T1st Posted August 13 Posted August 13 Hi, There is a very difficult challenge i am facing. (If you don't like reading my boring story just skip to the end for the actual question, sorry for making it way too long ) For the past two years, I have been trying to find a way to make homemade fuese, not any crappy unreliable sugar or quick match fuses that are shown in youtube, i aim to find a fuse that is: 1- Reliable (doesn't randomly stop burning). 2- easy to make in large quantities (I mean for personal use and not commercially large). 3- Somewhat flexible. 4- Can be stored for a long time without failing. If you think thats why it is a challenge, wait until you see the limitations i have, First of all, I can't buy any type of commercial fuses such as visco, it is just not available where i live and can't be imported. Second thing is, there are a lot of chemicals that are not available, here is a list of chemicals that are banned or very hard to get: 1- All types of chlorates. 2- All types of nitrates except potassium nitrate. The chemicals that are available with me are KNO3, Magnalium, charcoal (multiple types), red iron oxide, cupric oxide, bismuth trioxide, aluminum powder (dark pyro), NC lacquers and chlorinated rubber paints, dextrin. I know its not a lot, but that's what is available and i just can't let go of this hobby, with those chemicals i was able to make rockets, kno3 based flash powders that are powerful and somewhat safe, smoke compositions (white only), flares, fountains, crackle microstars, aerial shells, roman candles, and much more. I just wasn't able to find a good fuse yet, the best fuses i made so far were just cotton yarn soaked in a mixture of bp and some magnalium mixed with Chlorinated rubber lacquer and acetone and sometimes coated with pva glue to give it more flexibility, but it still sometimes stop burning especially when i throw it on the ground. Here are some fuses that i tried: 1- Black match fuse with dextrin. 2- Black match fuse with NC lacquer and acetone. 3- bp + magnalium and NC lacquer (multiple ratios). 4- hand rolled paper fuse. 5- epoxy resing + kno3 (failed miserably). 6- Sugar + kno3. 7- sorbitol + kno3. 8- bp inside of a thin straw. 9- bp wrapped in nylon wrap. 10- Visco fuse machine that i made from instructions i found online, didn't work very well and it was a pain to work with. 11- magnalium and kno3 with NC lacquer. There are some more things i tried but the list is getting a bit too long. So my question is: Do you know a method or a Composition to make a reliable fuse at home other than the stuff that are all over youtube? or do you know a book or a source that i can learn more from? Sorry for making this too long, i rarely use forums. I would appreciate any kind of help :), thanks!
Richtee Posted August 13 Posted August 13 I’ll give you credit for a semi-consise first post. I just buy the shit mostly.
Richtee Posted August 13 Posted August 13 OK..fine. There are thousands of things in pyro that are fancy, spell-binding and spectacular. and they ALL depend on fuse in one form or another. And it’s commendable you recognize this. But fuse is like... a doctor only doing hangnail surgeries. Yes. it’s needed. But just buy it. Unless you have that particular passion.
