823 replies to this topic

[pyromaniac303]

Reports for rocket headers

Cant get potassium perchlorate but I can make oodles of potassium chlorate

Ok, after ramming/pressing the rocket and clay endplug, and drilling the passfire hole, assuming your going to be just putting a small amount of flash in the end of the tube and sealing off with a disc, youll want to really clean the tube out to remove all traces of blackpowder, a bottle brush or similar does this nicely for 13mm rockets.

Inserting a small piece of visco down the passfire hole and sealing around it with hot glue (not water based glue as it absorbs into the clay and causes cracking) adds an extra safety feature to isolate the sulfur containing rocket fuel from the chlorate flash. If your really paranoid you can also dip the end of the piece of visco into a small amount of PVA or hot glue to stop the powder core coming into contact with the flash.

[marble]

Ive got some tubes with a OD of exactly 19mm so I just fill them with 1.5g of flash and make sure the visco is seated into the passfire hole. Much neater IMO and safer.

If I want a proper report I have some 2" shells which work nicely.

Edited by marble, 04 December 2007 - 02:32 PM.

[MDH]

Hello there,

Just wondering if iron oxide (black and red) could be used as a catalyst for nitrate flash.

Thanks.

[MDH]

If anyone is still about these threads, a friend of mine whose father runs a chemical distribution company in seattle got me a very small amount of potassium bromate. Potassium Bromate, basic black copper oxide (home made stuff... not the best of the best) and a small amount of a sodium benzoate seems to yield a very strong coloured flash.

You can see blue light hitting more distant objects. It's more "bright blue on a smoggy day" than "quite clearly a blue".

It's very sensitive though. We tried a small hammer dragging test with a tiny bit of it on his patio and the results were actually quite spooky.

Edited by MDH, 15 February 2008 - 06:10 AM.

[NUKE]

Hi,i would like to ask if the next composition is quite safe to work with:
50% barium nitrate
50% magnalium 50/50 (i dont know mesh but it is fine dust)

thanks....

[seymour]

Ha Ha, No.

Well...

Define Safe?

The abrasive nature of magnalium makes compositions containing it quite friction sensitive. Finely divided Barium nitrate mixed with finely divided metals can hurt you, quite badly.

However, If we did not do anything dangerous, none of us would even think about making fireworks.

Treat it like what it is - flash powder, and you should live.

[MDH]

Wow. I wouldn't waste magnalium on a composition like that...

Do you have paint grade aluminum?

Assuming you're more of a localised amateur, paint grade aluminum is plenty for flash powder incorperating barium nitrate. In fact I know that there are several companies in China and India who use basic compositions of barium nitrate, cheap bright aluminum (close to paint grade stuff... maybe coated) and sulfur to make deep sounding report compositions. The packaging style they use is fairly perticular but it's easy enough to work with.

[NUKE]

Treat it like what it is - flash powder, and you should live.

Haha.It would be nice to live.

Yes,of course i mean if it is ok to treat it like flash.I always make no more than 10 grams.I also havent keep it for more than a couple of hours and i will probably wont keep it for more than 3 days....

For exaple i know that KMnO4 is very unsafe to use....Thats why i am asking.....


And why do you say that it is a waste?It is good for what i want.I have alumnium.I will also try aluminium today to see....

[Zinginex]

Hey
What is "safer" or less sensative to friction or shock?
Mg + KNO3 or KLCO4 + Al

I predict Perchlorate flash is and if so how much more sensative is Mg + Kno3 flash?
Thanks

[portfire]

All flash powders are sensitive in some form but, Mg is more reactive than Al, as such powders with Mg would be more sensitive.KNO3/S/Al flash is probibly one of the least sensitive powders, BUT you still treat it with respect,as you would any other flash powder.

Dean

Edited by portfire, 19 March 2008 - 12:28 PM.

[MDH]

Did some experimenting today. If anyone wants a flash that is gentle towards the wallet (and low pitched), this is the composition I recommend.

Barium Nitrate, 40
Sulfur, 40
Aluminum (-325 bright), 20

I only made one tenth of the amount of this obviously since it would be a waste if it didn't work.

Predominantly I made handheld flares (on sticks) out of it which worked pretty well but it did work in a small (400 milligram) report.

Edited by MDH, 26 March 2008 - 06:00 AM.

[Pretty green flames]

Does anyone know how much bran should be added to Flash as a bulking agent? I want to make 2" aerial salutes but don't want to go over 10-15g in each. Bran supposedly also provides a deeper report than straight flash which is another cool feature.

[BrightStar]

Does anyone know how much bran should be added to Flash as a bulking agent?

I'm told up to 1/3 by volume filler works well. Alternatively you can bulk out the flash with granulated BP up to 50/50 by mass.

Another method I've seen work well is to tie a flash bag to the time fuse filled with your measured flash charge. This is packed around with sawdust to support it in the shell.

10-15g is quite enough for a good bang - you don't get the chest thud of a larger salute but it's seems just as noisy.

Edited by BrightStar, 13 June 2008 - 09:26 AM.

[MDH]

One theory I have heard is that the continuing expansion of hot gasses being propelled by uncombusted oxidizer/al at a very high speed, after fracturing the initial casing, creates a deep "boom". This can be achieved by a higher sulfur content.

There is a kind of salute I have mentioned before available in India (in other words stupidly dangerous) to consumers which has a uniquely deep sounding bang. I believe they use bright aluminum.

Edited by MDH, 18 June 2008 - 05:13 PM.

[Bonny]

I make 1" cylidner salute shells using 10g 70/30 perc/Al flash + 10% Ti. As long as they clear the mortar they work great. There is usually a fair amount of empty space in the shell, but I've had a few CATO from the lift charge which is why I don't add any more than 10g comp. The sound is nice and bursts into a good sphere shape. You could also use BP coated hulls or vermiculite or something as a cheap filler.
Here's one of my 1" saltues...3rd shell I think.