I know this is probably a stupid question but what is the best way to powder aluminum? I was gonna try to use a ghetto pestle-and-mortar on some foil, will this work? I also have access to some sheet aluminum. I dont need very much.

buy it powdered.

where?

Google is the great provider, ask it next time.

Yeah, it can work, fucking google it.

People don't post accounts of their experiments on the internet for them to get no attention.

its kind of hard getting a fine powder by smashing it in a M&P. i dont do pyro myself, but when craft a lot of items from aluminium. i use a file and ive got quite a lot of powdered aluminium

If you can't say some thing nice don't say anything at all. Fuck that.

People have shown plenty of niceness if you ask me. You should have been around when asking a question like that instigated an all out flame party.

In all seriousness, the questions about powdering aluminium have been asked and answered quite a lot, and even just the totse archives contain all the information six times over I'd venture to guess.

People have shown plenty of niceness if you ask me. You should have been around when asking a question like that instigated an all out flame party.

In all seriousness, the questions about powdering aluminium have been asked and answered quite a lot, and even just the totse archives contain all the information six times over I'd venture to guess.

I think I remember just the end of that era. Good times *wipes a tear away from my eye*

Google is the great provider, ask it next time.

Eh, he's just asking for a recommended reliable/recommended source.

And like it sais in the welcome text: if he shows us one of the methods he finds out on the net, we'll gladly comment on its effectiveness and necessary safety precautions ...

People have shown plenty of niceness if you ask me. You should have been around when asking a question like that instigated an all out flame party.

In all seriousness, the questions about powdering aluminium have been asked and answered quite a lot, and even just the totse archives contain all the information six times over I'd venture to guess.

I remember those days, and I wish they were back. Back when I was doing experiments with hydrazine I slipped up and made the stupid mistake of asking where to get xylene. I got smeared into the wall similar to a victim of Grendel.

You took my post out of the context I meant it to be in and I realize that it was a foolish mistake on my part. I meant that I was going to refrain from being an asshole, which happens a lot and is rather hypocritical because I was young and stupid at one point. I like to keep the flame of hatred against idiots wanting to be spoon fed lit just like the days back then, when I was that idiot.

Buy powdered aluminium from an art shop or newsagent.

Yeah I would say buy it powdered if you can, that will save you some time and work..

I remember reading an article on how to make thermite somewhere, bombshock or totse I can't remember. It explained a method. You will need a bench grinder, a big zip-lock bag, and some aluminum cans. Hold the bag under the bench grinder where the sparks come out out, better yet maybe tape it so you can have both of your hands free, grind aluminum cans and catch the powder.

I don't think the sparks would melt through the bag..

If using the above stated method, make sure you use grinding wheels designed for aluminum. If you don't the wheel will eventually clog, overheat, then explode. I'll tell you now so you don't have to find out; getting hit with a grinding wheel explosion is about like getting shot with a bulletproof vest. It'll knock you down. Wear a face shield.

I remember reading an article on how to make thermite somewhere, bombshock or totse I can't remember. It explained a method. You will need a bench grinder, a big zip-lock bag, and some aluminum cans. Hold the bag under the bench grinder where the sparks come out out, better yet maybe tape it so you can have both of your hands free, grind aluminum cans and catch the powder.


nah they wont melt the bag. though im not sure if there are impurities in the cans.

and when you use a grinder, wouldnt the Al grindings oxidise a bit too much?

Tear up a bunch of aluminum foil into the smallest size pieces you feel like dealing with and chuck the whole mess in a ball mill with some steel media. Wait about a week. Screen the product if you want to separate out the various grades of particle size you'll invariably wind up with. A good portion of it will be more than fine enough for flash powder.

This method may not be cost competitive with buying the stuff outright in the long run, but at least your name won't get put on any terrorist watchlists for it and it's reasonably foolproof.

Tear up a bunch of aluminum foil into the smallest size pieces you feel like dealing with and chuck the whole mess in a ball mill with some steel media. Wait about a week. Screen the product if you want to separate out the various grades of particle size you'll invariably wind up with. A good portion of it will be more than fine enough for flash powder.

This method may not be cost competitive with buying the stuff outright in the long run, but at least your name won't get put on any terrorist watchlists for it and it's reasonably foolproof.

Sadly enough, there is no such thing as "foolproof" on TOTSE anymore.

nah they wont melt the bag. though im not sure if there are impurities in the cans.

and when you use a grinder, wouldnt the Al grindings oxidise a bit too much?

Woo wee.... I'm really not sure man, when you say oxidize "too much" in my mind im thinking the aluminum would get too hot making it useless for its intent. I'm not very knowledgeable into the whole chemistry of reactions, im just a pyro.

If not, Fate's method sounds a bit more reliable.

Metallic aluminium exposed to the atmosphere oxidizes, period! It can be freezing cold or hotter than hell, there's just no way around that, the manner of grinding makes little difference.

Metallic aluminium exposed to the atmosphere oxidizes, period! It can be freezing cold or hotter than hell, there's just no way around that, the manner of grinding makes little difference.

The reason it doesn't matter though, is because the oxide layer is very very thin, even compared to the powder mesh.


I saw a grinder somewhere that had a wheel wrapped in sandpaper attached to a somewhat low-speed motor. A block of the target material rested on top (pressed in by weight) and the bottom of the wheel dipped into a tank of water. The idea was that you could turn it on and come back a few hours later and have a decent supply of powder. It worked, but I don't remember how well.

http://members.shaw.ca/justin.le/grinder/grinder.html

Ive seen a device like that before.

Anyone know if I can just use an old rock tumbler, I have like 3 of them up in my attic and it would be cheaper.

This may sound stupid but isn't aluminum foil actually made of tin?

i haven't been able to find any aluminum powder mesh neither... i just moved on to playing with magnesium. it works good in fireworks. i also found this don't know if any of it is true

1) Go to a machine shop. They will usually give you aluminum powder for sweeping the floor or something.
2) Break open an Etch-A-Sketch, the stuff inside is pure aluminum powder.
3) Go to a paint store, they usually have powdered aluminum that people use to mix into paints to give it pigment.
4) Get a grinder, and something made of aluminum. Good ideas are soda cans, bike frames, and lacrosse sticks. Start grinding the aluminum and collect the sparks in a container.
5) Search eBay, they sell it for pretty cheap.

1) Go to a machine shop. They will usually give you aluminum powder for sweeping the floor or something.
2) Break open an Etch-A-Sketch, the stuff inside is pure aluminum powder.
3) Go to a paint store, they usually have powdered aluminum that people use to mix into paints to give it pigment.
4) Get a grinder, and something made of aluminum. Good ideas are soda cans, bike frames, and lacrosse sticks. Start grinding the aluminum and collect the sparks in a container.
5) Search eBay, they sell it for pretty cheap.

This may sound stupid but isn't aluminum foil actually made of tin?

Tin foil does exist however aluminium foil is often referred to (wrongly) as tin foil.
Al foil often does contain a significant amount of chromium, because people like shiny things ... yeah, shiny :)