DOH! Didn't see the BB forum.. heh

please don't be scared off by my wall o text.. plz

Alright, so after reading some stickied topics, and other topics in BB, I have
deduced the general BB populus is not a bunch of morons, and could actually be
helpful, and not just flame me.
So here's the deal:

I am homeschooled. There are good points, and bad, but i wont get into that right
now. An incredibly awesome point, is that I have convinced my parents to let me
attempt to make flash powder, as a "school project" they will fund it, as long as I
do everything in an orderly manner, and have some kind of presentable portfolio at
the end.

I decided that some kind of KNO3 mixture would be best, because I can start making
KNO3 and Sugar smoke things, as well as expiriment with fuses etc.
I know there are several different mixtures, but I decided, again, to go with
something that uses KNO3 because I can use it for other things as well. Now most
guides that use KNO3 say to use KNO3 and Sulpher and Aluminium powder. Acording to
this (http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/ka_fucking_boom/hardwarestoref171760.html) guide, I can use just KNO3 and Al, 60/40 by weight, like .6 grams Al, .4 grams KNO3.
I know the KNO3 is an oxidizer, which is why it is often used in tree stump remover,
as it would speed up decomposition, and Al is the fuel, Sulpher is used to help light
it, correct? So would I be able to do without the Sulpher in my mixture? That guide
is listed as a reliable source in one of the stickys.

So for the school project part, I am video taping all efforts, and will make some
kind of video showing how I made it, the results, etc. I am also documenting
everything in a notebook (casing making methods, the results and how I made/detonated each device, etc)

I was planning on using these supplies:

Scale (http://cgi.ebay.com/Fast-Weigh-TS-500-Digital-Pocket-Scale-500-x-0-1g_W0QQitemZ220231736427QQihZ012QQcategoryZ34088QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem)

KNO3 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Potassium-Nitrate-Powder-1LB-Can-KNO3-Tech-Fine-Powder_W0QQitemZ150167269893QQihZ005QQcategoryZ256 7QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem)

Al (http://cgi.ebay.com/1-lb-Aluminum-Powder-3-4-4000-mesh-Super-Fine_W0QQitemZ280227825140QQihZ018QQcategoryZ10423 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

would these work?

Once the KNO3 arrives, I would start by experimenting with different fuses, KNO3
dissolved in water, soak paper and string in water, let dry, test, see if there is a
difference between paper and string, do the same with KNO3 and sugar disolved in
water, and KNO3 and sugar with a bit of water to make a paste. And with the KNO3 and
sugar mixtures, test wrapping them in foil and "baking" them with a flame until a
puff of smoke comes from one end, to bond the sugar and KNO3 (no idea if that works,
or does anything, saw it in a youtube video) then try different ratios of KNO3 and
Sugar, 1/1, 70/40, etc

Once I'm satisfied with Fuse tests, I will move on to smoke things, with the KNO3 and
Sugar in a pan. I'm not totally familiar with this, as I haven't researched that very
much at this point. I think you add somewhere around a 1/1 ratio of sugar and KNO3
with water, and heat it, untill it becomes , paste, keep stirring until I get waxy
liquid like stuff, which would be when the sugar caramelizes, then pour into some
container, let it dry, then light, and it burns very hotly, no? Again, experiment
with different ratios and methods, add the weakest and best to my video, once I'm
satisfied with the smoke, move onto Flash powder itself (I may need more KNO3 at this
point, I have no idea how much im going to go through, I hope 1lb will last me a while)

As for the flash itself, I would first try the 60/40, if that's what you guys suggest, unconfined, in a very small amount, and record it of course. Then try changing it slightly, maybe 70/40, or 60/50 etc, see the results, unless that is some terrible mistake that will cost me fingers, which is why I'm asking you guys to help me out ;) Once I got a nice mixture down, I will probably start experimenting with different casings, or little fire crackers.

As for what kind of casings, I actually developed something VERY similar to the method described in the "Hardware Store Flash Powder" (http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/ka_fucking_boom/hardwarestoref171760.html) tutorial, I took a 3x5 notecard, cut in in half lengthwise, and wrapped it around a thich pen tightly, then took the 2nd half and wrapped it around the first, and taped it shut very tightly, this made some nice sized little casings. To plug up the ends, I wadded up some paper, and shoved it down the tube with the pen, smooshing it flat, then put some Gorilla Glue on the outside end. The Gorilla Glue expanded, and filled up quite nicely, then I put some hot glue on the inside of the tube to cover the paper on the inside. I broke out some old model rocket engines, cut them open, and took the powder (everything, not just the BP, unfortunately) after packing the powder in tightly, I added a layer of aluminum foil on top of it. Then I took part of a sparkler as a fuse, and wrapped the middle in aluminum foil, and left both ends uncovered, I poked one end through the aluminum foil into the powder, then put hot glue on top the of the foil (it didn't hurt the fuse, because it was covered by the foil wrapping I gave it) then put wadded paper on top of the glue before it dried. Once the hot glue dried I added some Gorilla Glue on the outside to seal everything up. The fuse was poking out of the top.
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7950/testcracker1nm5.jpg
Unfortunatley when I tried this cracker today, it didn't work so well. I suspect the fuse left too big of a hole and the gas just escaped out of that. Here is a .zip with 3 videos in it, test 1 is the test described in this paragraph. The .zip is only 3.3mb. (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1KVJY46G) Here is a mirror if you don't like megaupload. (http://upload2.net/page/download/cUb0XJfTf605aiJ/Tests.zip.html) You can see the 2nd camera, that was supposed to get a nice view, but malfunctioned and decided not to write to the SD card :/

