26 replies to this topic

[wjames]

yeah......don't think they would mix too well......

you'll be glad to hear i no longer participate in tesla coil high voltage experiments.....although i did, untill a few months ago, have a man sized faraday's cage !


need to do some experimenting this week to see if my new tubes are too heavy for rocket casings....they are mighty thick ! and i mean mighty thick !!!! i might even un-roll them slightly !!! look very well made indeed....got them from tim sleight

Edited by wjames, 10 October 2008 - 04:35 PM.

[Creepin_pyro]

i think the way i approach making flash, is as safe as its going to get......

Remember you can always add the two components to the casing unmixed, close her up, then tumble remotely. Depending on how much airspace there is in the casing and how much agitation they're going to see on the way to the firing site, you can even omit the tumbling part... That's pretty much as safe as it gets.

[wjames]

Remember you can always add the two components to the casing unmixed, close her up, then tumble remotely. Depending on how much airspace there is in the casing and how much agitation they're going to see on the way to the firing site, you can even omit the tumbling part... That's pretty much as safe as it gets.

really.....i've often thought about that in past.........

is that really a safe option ?????

thing is, with a simple mix of powders.....there is going to be some seperation.....i.e bigger particles rise to the top.....

from my experience, KNO3/mg based flash doesnt need to be mixed ALL that well to get good results...i normally mix it using 2 paper cups, carefully moving the mix from one to the other...about 4 moves from one cup to the other, and it seems to be uniformly mixed.
so if i place .7 g KNO3 and .7G Mg in the casing UN mixed.....and perhaps "roll" the contents in the sealed tube.....thats safe ??

as i said, i had considered it in the past, but as a relative "newbie" i didnt want to suggest it, as i saw it as not all that safe......

I'm let to beleive that in commercial flash mixing, they do large batches in a container that is tumbled remotely.....is that true ?

[cooperman435]

is there any major issues with the flash de-composing, be coming unstable....or worse.... the fuel becoming far less reactive.......

Surely that should read :


is there any major issues with the flash de-composing, becoming far less reactive ....or worse.... becoming unstable

[wjames]

Surely that should read :


is there any major issues with the flash de-composing, becoming far less reactive ....or worse.... becoming unstable

that was my limited attempt at humour mate !!!! nobody wasnt flash that doesnt " flash "

i'll look like a right tw*t when my other half comes out to watch my amazing fireworks show, and the bangs dont bang !

[portfire]

When It comes to flash, theres NO humour. I'm sure your other half would love to see a nice Glitter, Flitter, strobe etc than a bang ?

[Arthur Brown]

Suffice to say that if you buy a flash burst fireworks from a Chinese factory, it has been 8 weeks on the boat, several weeks in their warehouse and possibly a year or two in a warehouse in this country.

[wjames]

Suffice to say that if you buy a flash burst fireworks from a Chinese factory, it has been 8 weeks on the boat, several weeks in their warehouse and possibly a year or two in a warehouse in this country.

a very good point arthur..........whats the most common flash compound used in chinese fireworks ???? perchlorate based i preusme ???


if it wasnt safe to be stored in its final form...they wouldnt sell it......lets face it..the average firework that is shipped from china is subject to : shock...friction, some static, heat, cold, vibration, massive changes in humidity..........my flash won't be subject to any of these in the same extremes...the only time they are subject to anything much is when i take them from my workshop to the firing area !!!

ah, nothing so simple huh !!!!!

again, thanks guys...

got a load of rockets to make before i do anything !

[Richard H]

If you must experiment with flash, then keep the quantity very low (a few grams). The precautions you appear to be adopting with appropriate PPE and grounded tools is commendable. Also please remember that your experiments should not fall foul of the 100g limit. It does not help our cause if people blatantly ignore the regs set out in MSER.

[wjames]

some people have "commented" on my steel spoons that i use......saying that it's not ideal.....but as i see it, its as safe as i can make it...earthed : worksurface, tools, chemicals, me........the only thing i havent figured out how to earth is my tubes/balls.......

as for the 100G limit... i thought that only covered BP as a product....so does it cover flash as well, in the same 100g limit....IE, 98g of BP with 2G of flash would be legal.........i also stick to the 100g limit when making KN03 based smoke screen's...better safe than jailed !

as for making small amounts......

i generally make 3g batches at a time, but it does cause some issues, with some compound sticking to the paper cups, paper sheet etc......but i don't see the requirement for reports over the 3g.....1-2g properly confined gives a very loud report.....pleanty for what i need/want.

[Richard H]

The theoretical 100g limit covers any composition. Until the society opens its factory scheme, my advice is to keep experiments small, well planned, and above all, safe.

[wjames]

great. thanks.