What should an amateur chemist/pyro get.

[h0lx]

OK I was cleaning my lab and I had an idea of making an article about what a starting chemist/pyro should consider getting. I shall make a series of videos on youtube too soon.

 

Here goes:

 

Scales. Every pyro and chemist should have them. You should get one accurate to at least 0.1g. Less accurate scales are only good for bigger amounts and a beginner should not do anything in amounts bigger than 100g.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4584/p7022021kw1.jpg

 

A notebook. Everyone should keep notes of their experiments, so you can later adjust/repeat the procedures. Like when you get some awesome results with some experimenting, you can later do it again. I am now switching to laptop, but a traditional paper notebooks works fine.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8831/p7032024ev8.jpg

 

Means of heating. A lot of experiments need heating, the electrical hotplate is the safest way to go because there is no open flame, but sometimes a lot more heat is needed(like for bending glass tubes) hence it is good to have a blowtorch, bunsen burner etc also. Alcohol lamps are good too, but are much cooler than gas based burners.

Alternatives: I will make a tutorial how to build your own alcohol lamp. I have modified a camp stove to act as a bunsen burner, the camp stove can also be used as is, but my version uses less gas while it gives hotter and thinner flame. If you are desperate you could use a candle, but they stain your labware with lampblack.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6823/p7022008ff8.jpg

 

Beakers. The most useful pieces of glassware. You probably are going to have most reactions in beakers. They are versatile, have good capacity, they are easy to stir in, easy to cool. You should get a few of these, 300-500 ml is the best size IMO.

Alternatives: Sometimes a jam jar can be used, if you need no heating. A good alternative is coffee press jugs, like this one: http://www.hormel.com/images/glossary/f/fr...coffeepress.jpg and remove all the metal etc. or get a replacement jug.

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/9894/p7022016sf6.jpg

 

Graduated cylinders. You need those for measuring liquids.

Alternatives: plastic kitchenware could be used, but always check if it doesen't react with/dissolve in the chemical, you are measuring. Also you can weigh the liquids.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5010/p7022018fh2.jpg

 

Flasks. Theres a lot different types of flasks. They are useful for carrying out reactions, building setups etc. From left to right:

Erlenmeyer flasks - the conical flasks are good for carrying out reactions, recievers on distillations, storing chemicals, mild heating, using on a magnetic stirrer etc.

Round flasks - good for heating, as it provides more unifor heating. Useful for simpler distilation setups.

Florrence flasks - good for storing chemicals, building water traps, etc.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4554/p7022010nh3.jpg

 

Rubber and glass stoppers. Useful for sealing flasks, buliding apparatus.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4406/p7022011hu7.jpg

 

Glass tubing. Used in lots of different apparatus. you should get straight long tubes, as they can be cut and bent to the right size and shape.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7586/p7022013ig5.jpg

 

Stands. Useful for supporting apparatus.

Alternatives: You can use lots of different stuff for supporting apparatus, improvised stands from sheet metal, vice with cushioning, anything. Just make sure, it keeps the apparatus still.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9674/p7032023ic6.jpg

 

Cooling baths. You can ofcourse chuck a bucket full of icewater, but an insulated icebath needs much less changing of ice. The insulation design credit goes to http://www.frogfot.com

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4792/p7022007uz7.jpg

 

Thermometers. Most reactions need their temperature watched. You should get glass thermometers. Ranges from -10°C - 100°C are OK in most cases. Laser thermometers are useful in some cases too.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7828/p7022020xt2.jpg

 

Storing containers. Obviously you need them for storing chemicals and mixtures. Be sure the container is compatible with the material you store in it. Plastic baggies, jars, bottles, vials, salad boxes, anything can be used aslong as they fit your needs.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3749/p7052040pr3.jpg

 

To be continued...

[fight fire with fire]

Thats a really good list h0lx, you would also need good containers for chemical storage.

[tentacles]

Lots of beautiful glassware there, what's the bill run for all that stuff? Where's a good place to buy, etc? I'd love to have some good lab equipment, but everything seems to be priced outrageously.

[h0lx]

Thanks for comments, I will put a "Where to get" on each item too. Bill run? Maybe 10€ for the cam stove and 1€ for the notebook. everything else was free, some glassware I snatched from my old school's chemistry class and the rest I asked from my current teacher.

[nickbob00]

I would like to start a hobby in pyrotechnics and i am unsure what chemicals to buy. Would you or someone else like to post a list of useful chemicals which are easily obtained(ebay, etailers) and comparativly safe, and also good, fun compositions. I am not sure if this is the place to ask this and i cant start a thread for some reason.

[asilentbob]

You need to first get a list of compositions you want to try out, then search for the chemicals required before you just start buying random chemicals that may or may not end up being used in the particular compositions that you are interested in.

 

http://www.xsorbit2.com/users/apcforum/ind...&num=1118087128

There are a ton of topics ^ there on the old board for you to read though and get an idea of what you are interested in doing. Then when you know around the kind of compositions you are wanting, search below for them and others like them and see what chemicals are present and in what amounts.

http://members.shaw.ca/gryphon223/

 

As a recommendation, start with smoke mix, then black powder, then make black match, then basic blackpowder based fountains and rockets and spinners, then move to making stars, starmines, and then small aerial shells. Its best to avoid chlorate compositions as a beginner and to avoid flash powders. Also perchlorates that are most commonly used in color compositions are very expensive right now, so i think it would be a good idea to just stick to potassium nitrate based compositions for the time being.

