823 replies to this topic

[Lefty's Mixing Shed]

The destructive potential of flash powder should not be under-estimated. More serious injuries probably have been caused by flash powder than practically anything else in the world of pyrotechnics (including black powder).

Let's not kid around here. Good flash powder has explosive potential rivaling high explosives (such as TNT). Even a seeming small amount (a few grams) in the hands of child or inexperience pyro can have disasterous consequences. Larger amounts (10's or 100's of grams), which are typical for inexperienced pyros who don't know the real hazards, often are lethal when things go wrong. What can go wrong? PLENTY!

First of all, most flash powders are friction sensitive. The most common flash powder is 70:30 KClO4/Al. Many pyros add an additional 10 pts (by wt) of S. If your KClO4 is very fine and you are using a high quality Al powder (e.g., German or Indian dark Al), the explosive potential of your mixture is downright scary. The addition of S (or antimony sulfide) makes the mixture even nastier and more friction sensitive. You should treat these mixtures with great respect and assume that any screw-up will be devastating.

What are the hazards?

(1) Good flash powder is friction sensitive. One of my friends, who is an established rocket maker, learned this the hard way during the first year or two of his pyro career. When he was 17 years old, we was mixing flash powder ingredients in a mortar and pestle. Approximately 25-50 grams exploded during "gentle grinding". My friend now has a deformed hand and is lucky he didn't lose several fingers (or his life!). Years later, this same friend was the Safety Chairman at a fireworks convention in the US. During this convention, one of the attendees - who was as relatively experienced pyro - tried to dispose of approx 1 lb of flash powder by spreading it on the ground in the Arizona desert. When this attendee tried to mix/bury the flash powder with sand using his foot, the powder detonated. The poor guy lost most of his foot, even though he was wearing heavy boots. My friend found two of the missing toes and was reponsible for seeing that everything made it to the hospital.

(2) Flash powder is very static sensitive. If you are working in an environment with fluorescent lights, open electical outlets or very low humidity, it doesn't take much to create a spark sufficient to cause an explosion.

There are many other hazards. The key to avoiding disaster is to understand them and religiously avoid known mistakes. Bill Ofca's "Technique in Fire", VOl 1, should be required reading for anybody thinking about working with flash powder.

Over the years, I have mixed hundreds of pounds of flash powder. I've never had an accident, but I still get a little nervous every time I do it. My favorite formula is 70:30:10 KClO4/Al/S for smaller salutes (up to 70 g) and 70:30 KClO4/Al for larger salutes or bottom shots. As a youth, I tried many of the other formulae listed in older books (e.g., T. L. Davis, Weingart, Kentish, etc.) I now know that many of these formulae are both much more dangerous and much less effective. My advice for pyros is to stick with 70:30 KClO4/Al for flash powder.

A few comments:

(1) Work with small quantites, especially if you are relatively inexperienced. An accident with several grams of flash powder will be ugly enough. An accident with 500 grams is likely to be fatal.

(2) Try to work when relative humidity is >60%. Work outside in natural light w/o direct sunlight. Work away from light fixtures, receptables and any potential source of spark or ignition (e.g., cell phones, electic motors, cigarettes, high power lines, etc). Avoid tools, containers, hard surfaces and actions that can cause enough force or friction to ignite flash powder.

(3) Bill Ofca advocates ball milling to make fine powders. I like to use a blender. (Powdered sugar can be made by pulverizing common sugar in a high-speed blender. The same technique can be used to make fine powders from many other materials. NEVER PULVERIZE ANYTHING OTHER THAN SINGLE CHEMICALS IN A BLENDER. Numerous people have been killed by mixing pyro forumations in blenders, coffee grinders, etc.)

KClO4 for flash powder can be prepared ahead of time as a free-flowing, fine powder by powdering KClO4 with 0.1 wt% Cabosil in a blender. Approximately 300-500 grams typically can be prepared at a time. Store in an air-tight container, and allow the material to cool to room temperature before using. (Grinding in a blender creates lots of heat.)

[NUKE]

I can't find a store that sells metals here so i tried to sandpaper a piece of Al in order to make some powder.Of course this powder was very coarse so when i tried this with KNO3 it didn't did anything.So i found a formula at PFP database: KMnO4/S/Al 80/10/10
and i tested it.It is good effect for an amateur.I have only tried it few times in open and only once closed with paper. It isn't very powerful.But i have read that KMnO4 is very unstable.Please advice me if this chemical is very dangerous and why?Also tell me if i have to stop making that formula.
Thank you.

[Jerronimo]

STOP MAKING IT YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF IN ALOT OF DANGER.

Potassiumpermanganate has no place in pyrotechnics.

quote from Phoenix:

Potassium permanganate is really NOT nice stuff. It seems to be much more sensitive to accidental ignition than chlorates, and oxidises just about everything, including you, on contact. Also, it has the added bonus of being rather toxic, and manganese poisoning is not a very nice way to go. Plus it is very unstable so will break down and become useless after a while.