Zumber Posted August 13 Posted August 13 (edited) Dont you have sulphur? If you can made good bp you can make good fuse. fuse stops burning if it is damaged mechanically or absorbs moisture/fall of of powder. If you solve these issues you can make more reliable fuse. Edited August 13 by Zumber
SKC Posted August 13 Posted August 13 17 hours ago, T1st said: Hi, There is a very difficult challenge i am facing. (If you don't like reading my boring story just skip to the end for the actual question, sorry for making it way too long ) For the past two years, I have been trying to find a way to make homemade fuese, not any crappy unreliable sugar or quick match fuses that are shown in youtube, i aim to find a fuse that is: 1- Reliable (doesn't randomly stop burning). 2- easy to make in large quantities (I mean for personal use and not commercially large). 3- Somewhat flexible. 4- Can be stored for a long time without failing. If you think thats why it is a challenge, wait until you see the limitations i have, First of all, I can't buy any type of commercial fuses such as visco, it is just not available where i live and can't be imported. Second thing is, there are a lot of chemicals that are not available, here is a list of chemicals that are banned or very hard to get: 1- All types of chlorates. 2- All types of nitrates except potassium nitrate. The chemicals that are available with me are KNO3, Magnalium, charcoal (multiple types), red iron oxide, cupric oxide, bismuth trioxide, aluminum powder (dark pyro), NC lacquers and chlorinated rubber paints, dextrin. I know its not a lot, but that's what is available and i just can't let go of this hobby, with those chemicals i was able to make rockets, kno3 based flash powders that are powerful and somewhat safe, smoke compositions (white only), flares, fountains, crackle microstars, aerial shells, roman candles, and much more. I just wasn't able to find a good fuse yet, the best fuses i made so far were just cotton yarn soaked in a mixture of bp and some magnalium mixed with Chlorinated rubber lacquer and acetone and sometimes coated with pva glue to give it more flexibility, but it still sometimes stop burning especially when i throw it on the ground. Here are some fuses that i tried: 1- Black match fuse with dextrin. 2- Black match fuse with NC lacquer and acetone. 3- bp + magnalium and NC lacquer (multiple ratios). 4- hand rolled paper fuse. 5- epoxy resing + kno3 (failed miserably). 6- Sugar + kno3. 7- sorbitol + kno3. 8- bp inside of a thin straw. 9- bp wrapped in nylon wrap. 10- Visco fuse machine that i made from instructions i found online, didn't work very well and it was a pain to work with. 11- magnalium and kno3 with NC lacquer. There are some more things i tried but the list is getting a bit too long. So my question is: Do you know a method or a Composition to make a reliable fuse at home other than the stuff that are all over youtube? or do you know a book or a source that i can learn more from? Sorry for making this too long, i rarely use forums. I would appreciate any kind of help :), thanks! Seems you are from India,so do I. I have had the same problem earlier but some how overcame. You have tried a lot of things but give this a try. Your all effort in fireworks making goes in vein if the fuse ditches you. I faced a lot of awkward situation just for the fuses. With this method your home made fuse will last at least one year if stored properly. JUST ADD ANOTHER OXIDISER No hangkyPanky, No complex method of fuse making. First anticipate two coming Sunny days for complete and full drying. Get some jute threads which grocers use for packet wrapping(You know what I mean-the Sutli). You decide the thickness as it will enlarge after soaking the composition. Preapare the composition early morning. Potassium Nitrate-3parts Barium Nitrate-1part Airfloat Charcoal-1part Sulfur-1part Dextrin-1part Cut the Sutli thread in 5-6inches length or managable lenghth of your choice. Soak them, rub them with composition properly for an 100% absorption. Dry them under full Sun for two days. You'll never be disapointed with fuse again. There are numbers of methods for fuse making but this is my method I am fine with it.
Almostparadise Posted August 13 Posted August 13 You can take that and turn it into time fuse. Take a 6-in piece roll it in three or four wraps of tissue paper glue it with Elmer's Glue. Take some butcher's twine and wrap that round and around very tight and put a thin layer of glue over it. Then another few wraps of tissue paper and wrap it with a string again with a thin layer of glue over the surface. If you wrapped it nice and tight and it will always give you a consistent burn rate approximately 3 seconds per inch. You can use it for shells, it works great.
T1st Posted August 13 Author Posted August 13 Thanks for everyone who took the time to read my post and responded, I would like to remind you that i don't have any kind of nitrate salts other than potassium nitrate, (It's not that i just don't have it, it's not available.) Also I can't buy any type of fuse locally or online. I did manage to make a good quality black match fuse with consistent burn, the problem is when it breaks, sometimes powder flakes off at the break point and the fuse stops burning, i had this issue a lot especially when i throw the firework on the ground, that's why i said i need something that is somewhat flexible. I will try rolling fuse with tissue and glue, thanks for the suggestion, only problem is it seems to be too much work for very little fuse, but i'll give it a try anyway! I'm currently working on making another design for a simple visco fuse machine, if it works then all my problems are solved, and if works very well i will share the plans and files for it in the future. Thanks!
