whitefox77 Posted December 2, 2007 Posted December 2, 2007 I tried searching, but couldn't find a post about this. If anyone knows where one is, can they point me to it? I want to make a small pyrotechnic device I can put into a pile of tinder and kindling that will pretty much guarantee a quick start (assuming you know how to make a proper pile of tinder and kindling). My first attempt consisted of a 1 1/2" x 3/4 x 1/16" paper tube with a fuse coming into the center of the tube through the tube wall. The "bottom" and "top" of the tube had thermite (Fe2O3 75%, Al 25%) in them, and the center (are right around the fuse) had about 3g of slow-burn-flash (KNO3 50%, Al 30%, S 20%) to light the thermite. The end plugs were glued in place, but I cut Xs into them with an exact-o knife to weaken them, then brushed a very light layer of NC-lacquer over them to keep the powder from coming out. My hope was that this would spew burning thermite out for around 6-8 inches from each end. Nope, instead it just exploded. This is why we stand WAY BACK, and use long fuses when experimenting even when we expect it not to go bang. Next time I think I'll wear safety glasses too... Does anyone have a less loud, and more effective, method of making something like this?
deadman Posted December 2, 2007 Posted December 2, 2007 I'm going to assume that your thermite was much too fine. Try something in the 60-100 mesh area and see if that calms down the explosion.
Bonny Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 Here is an emergency firestarter that works well.Melt some wax (candles, crayons, paraffin etc...) add sawdust and wood shavings, pour into a mould (egg crate or whatever ) with a candle wick sticking out. For some flame colour, you could try adding some copper salts or something.
DeAdFX Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 I believe there is a thread here on hypergolic mixtures ie pyrotechnic mixes that combust upon contact like KMnO4/glycerin or NH4NO3/Cl-/Zn/H2O.
ChainSmoker Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 Yes, try a small pile of Potassium Permanganate and a few drops of glycerine. It heats up slowly, but eventually it's hot enough to ignite thermite.
TheSidewinder Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 I think the underlying problem is you're asking how to swat flies with a sledgehammer. If it's actually a campfire you're trying to start, don't bother using a pyrotechnic device. Bonny has it right, and gave you a common formula for a damned good firestarter. I've used variants of it, made of dryer lint, pine tinder and wax. Your device looked ok until you said you lit it with slow flash. Use a thermic prime to do that. I don't have a formula off the top of my head, sorry. Firefox makes one that I bought a pound of, so I won't need any for a long time.
asilentbob Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 Here is an emergency firestarter that works well.Melt some wax (candles, crayons, paraffin etc...) add sawdust and wood shavings, pour into a mould (egg crate or whatever ) with a candle wick sticking out. For some flame colour, you could try adding some copper salts or something. When I was in boyscouts we did similar dipping rolled up and string tied newspaper in melted wax. They worked great. I should probably make some more. I recommend that you do something similar using wax and a another fuel that molten wax will "wick" into. Sometimes when I need to start a small fire I will take a piece of kleenex, paper towel, etc and wrap it around a small chunk of wax. You just light the paper... the paper alone burns for a little while, then the wax melts and wicks into the paper and it will burn for quite a while giving you a pretty good amount of time to position sticks around it to get a good fire going.
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