13 replies to this topic

[rick87]

Right. so i want to make a fireball (don't really know why just think it'd be cool) I've searched the forums and it's brought up some fruit.
took a deep breath and made my first batch of gunpowder. (don't have a ball mill yet so sellotaped it to a fan LOL!! and left it rolling for a bit in my shed) realise this is not ideal but it worked quite well. The burn rate is pretty good and it doesn't burn through paper when lit.
The problem I have now is making the fireball.
I've tried:
1) putting 2 teaspoons of BP in the bottom then a tissue barrier and filling with coffee creamer. This resulted in a bang and coffee creamer all over my garden.
2) putting one teaspoon of BP in the bottom then a tissue barrier then filling with coffee creamer. This resulted in a puff and coffee creamer all around the tube (again in my garden)
3) putting 2 teaspoons of BP in the bottom then pouring coffee creamer on top. This resulted in a flame coming out the top throwing a bit of coffee creamer around my garden.

Garden now looks like it's been snowing
Any tips?

Edited by rick87, 28 September 2010 - 08:19 PM.

[phildunford]

A tallish container works quite well - like a tallish tin can. This makes sure the creamer is on fire before it has a chance to cool and pollute your garden! You might need a bit more BP as well. I don't use anything in between them, but I would not have thought this makes a lot of difference (as long as it's not too thick).

Theres one right after the orange smoke in this video. (Baked Bean tin if I remember).

youtube

[PyroCreationZ]

Here's some good info for ya mate:

Cremora Article

Good luck and show us what you've ended up with

[Deano 1]

Reading your post.......DA JA VUE........my garden also looked like it had snowed in the middle of June, I gave up trying after the third box of creamer, half kilo of airfloat charcoal, custard powder, etc,etc. Oh and half kilo of bp. I even googled it to death and still no joy. I resigned to the fact that I was never meant to make fireballs. I don't give up on a project easy, But this one ground me down for a poxy pooof

[rick87]

Here's some good info for ya mate:

Cremora Article

Good luck and show us what you've ended up with

Thanks, that's a really good article. i think where i'm going wrong is i'm using a narrow postal tube.

Reading your post.......DA JA VUE........my garden also looked like it had snowed in the middle of June, I gave up trying after the third box of creamer, half kilo of airfloat charcoal, custard powder, etc,etc. Oh and half kilo of bp. I even googled it to death and still no joy. I resigned to the fact that I was never meant to make fireballs. I don't give up on a project easy, But this one ground me down for a poxy pooof

mate, tell me about it. You know when you go in a really crappy nightclub and your feet stick to the floor? thats what it's like in my garden at the minute. haha

[PyroCreationZ]

Well I've only tried it once but the result was not too bad!
I simply used homemade charcoal and a TP tube. Think I'll retry soon and get me some of that coffee creamer.
And to rick: yes the size of the tube or jar is important! You'll want one with a large surface.
btw: pine airfloat should work well in cremoras if you don't use the creamer. I've only tried with willow airfloat.
Good luck

Edited by PyroCreationZ, 28 September 2010 - 10:08 PM.

[starseeker]

I read a report yesterday evening which suggested that you could also use 50/50 corn starch and sugar as your fuel.

[digger]

I use butylated hydroxy toluene and hexamine in a 50/50 mix with a flash unit to atomise it. flash unit in the middle card tube outer. No outer mortar. 150g gives a nice 10ft - 15ft fireball using 2g of 70/30 flash.

[PyroCreationZ]

I read a report yesterday evening which suggested that you could also use 50/50 corn starch and sugar as your fuel.

Yep, think I've read it somewhere too so it's definatly worth the shot.

[rick87]

ok so here it is. my best effort yet. don't laugh

Edited by rick87, 11 October 2010 - 07:57 PM.

[Re-enactor]

I think you may be over-engineering a bit- for a simple fireball:-

Take a white plastic 1/2 pt cup.
Fit with n e-match/ improvised electro detonator in the bottom.
Cover detonator with a thin layer of BP (15grams is plenty!)
Cover this with a cut out piece of baking paper.
Top up with 4 tablespoons of powdered milk.
Cover top with clingfilm (in windy conditions).

Get to a safe distance (3m is fine for load as above but that's just an opinion )

Detonate- should give a nice small fireball.

[rick87]

I think you may be over-engineering a bit- for a simple fireball:-

Take a white plastic 1/2 pt cup.
Fit with n e-match/ improvised electro detonator in the bottom.
Cover detonator with a thin layer of BP (15grams is plenty!)
Cover this with a cut out piece of baking paper.
Top up with 4 tablespoons of powdered milk.
Cover top with clingfilm (in windy conditions).

Get to a safe distance (3m is fine for load as above but that's just an opinion )

Detonate- should give a nice small fireball.

thats pretty much what i did lol

[rick87]

for a small fireball that was pretty effective. nice:P

thanks! i thought it was crap! lol