[NUKE]

Ok.I am stop making this stuff right now.I knew that KMnO4 has no use in Pyro but i have found some mixtures in the PFP so i thought it could be used for these purpose.Now i know that i must stop making that.I only have tested it 6 times with small amounts.Thank you

[Nitrate lightning]

Has only one tried zinc + sulphur in a salute as a replace of flash powder? This (from my expirence) is quite hard/ almost impossible to light with an ordinary splint but ordinary black match or visco can do it. Its very stable and will only go off when you want it to. Mine burnt about the same speed as good BP.

[spawned]

And if it works it makes a bright green/yellow flash.

[firedust2004]

Does potassium persulphate have any use in pyrotechnics?
I seen to remember a flash composition consisting of barium sulphate and aluminium powder.

[Nitrate lightning]

I hever never seen any compistions with potassium persulphate. i dont think its used in pyrotechnics at all, although it is an oxidizer.

[paul]

Yes BaSO4 can be used as an good oxidizer. A 5,5 BaSO4 / 4,5 Mg composition works well but should not be stored and should be kept dry. It produces an nice bang and o lot of yellowish/green light.

Persulfates are very very good and strong oxidizers (With Mg they produce a bang in quantities of about 2-3g IN THE OPEN).
But in fact it is not a good idea to use persulfates because they corrode every metal. So the mix will heat up if it gets wet and so it is not storable. Persulfates further are used as causticisers.

Sodiumpersulfate works best for flash purposes, but anyway don?t use them!!!

[BurlHorse]

Here's a few:
Skylighter
United nuclear
I think United Nuclear is currently sold out, but Skylighter sells 8 micron aluminum, much better than German aluminum.

Better Than German Blackhead? I think not, And even his IndianHead Dark Pyro Aluminum is Pretty Darn Hot Hot Stuff. I know Harry Personally and I know his Products Intimately as I packed Chems For him in a pinch a few times. Start talking 2 Micron Bluehead German, and then your talking Flash Aluminum

As Always, Small Batches, Never More than you will use for the one device you are making and finally, I Havent been around for awhile because of Health issues. Non-Pyro-related I assure you. In My Abscense I have already seen four or five posts with things like should I be wearing gloves when tinkering with Barium compounds, UH, Yes, Full Gear. As to the "Relative "Power" Of These different Flash Comps, the +1 bORIC aCID IN THE potassium nitrate formula , INMNSHO Could cause more problems than not, check the PH of your Nitrate, especially the Garden Variety before adding more acid to an already *possibly* acidic Component.

Since I have been Chastised Before For certain Favorite Flash Formulas (Mag-55) for one, I can only tell you that you ARE litterally taking your life in your own hands when you Build Large Devices with "Less" safe Comps. In All Ranks of Pyrotechnia, Safety is a relative term. So you have to choose life or death or dismemberment. The PGI Accident at the convention this year was a horrible example of what can go wrong. In this incident 3 people only one of which was a PGI member were Loading a "Large" Ground b**b on the Back of a Pickup truck, I have not checked the relative humidity on that day, but I can almost Garauntee you it was less than 50%. And What they were doing Was against Nearly Every Rule in the Book, I too have made a feww hundred pounds of flash but in a pickup truck, gimme a break.

Our Last Club Shoot was last weekend and of course I entered The Punkin Busting, An 18 Lb Punkin and a 1LB thirteen Ounce Charge, 13oz's of which were the casing, so it was a 1 Pound Charge Of Modified Mag-55, I used 2 Micron Magnesium for the 200 Mesh and 400 Mesh Called for in the Original Comp. I will Post Pictures By Next weekend on my website, Any Way, I came in A Very Close second to a mate who used a 6" comercial Aerial Titanium Salute in a 50 Lb Punkin ( The Salute Weighed 6 Pounds)(What a difference 5 Pounds can make......Obviously the Commercial Aerial was usin A "Safer" Comp, even in you subtract the weight of the Components, There Had to Be At Least 3 lbs of "Aerial Sparkle/boomenheimer in it.). Needless to Say, If the Punkins were People, well, you get the point.

My Point here is simply this, in my absence, I see that safety has become a less Talked about topic, not that I am saying no one has learned and is using same.

While Loading My Punkin Buster, I Had That Nagging Voice inside me saying "Should'nt oauta do this, well I managed unscathed, But I was Loading it with Full b**b squad Gear, and had something happened, sorry, not even that gear would have helped considering the proximity. Guess I'm Just trying to say, Realize Our Artistry has it's Downsides of Poisons, Burns and Explosions, but there are still CHOICES we make about how to do things. Richard and Big G Hand most of you seem to be on the right track, please stay there and stay green!

PS, The Punkin Busting Was enjoyed by all and the Safety Crew were exemplary in doing their part!. It was quite spectacular, 6 Foot Craters can be humbling to the most experienced Pyro.........

Bear

Edited by BurlHorse, 19 October 2004 - 04:29 PM.