 

You have all the information now that you need to findout what you are interested in. Also use google and search for chemical incompatibilities and such. Search the rec.pyrotechnics newsgroup for compositions that you are interested in too. Be safe, etc. Try to use google and search extensively for what you are interested in before posting. Extensively as in looking through 5+ search result pages and looking at any links that look to be good. Or if they are all trash modify your search query and repeat.

[WarezWally]

Ditch the manual scales you have there, they are a bitch to work with (ive got a pair).

 

Get a set of digital scales, you wont regret it.

 

Beakers are a must!

[TheSidewinder]

I would personally recommend not using ANY glass apparatus in the Pyrotechnic end of this tutorial.

 

Straight Chemistry? Yes, they're a "must-have" for many experiments.

 

But in Pyrotechnics? No. There's really no need that I can think of.

 

M

[oskarchem]

Well their a huge use in HE... Unless you make your PETN in plastic cups

[Mumbles]

No discussion of that outside the HE section. You will find yourself the proud owner of a new warning. Anyway, who said anything at all about HE. There is a VERY big difference between pyrotechnics and high explosives.

[oskarchem]

True, Sorry about the HE discution...

[hst45]

Ditch the manual scales you have there, they are a bitch to work with (ive got a pair).

 

Get a set of digital scales, you wont regret it.

Sorry to disagree, but I guess I'm "old school', and I'm manual scale guy. I have a triple-beam, and an OLD (even older than me) balance scale with brass weights.

 

For chems., I'd start with Potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal. With these, plus some household basics such as sugar, cornstarch, etc, you can make fuse, smoke mix, fountains, rockets, stars, ariel shells, cremora fireballs, lift powder, etc. KNO3 is a pretty versatile, forgiving oxidizer, and is the least likely to get you into trouble. Don't try flash yet; it's tempting but it will bite you badly if you F-up.

[WarezWally]

Those ones with the sliding weights are good but the one you posted is annoying, merely bump it and it will start rocking which takes a few minutes to stop.

[h0lx]

Those ones with the sliding weights are good but the one you posted is annoying, merely bump it and it will start rocking which takes a few minutes to stop.

You don't need them to stop, you just see if it's balanced if it rocks equally both ways.. On a good balance like mine, I can tell a 10mg difference by looking at the rocking...

[Bonny]

I use a small digital scale. I need one with more capacity though, mine is maxed at 300g. I have a triple beam balance, but it drove me nuts waiting for it to stabilize. For measuring gunpowder in reloading bullets,the beam balance scales have a magnet or something that stabilizes it quickly. It works great and is very accurate(weighing in grains), but the capacity is VERY low.

[batman]

i have seen some nice digital scales with a reasonable capacity, they are sensitive to 0.1g to 3kg, i think they would do nicely.

[crazyboy25]

wow never seen a scale with that range! i believe i have the pro scale 600 luxe its an exellent digital scale accurate to 0.1g and a max capacity of 500 or 600 g plus i got in on ebay of 8 or 9 bucks.

[pudidotdk]

Keten sells a 2000g +/- 0.1 g for 195 zl (=78.7$)

[h0lx]

But in Pyrotechnics? No. There's really no need that I can think of.

That's only if you are one of the lucky yankees, who can buy everything from suppliers. Don't forget, that a lot of people have to make their own chems for pyro...

[TheSidewinder]

But in Pyrotechnics? No. There's really no need that I can think of.

That's only if you are one of the lucky yankees, who can buy everything from suppliers. Don't forget, that a lot of people have to make their own chems for pyro...

If you re-read my *entire* post, you'll see that I was talking specifically about the use of glass versus plastic containers in pyrotechnics applications. I think you misunderstood my meaning.

 

*MAKING* your raw chems in glass containers is one thing. The process is rarely explosive (since you're generally making only one product at a time) and usually safe. The normal cautions about proper lab safety equipment apply.

 

*MIXING* your resulting chemicals in glass containers is quite another thing. It's almost always explosive, and a hell of a lot less safe.

 

Since your post title includes "pyro", my caution is valid: Don't use glass containers with pyrotechnic compositions. Use a correct plastic of some type.

[Jokke]

Ah thanks for this, really useful

[h0lx]

Ah, sorry sidewinder, must have misunderstood you.

[flying fish]

As has been mentioned...it does make me slightly nervous with "pyrotechnics" and "glassware" being mentioned in close proximity to one another... (Although glassware could be useful in synthesis of hard-to-get pyro chems like Barium Nitrate).

 

A scale and the notebook are definitely universal to both topics though. "If you don't write it down, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!"

[Bonny]

A scale and the notebook are definitely universal to both topics though. "If you don't write it down, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!"

Add a video camera to that list...great to see what worked well and what didn't.

[GalFisk]

Videos are also great for frame by frame failure (or success) analysis. For instance, you can quite easily count how many of your stars actually ignited in a shell, or determine the burst height very exactly by measuring the sound delay.