crazyjim

I've set a few thermite reactions (more than 12), and they are very difficult to ignite. ( Using 80 mesh Al, and LR grade powdered red iron oxide)I prefer the glycerine and Potassium Permanganate wet fuse, as it lets you get away a bit (Anti freeze works almost as well as glycerine, but you don't get the nice purple flames, for some reason. But generally I now use a first fire mix under the permanganate, as it is much more reliable. My fisrt fire mix contains sulphur/KNO3 and AL, in a rough diaper mix, so far no misfires.

The best effects are seen putting the thermite inside TWO flower pots, the inner one will generaly crack vioently, and the moulton iron pours out the hole. I like to use DRY sand in a box to catch it. It is a nice effect, as the there are three distinct phases, the purple flames, followed by sparkles and them whomp, the thermite burns and lites up the whole garden, for a second or two, and then you get the glow of the iron for a few minutes. The outer flower pot also means you don't get that annoying dot in your vision for the next two days...

I doubt visco will work reliably, as thermite needs to be heated yellow-white hot on its surface before it goes. This incidentally takes about 6 minutes with one of those creme brulee torches, and I do not recommend being anywhere near it when it catches, unless you have a ponchant for being sprayed with moulten iron.

-Jim

Well, You can see a video of it right here!

http://www.webelemen...ext/Hg/key.html

The lighting is not so good, but you get the gist of what happens.

-Jim

Hmmm,

I was at a mechanics lecture last month, and the lecturer filled a small tube with sand and held it in with tissue paper. He then inverted it, and put a piston in the top. Then he pressed it a bit, and nothing happened. Finally he stood on the piston, and the tissue paper held his weight! (actually the friction of the sand on the side of the tube did, and it [the friction] increases exponentially as you add more sand). So I reckon the cheapest way to plug a tube would be to use two tiny bits of card, with a lot of sand betwen them. The domonstration had the length of sand about 10x the diamemter of the tube, but you might be able to use less.

-Jim

I am in the process of reading the Rev.Ron Lancaster book from Kimbolton Fireworks. Bit of an expensive book at ?85 ! but a good read.

I read in there that in Mexico, they adorn a wheel barrow with a paper mache effigy of an animal, attach fountains, firecrackers and pin wheels, then light the lot and give control of the barrow to a small child to push thorough a crowd !

... and the British are going to ban sparklers in public places... how wet are we becoming as a nation ?

Hmmm, Tried the KMn04 and glycerine, and it is only marginally more exciting than using antifreeze, and still did not ignite the thermite.

I calculated the mass ratios of KMno4 to C3H5(OH)3 as close to 6:1 so used 6g KMnO4 to 1g Glycerine, into 43g of thermite mixture...nice sparks, but no thermite reaction. The residue of the KMnO4 and glycerine looked okay, in that it was neither wet from excess glycerine, or had any KMnO4....I scraped it off, and put 12g KMnO4 and put 2g of glycerine on that - bigger sparks, and flames, but again no thermite reaction.

I shall try some black match when my sulphur arrives, is this what is referred to as cocoa style BP?

-Jim