Almostparadise Posted August 14 Posted August 14 2 hours ago, T1st said: Thanks for everyone who took the time to read my post and responded, I would like to remind you that i don't have any kind of nitrate salts other than potassium nitrate, (It's not that i just don't have it, it's not available.) Also I can't buy any type of fuse locally or online. I did manage to make a good quality black match fuse with consistent burn, the problem is when it breaks, sometimes powder flakes off at the break point and the fuse stops burning, i had this issue a lot especially when i throw the firework on the ground, that's why i said i need something that is somewhat flexible. I will try rolling fuse with tissue and glue, thanks for the suggestion, only problem is it seems to be too much work for very little fuse, but i'll give it a try anyway! I'm currently working on making another design for a simple visco fuse machine, if it works then all my problems are solved, and if works very well i will share the plans and files for it in the future. Thanks! Time fuse is for your shells mainly. Wrap it tight so no air can get in so it does not turn into quick match.
Zumber Posted August 14 Posted August 14 8 hours ago, SKC said: Seems you are from India,so do I. I have had the same problem earlier but some how overcame. You have tried a lot of things but give this a try. Your all effort in fireworks making goes in vein if the fuse ditches you. I faced a lot of awkward situation just for the fuses. With this method your home made fuse will last at least one year if stored properly. JUST ADD ANOTHER OXIDISER No hangkyPanky, No complex method of fuse making. First anticipate two coming Sunny days for complete and full drying. Get some jute threads which grocers use for packet wrapping(You know what I mean-the Sutli). You decide the thickness as it will enlarge after soaking the composition. Preapare the composition early morning. Potassium Nitrate-3parts Barium Nitrate-1part Airfloat Charcoal-1part Sulfur-1part Dextrin-1part Cut the Sutli thread in 5-6inches length or managable lenghth of your choice. Soak them, rub them with composition properly for an 100% absorption. Dry them under full Sun for two days. You'll never be disapointed with fuse again. There are numbers of methods for fuse making but this is my method I am fine with it. what barium nitrate is for?
Zumber Posted August 14 Posted August 14 (edited) 5 hours ago, T1st said: Thanks for everyone who took the time to read my post and responded, I would like to remind you that i don't have any kind of nitrate salts other than potassium nitrate, (It's not that i just don't have it, it's not available.) Also I can't buy any type of fuse locally or online. I did manage to make a good quality black match fuse with consistent burn, the problem is when it breaks, sometimes powder flakes off at the break point and the fuse stops burning, i had this issue a lot especially when i throw the firework on the ground, that's why i said i need something that is somewhat flexible. I will try rolling fuse with tissue and glue, thanks for the suggestion, only problem is it seems to be too much work for very little fuse, but i'll give it a try anyway! I'm currently working on making another design for a simple visco fuse machine, if it works then all my problems are solved, and if works very well i will share the plans and files for it in the future. Thanks! why do you throw firework on ground? Its not wise, It may create chance to burst in your hand or people walking near around. Just light it on ground and run away. anyways if fuse breaks and powder falls it may stop, this is common problem arises with fuse binder (dextrin). try out 2.5 gram of Gum arabic per 100 gram of Black powder (75/15/10) as a binder. so for 1000 gram of bp take 25 gram gum arabic and dissolve it in 100 gm hot water by stirring it continuously. Then add Black powder in water and make running consistency paste like honey just adjust its consistency and make black match out of it. I assure you match made with gum arabic is very stiff and reliable and powder dont fall off. IMP NOTE- Gum arabic tends to set at bottom of slurry quickly, so you have to stirr paste continuously while making match otherwise you may not get reliable match. gum arabic is only used for black powder as a binder. solution of gum arabic in water becomes acidic by time and hence it is not used for Colour star and with other formulations. Edited August 14 by Zumber
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