pond, but I have the answers to the sand in the eyes sensation after welding. It is a bit off the topic, but I just had to add it because I know how to get rid of it.
When I was younger my father used to weld on cars alot when he would do bodywork on them. I burnt my eyes really bad one night to the point that I had to go to the hospital. The doctor on duty told my dad to take me home, cut up a large potato, put it into a washcloth, wet it and put it over my eyes. The next morning my eyes were all caked up and were a bit fuzzy, but it cleared them up nicely. I have been welding for about 15 years now and I still use it to this day. It really works.
Byron Johnson
Majestyk Pyrotechnics

Edited by PyroSpFx, 25 July 2006 - 02:29 AM.

[Mumbles]

I'm from the US too, doesn't stop me any.

This is an interesting remedy. Never heard it actually. I'll have to try it next time I get the sand in the eyes. Not sure why it works. Sounds like it just kind of rewets the eyes, unless the starch has something to do with it..

[pyrotrev]

Taties eh?. I think I'll invest in one of those photochromic welding visors!