I took the rest of my powder, and made the same thing, but on a much larger scale, with a film canister. First filling the bottom part with hot glue, then tin foil, then powder, then tin foil, sticking in my fuse, then lots of hot glue keeping the cap on, then glue around the seam of the lid, then covered it in masking tape. Unfortunatley, it took longer for the glue to dry on the top, because it wasn't open to the air, the lid was on top, and I didn't check the see if it was all the way dry, I just came back after 30 min. In the video you can see the lid shoot off and all my powder fly into the air. Here is a .zip with 3 videos in it, test 2 is the test described in this paragraph. The .zip is only 3.3mb. (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1KVJY46G) Here is a mirror if you don't like megaupload. (http://upload2.net/page/download/cUb0XJfTf605aiJ/Tests.zip.html)
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3595/test2crackerhz3.jpg (pre-masking tape of course)

I did get a LITTLE bit of powder back from the 2nd one, it was unburnt in the bottom of the casing, I decided to make a triangle cracker (http://www.instructables.com/id/Triangle-Firecracker/) with it. This actually worked the best of all 3, lol. The video test 3 has the triangle. my plan was to light it, throw it, then pick up the camera and record the result, but the fuse was shorter than expected, and it blew up in the air, so you don't get a very good view (I left the camera recording while I lit it) It made a nice pop that you can barely hear in the video, and shot the sparkler fuse into a nearby bush. you can hear my weird laugh, as I was happy something finally worked, instead of fizzling out. Here is a .zip with 3 videos in it, test 3 is the test described in this paragraph. The .zip is only 3.3mb. (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1KVJY46G) Here is a mirror if you don't like megaupload. (http://upload2.net/page/download/cUb0XJfTf605aiJ/Tests.zip.html)

So if you actually read my wall-o-text, I congratulate you! If not, you can skip the last three paragraphs, and just read the rest, and give me suggestions/tips etc.

Thanks!

PS: Please disregard previous forum posts from this account, they were made by a friend who hijacked this old account because he couldn't register for a new one. I came back to use it today and saw all these posts, I was like "wtf?"

PSS: Just thought I'd mention I am interested in a safe, stable mixture, I like my hands with all fingers intact thanks. When I tested even those small things in the video, I was wearing safety glasses and hearing protection. This is fun, but losing your hearing, and getting chunks of homemade firecrackers in you eye is not.

As your question is reasonably valid and non-illegal I'm moving it to Backyard Ballistics instead of just smacking you.

Please read the forum description next time, though.

The Al doesn't say if it is spherical or flake. I'm gonna guess spherical = not great for flash.

The best flash I have personally used (KNO3 based anyway) is KNO3/MgAl (an alloy of Mg and Al 50/50).

I used a 50/50 ratio and it worked decent with approx 200 mesh MgAl (Don't have good screens, all passed through 120 mesh though)

If you are in the US then get KClO4, much better for flash. Unfortuntely I'm down under, so none for me unless I make it myself (I'm pretty fucking lazy though, so yeah)

While the Ka-Fucking-boom section does have a scant few alright things... most of it is crap... and most of the pyros in BB would love to see it removed though it will never happen.

With flash having very small particle sizes is very important. If you can ball mill the potassium nitrate to a much finer consistency before making the flash, it should help a bit. Though flash is generally not what someone should start out with.

Detonation isn't happening.

If your looking for a reliable mix for small noise makers granulated BP will work. Not as well as flash. But it is much safer. Having a small ball mill to mill BP in would be good. Then you can make black match and quickmatch for fuse and possibly progress to more complex things like aerial shells.

For learning more about fireworks and pyrotechnics reading archived threads at the old APC forum is a pretty good source of info. It can be a bit overwhelming though since there is sooooo much info.
http://www.xsorbit2.com/users/apcforum/index.cgi?board=newbie&action=display&num=1118087128

Note that that ^ forum isn't actively used by APC members anymore, its just there as an archive of the old one, we have all moved over to:
http://www.apcforum.net/

It tends to be very much pure pyrotechnics and discussion of flash is somewhat taboo.

But really flash is so simple that it practically doesn't need to be discussed. Yet its dangers are great.

KNO3 flash can be a bitch though ...

As long as you remember not to grind the powder, you should be fine.

I would make a kno3/sulfur/aluminum flash.

Kno3-5
Sulfur-3
Aluminum-2

Works great for burst in my shells.

