TheEskimo Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 Huh. I felt immortal...until I got my hand ripped open by an errant coreburner. Happily to say, I learned my lesson, and I now use a good 8 second delay on ALL pyrotechnics. And the hand is A-OK, just a nice scar between thumb and pointer finger. And the parents weren't too miffed; insurance paid for most of it, and they, being reasonable beings, view it as a very pointed life-lesson that shouldn't hinder my further investigations into befouling the local atmoshphere with gases, and bursts of light.And this is a very important lesson with cops...always tell the truth. At the ER, they have a cop come in when there's a report of fireworks/explosion injury. The cop came in, talked with my parents and me. I said what happened...a test of a homemade rocket went awry. The cop was cool; it obviously wasn't any M-8* injury, we told the truth, and what I was doing was completely legal. So no lasting harm to my public image, nor to my body.There, I feel better. And please don't flame, even though this was a stupid mistake. I had been doing sugar smokes, and rcandy rockets for about a year, and BP rockets for 3 or 4 months, shooting off several each week. It was just a matter of me feeling immortal, and being obscenely dumb
Seymour Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 Hey, don't fear being flamed. It is good to be public about these things. So long as you learn from the accident it is good, and by posting it, perhaps other people might be more careful too. You are far from the only one to have had an accident. I myself have one related to too short fuses. Once I had a short section of fuse 'skip', and as a result I did not have enough time to clear my hand fare nough away from the pile of CuO/Al ( ), and I had some painful burns, as well as a rainbow hand from the condensed copper metal, and various copper compounds which had formed. I was lucky and the burns left no scars, but as I'm sure everyone can imagine, I use longer fuses now.
Swede Posted August 5, 2009 Posted August 5, 2009 I think anyone who has been messing with this stuff for more than a few years has some scars and stories. The trick is to keep the scars small and the stories as unexciting as possible. BP flash burns are unbelievably painful.
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted August 29, 2009 Posted August 29, 2009 When I first started, I made flash like every other K3wl out there, except I ground my own Mg off solid stock, so the particle size was rather large. I powdered stump remover and lit this with by hand! with one of those magnesium firestarters with the flint on top. I lit this time and time again with no harm as it just sparkled on and off. Thinking I was "invincible" I got a hold of some true powdered Mg and just mixed away. Thinking not much difference to be made, a struck away at a good 3g pile of Mg/KNO3 flash. I ended up roasting the flesh off of my first finger, and didnt see a doctor for 2 days. When I finally went, I got this silver based burn cream which worked wonders. I was blessed enough to suffer no lasting injury, although the new skin is really smooth now. Needless to say I decided to read up, and truly learn the possible danger of the hobby. What a great respect I gained for pyro, and what a fear for flash.
Ralph Posted August 29, 2009 Posted August 29, 2009 i have 2 kinda of allo plants it works great another nice thing is taking a zip lock bag adding some AN than add water don't know why but unlike ice it dosnt get to the point were the burning hurts it works really nicely haven't had to use it for ages though because i have a nice new lighter
TrueBluePyro Posted August 29, 2009 Posted August 29, 2009 you shouldnt use ice on burns I dont think, your meant to use running water i think, but yeah.
KruseMissile Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 just turned 16 on the 13th of this month. Oh yeah and i got school tommorrow
Swede Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 It's good to see young guys here, because you will learn the SAFE way to do it. I was definitely a kewl. WHen I was 12, my buddy and I used to make "bombs" by emptying the red powder from those small red plastic cup caps. We'd use needle-nosed pliers to crush the cap and dump the powder. About every 20th cap would go off in the pliers, with a gathering pile of powder right below it. We'd then wrap up the powder in paper and duct tape. Then, we'd coat it with clay to make a "Snidely Whiplash" round bomb that looked like something from the 1800's. It also waterproofed the bomb. They had a gut-punching power but were incredibly labor-intensive. The best one was when we put one in a HUGE pile of dog s***, ran away laughing about 40 yards, and when it went off, a huge chunk of the dog crap smacked my friend square in the face. We about died laughing. But sooooo freaking dangerous, and stupid. I don't know what the comp was in those caps, but I know it had some chlorate and some RP, at a minimum.
