Demented Ferret

Haha, I'm from Cambridge too; this seems very tempting.

I'm fully aware of how Courser Al Thermite is harder to ignite. However, I didn't say anything about how course things are, did I? Aluminum + Red Iron Oxide is Thermite, it doesn't matter if you have two giant spheres of the chemicals and 'whack' them together, its still a Thermite reaction. Anyway, I was explaining it as a primer, not as 'the best possible aesthetic Thermite Reaction'.

In either case, you just level things:

BP
----------------------
Thermite w/ Fine AL
----------------------
Thermite w/ Course AL
-----------------------

Simple.

Infact - Here's 2 pics of Thermite set off with BP (bah, I wish I kept the ones actually showing the BP on top.):

http://www.atomic-to...DSCF0003646.JPG
http://www.atomic-to...ed/DSCF0002.JPG

(Before any comments, we had buckets of sand ready [even though pretty much everything was under control] and we owned the property, so no safety reports)

My BP sucks real hard but manages to set off even random-ratioed Thermite (within reason, not 99:1 or anything ). I'm 10000% certain and would be willing to FILM evidence of it if you don't believe me. The 'Thermite is invincible and needs extreme activation energy' is just a myth, trust me from one man to another on this.

White Smoke
Potassium chlorate......... 44
Sulfur flour............ 15
Zinc dust.......... 40
Sodium bicarbonate ..........1

Not a good idea from the start.