I would make a kno3/sulfur/aluminum flash.

Kno3-5
Sulfur-3
Aluminum-2

Works great for burst in my shells.

I made this with mortar and pestled KNO3 and 300 mesh Al with a unknown flour like sulfur mesh, It unfortunately only burnt very bright and very hot with no ''whoomp'' occurring like my usual flash.

SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ALL FORGETTING HOWEVER IS YOU MUST ADD BORIC ACID TO ANY METAL + NITRATE MIXES!.

Unless of course you like playing Russian roulette.

Aluminum and nitrate yes... but there are exceptions to the rule. I just can't remember what they are... :/

once aluminum/nitrate flash autoignited on me, and burned ontop of a glass plate, and shotgunned my room with little glass squares
add boric acid

If i was standing infront of it, I would probobly get cut up pretty bad. It was like a claymore mine or some shit.

I second the KNO3/MgAl. Both my powders were about 500 mesh. 2g lifted a binder weighing about 2 pounds or so about 3 feet off a stump. How is everyone?

A couple things to note
-If your going to use the nitrate/aluminum your gonna need the sulfur to help it ignite
-Make sure your using flake aluminum not spherical or atomized
-I would suggest 50/50 kno3/mg it is the best nitrate based flash powder I have tried.
-If you can get kclo4 aka potassium perchlorate you can make a much better flash powder using aluminum powder and it is considered the standard of flash powder.

I made 50/50 flash, with aluminum and KNO3. However, I milled the KNO3 myself, and it is pretty good consistency, its pretty volatile now :D. The aluminum, however, I bought off the internet, and it is 4000 mesh, or 1.3um. It said on the package, and it does seem ridiculously fine. I looked at it under a microscope at 600x and couldn't tell particles apart.
Either way, 50/50 worked better for me than 60/40, so I'll stick with that.
Also, how do you guys mix your flash? I know many people use the diaper method, but when I just started out with it, I shook the ingredients in a plastic bag. My fingers are all still there, although just today, I almost burned my face off with flash when lighting it...
Also I know that people don't generally store flash, as it is sensitive, and becomes moreso overtime. Any idea why? Is it just the Al oxidizing over time?


EDIT: How do I get rid of the "new arrival" thing? I've been here for a while..

Taking into consideration that I'm still labeled a regular, I'd figure it won't be going anywhere fast.

I made 50/50 flash, with aluminum and KNO3. However, I milled the KNO3 myself, and it is pretty good consistency, its pretty volatile now :D. The aluminum, however, I bought off the internet, and it is 4000 mesh, or 1.3um. It said on the package, and it does seem ridiculously fine. I looked at it under a microscope at 600x and couldn't tell particles apart.
Either way, 50/50 worked better for me than 60/40, so I'll stick with that.
Also, how do you guys mix your flash? I know many people use the diaper method, but when I just started out with it, I shook the ingredients in a plastic bag. My fingers are all still there, although just today, I almost burned my face off with flash when lighting it...
Also I know that people don't generally store flash, as it is sensitive, and becomes moreso overtime. Any idea why? Is it just the Al oxidizing over time?


EDIT: How do I get rid of the "new arrival" thing? I've been here for a while..

Probably has to do with post count.

***

I've always liked KNO3+Mg 50/50. Good, bright, strong, etc. Just hard to do in large quantities (unless you ENJOY filing down an Mg bar by hand!). Or unless you build a metal-grinding machine...

I made 50/50 flash, with aluminum and KNO3. However, I milled the KNO3 myself, and it is pretty good consistency, its pretty volatile now :D. The aluminum, however, I bought off the internet, and it is 4000 mesh, or 1.3um. It said on the package, and it does seem ridiculously fine. I looked at it under a microscope at 600x and couldn't tell particles apart.
Either way, 50/50 worked better for me than 60/40, so I'll stick with that.
Also, how do you guys mix your flash? I know many people use the diaper method, but when I just started out with it, I shook the ingredients in a plastic bag. My fingers are all still there, although just today, I almost burned my face off with flash when lighting it...
Also I know that people don't generally store flash, as it is sensitive, and becomes moreso overtime. Any idea why? Is it just the Al oxidizing over time?


EDIT: How do I get rid of the "new arrival" thing? I've been here for a while..

Probably has to do with post count.

***

I've always liked KNO3+Mg 50/50. Good, bright, strong, etc. Just hard to do in large quantities (unless you ENJOY filing down an Mg bar by hand!). Or unless you build a metal-grinding machine...

Can anyone elaborate on this boric acid stuff? I figured I'd try either flash powder or BP first, but I don't want to lose any fingers... how much, when, and how do I add the boric acid? Or is there another way to prevent bad things from happening, without having to find yet more chemicals this shithole town doesn't have? :p

A mixture of metallic fueal and nitrates is prone to autoignition, boric acid prevents this.
Add about 1% after the composition has been mixed, a cheap and simple added bit of safety

Thanks a lot. :) 1% as in 1 part in 100 of the final mixture?