[italteen3]

I have been thinking about more safety precautions to do and take while preparing flash and salutes. When ever I make small salutes or any salutes using an end plug I have a special adapted tool to ease in the process. I barely get the end plug in and then when all the salutes have been loaded and end plugs just gently pushed in I lay them on the ground carefully so the end plug stays in and with the tool I press on the top of the salute casing to push the end plug in. The tool is basically a long pole with a piece shaped like this ->

_ _
l l l l
l_l_l_l

The gap in the middle allows it to get around the fuse and press down on it from a distance of however long your pole is. I just always say better ears ringing for a few seconds then injury.

Also I was thinking on the thought of diapering. I believe some papers are acidic. Are they acidic enough that when diapering flash it could cause harmful reactions? If so Im guessing stick with kraft for all diapering purposes.


Burlhorse another helpful post!

Few questions for you. Where did you acquire the b**b squad gear? Wont be making any punkin' busters but it is just safer.

I remember BigG talking about nano powders. Is that what German Bluehead is?

Cant wait for those pics!

Edited by italteen3, 19 October 2004 - 07:55 PM.

[Richard H]

Nice to see your still around Burl! I have a few vids of the punkin busting, VERY impressive demonstrations of the power of flash powder.

[BigG]

My Point here is simply this, in my absence, I see that safety has become a less Talked about topic, not that I am saying no one has learned and is using same.


Bear

I totally agree. It's not your absent, it's the fact that many read but prefer not to understand. I said it time and time before - flash is a business you attend after you have been activily dealing with firework construction for a few years. Someone who just been around and play around for a while should not mix it - no reason to - not needed - just blant irrisponsible exploration.

[BurlHorse]

I have been thinking about more safety precautions to do and take while preparing flash and salutes.  When ever I make small salutes or any salutes using an end plug I have a special adapted tool to ease in the process.  I barely get the end plug in and then when all the salutes have been loaded and end plugs just gently pushed in I lay them on the ground carefully so the end plug stays in and with the tool I press on the top of the salute casing to push the end plug in.  The tool is basically a long pole with a piece shaped like this  ->

  _      _
l l  l l
l_l_l_l

The gap in the middle allows it to get around the fuse and press down on it from a distance of however long your pole is.  I just always say better ears ringing for a few seconds then injury.

Also I was thinking on the thought of diapering.  I believe some papers are acidic.  Are they acidic enough that when diapering flash it could cause harmful reactions?  If so Im guessing stick with kraft for all diapering purposes.
Burlhorse another helpful post! 

Few questions for you.  Where did you acquire the b**b squad gear?  Wont be making any punkin' busters but it is just safer.

I remember BigG talking about nano powders.  Is that what German Bluehead is?

Cant wait for those pics!

The Squad Gear Came from a military auction, Your end plug tool is a good Idea especially if you are formulating any "more than normal" friction sensitive comps.

As to German Blue Head, It was Manufacutered before the war i believe and was a Version of German Dark Pyro aluminum, It's mnufacturing process gave it a pearlescent Color anomolie that was a dark blue if you looked at the Powder in the right light. There are others who say it was just dull grey, Who knows for sure when your talking 75 years ago. It was said to be The Undisputed King of Pyro Aluminums, And had a tendency towards Being Pyrophoric. Thats about all the history I have on it as it is not available anymore (Manufactured) through any sources I know of. I suppose it could qualify as a 'NANO" Powder, it was said to be less than a Micron in some Production runs, thats pretty fine Stuff hehe.

As to the Paper, 48X48 inch pieces of Kraft are standard for Diapering in the Industry, as is the use of an anti static spray, just lightly sray the whole sheet, and hang it up to dry, it does NOT need to be wringing wet, just a light going over Will Do. After it is Dry it is ready for use. This is an added Cautionary exercise in safety, just don't mix Flash when the Barometer Says High Pressure and the Leaves are crunching under your feet, 65-75% Humidity will pretty much rule out the static issues, however, too much, like a rainy day could also be the precursor to a Mag-AL Nitrate/Perc reaction, so Define the Times, Heck, buy an old Yard Sale Barometer and Mark a safe zone on it, Nifty conversation starter for your shop if nothing else.

Stay Green,

Bear

[BurlHorse]

Nice to see your still around Burl! I have a few vids of the punkin busting, VERY impressive demonstrations of the power of flash powder.

Thank you Kind Sir, I opted to Go Last For Effect this time, Mine was the ONE Painted T-N-T /2004, Over on the Far Left If You Were Looking From The Front......What I thought was funny was how many People Backed UP Instinctivley when Mike Seets and I (Mikes was the Huge Punkin), Went to Ignite our Pumpkins......Guess They Remeber From Experience we Rule The Punkin Bustings.........Sorry I'll Stop tooting my Horn. But if you saw it, It is Pretty Amazing what only 1 Pound or 428 Grams in My Punkin, is Capable of.......I am very Busy with some things right now, but the Vids should make it to a server somewhere so we can quit talking about what it can do and show the Less Experienced Members, I think Mikes 6 Inch Commercially Built 6" Ti Salute in that Pumpkin was downright Hair Raising!! But Again thank you, Good To Be Back.

T-N-T Is Tim and Tony, My Pyro Buddies Name and out Convenient Moniker. He's The One who left for afghanistan. Our Prayers are with him.

Stay Green,

Buddy Bear