11 replies to this topic

[Wiffmaster]

Hello everyone. I'm totally new to pyro, and am just wondering what you guys reccommend a newbie start off with. I have made the Potassium nitrate/sugar smoke b o m b mix, but have also aquired some ammonium nitrate as well. I would like to include this in my pyrotechnics for miniature explosions/bangs etc (for amateur film work).
Problem is, I can't get it to detonate, and don't really want to go any further without some safety advice (would like to keep all fingers!). I do not have access to tubes/blasting caps etc, just everyday items. What is a suitable safe substitute for the tubes, etc. Also, I was thinking, would a length of string dipped into the melted potassium nitrate/sugar mix act as a crude safety fuse for the ammonium nitrate detonation?
I would like to stay as safe as possible, as i'm just starting out, so sorry for the naive questions.

Many thanks in advance.... :-)

(BTW: am I right in thinking I should type b o m b like that, to stop this site appearing on Google searches for b o m b s.)

[Prodigy]

Probably best not to type it in at all because using that word makes you seem like a kid who wants to make things go bang

As far as I'm aware ammonium nitrate is only used in ANFO which is a HE. To detonate that you're going to need a hell of a blasting cap and unless you want to start synthesising AP or MEKP etc. (which you don't) then you've got no use for it (as far as I know, I could be wrong).

Basically what I've learnt is to stick with BP but make it well. There are 2 main methods - ball milling and the CIA method. You can search for the CIA method if you want to go about making it that way. Personally I bought a ball mill and now my BP is fairly decent with almost no effort.

If you want to make things go bang then you'll need a decent tube with end caps or bungs (I use bentonite clay, cat litter). I make my tubes by rolling kraft card round a wooden rod (piece of dowel) and using PVA glue to stick it. Then I powder some bentonite and use the rod to hammer it down into a bung. Seems to work well.

As for fuse - I've tried the one you're talking about but found it unreliable and it only burns on the outside. For salutes you want something like black match (search the name and you'll discover how to make it). Much more reliable.

I'm only a beginner myself but that should give you somewhere to start your further searching.

[Matt]

Run! quick before the mods find you!
I think you will find it is "illegal" to talk about HE on these forums. You can use napthalene firballs, dirt mortars (didnt know what to call em) so simulate explosions. Much safer and fun fun fun!

-Matt

[Richard H]

Right, first things first if you read these http://www.ukrocketr...?act=boardrules , which of course you already have, you will notice that high explosives are strictly off limits in this forum. As such ammonium nitrate serves no purpose whatsoever for discussion involving pyrotechnics.

My advice to you, as to everyone else, is to stop right now and go and buy some recommended books. Don't strike so much as a match until you have a good idea of what you are doing. Search the forum for recommended reading.

The crudest fuse I can think of is good old fashioned touch paper, followed by black match. Soaking string in KNO3 is completely pointless. Sugar is generally useless in pyrotechnics, except for some smoke mixtures.

There are a lot of people who will help you here, but only if you try to help yourself first. Get some books, learn the basics, and as we say, stay green.

[Wiffmaster]

AAAAHHHH...sorry for mentioning HE, didn't know ammonium nitrate would be that powerful and didn't know it was considered an HE. My apologies once again. So does anyone have any good books for me to read up on, heard of Uncle Fester, but seems too much like the ACB for my liking. Thanks and sorry

Edited by Wiffmaster, 09 March 2004 - 11:13 PM.

[Richard H]

Please use the search feature...It does come in quite handy you know

http://www.ukrocketr...&highlite=books

[PanMaster]

Please visit Rogue Science for discussion of this nature.

[Wiffmaster]

Yeah, sorry, realised my mistake now, won't post stupid messages again. Don't like Rogue Science, the people there seem very unfriendly/unknowledgeable. Thanks and sorry.

[Richard H]

I have to agree. Recently they tried to hack into Passfire.com, thankfully Kyle put a stop to that!

[adamw]

Did somebody say 'Uncle Fester'? I suppose you also know of the Anarc*** Crapbook and Poor Man's JB too. If you want to get into --fireworks-- (ie the proper thing to discuss on this forum) then forget about these wastes of trees and maybe save a few limbs in the process.

It is reasonably hard to detonate AN - you will need a booster and you certainly wont do it in small quantities. So it is no good for FX use.

RE: Roguesci - I think some are extremely knowledgable - some stuff even baffles me. But they are more interested in 'extreme' explosives that in some respects could get people into a lot of trouble. Not to mention that a lot of the stuff is very dangerous.

Please have a good read of the forum to see the sort of thing we discuss. You will find that your post may be a little different!

[Wiffmaster]

Yes...i'm aware the ACB is a load of bull, that's why I said that i've HEARD of Uncle Fester, but seems TOO MUCH LIKE the ACB for me, which implies the ACB is a load of rubbish (which it is). Sorry if you misinturpreted my post as being pro ACB

I learnt from my mistakes, so now am going to make black powder as reccommended, and also buy 'Introductory Practical Pyrotechnics' to get me started. Thanks for your words of advice everyone.

[adamw]

You will find making blackpowder to be very rewarding, fascinating and useful. Then you are on the road to REAL PYRO! There are lots of topics on BP, ball mills, chemical sources etc, so it should be a fairly straightforward path.