gordohigh Posted January 7, 2010 Posted January 7, 2010 (edited) Pyro55, just to let you know, I am also 58 and unfortunately I sure as heck feel it, haha. Good old class of 69, right? Edited January 7, 2010 by gordohigh
Updup Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 (edited) I want to say that I'm the youngest one here , I'm 13, and I'm a homeschooler, so what better way to study chemistry and science? It is annoying knowing you can't get a license until 18 is it? Because It would be very nice to know I'm legal. @Swede. I am proud to say that I haven't been a Kewl, the most I've done is make small 3/4"? Bp filled tape balls for the bang, but that's only because I was suffering from "not having lit anything recently syndrome". EDIT: How accommodating would something like PGI be to a 13 year old? Edited January 8, 2010 by Updup
dagabu Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 I want to say that I'm the youngest one here , I'm 13, and I'm a homeschooler, so what better way to study chemistry and science? It is annoying knowing you can't get a license until 18 is it? Because It would be very nice to know I'm legal. @Swede. I am proud to say that I haven't been a Kewl, the most I've done is make small 3/4"? Bp filled tape balls for the bang, but that's only because I was suffering from "not having lit anything recently syndrome". EDIT: How accommodating would something like PGI be to a 13 year old? Up, Bring Mom or Dad, you can be a JPA but can't be on the B-line, building areas, chem sales, c-sales or the rocket line without one of them. They need to be the primary and you are a family member. They have to be a parent or guardian, no older buddy or friend can sponsor you. I have a 14 and 13 year old that will be coming with my wife and I to PGI in 2010.
dagabu Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 It's good to see young guys here, because you will learn the SAFE way to do it. My Dad threw a bunch of stuff away from a rained out camping trip when I was 12. Of course I had to rummage through the junk and found four soggy boxes of strike anywhere matches. I stashed them away for another day and when dry, I cut all the heads off and ground them down to powder (STUPID!). I also found some 1/4" ID brake line (the heavy old stuff) and a pack of rusty set screws. I had shot about 100 set screws through the neighbors garage wall and into the side of his station wagon before anyone knew what I had been doing. This satisfied by pyro appetite for some years...
Mumbles Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 If you are hoping to get an ATF licence, you're going to be disappointed, as you need to be 21 to be the primary holder. Your parents or somebody could get one, and sign you on as an empoyee posessor at 18 though. PGI would be fine for minors, you would just need a parent to accompany you in the manufacturing area, several of the seminars, and vending(I think).
Bonny Posted January 8, 2010 Author Posted January 8, 2010 My Dad threw a bunch of stuff away from a rained out camping trip when I was 12. Of course I had to rummage through the junk and found four soggy boxes of strike anywhere matches. I stashed them away for another day and when dry, I cut all the heads off and ground them down to powder (STUPID!). I also found some 1/4" ID brake line (the heavy old stuff) and a pack of rusty set screws. I had shot about 100 set screws through the neighbors garage wall and into the side of his station wagon before anyone knew what I had been doing. This satisfied by pyro appetite for some years... That's hilarious. But I'm sure the neighbor didn't think so...
vladou Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 I'm 17 18 in march.. I play with pyro for at least 5 years.
Updup Posted January 9, 2010 Posted January 9, 2010 Oh I'm certently not expexting to get an ATF liecense at this age, oh no. And I'm glad to hear that I could in fact go into the building zones with a parent, and all the wonderful things I would learn from a place like that! I think thats going to be what I ask for when I turn 16 *Sigh* Three more years... My dad won't need a liecence to get into the class b zone and building zone right?
TrueBluePyro Posted January 9, 2010 Posted January 9, 2010 Im thinking of going to americra in my gap year (2012), so I would be over 18 by then, do you need an adult to be in the biulding areas at the PGI or do you need to be 21?
dagabu Posted January 9, 2010 Posted January 9, 2010 (edited) Oh I'm certently not expexting to get an ATF liecense at this age, oh no. And I'm glad to hear that I could in fact go into the building zones with a parent, and all the wonderful things I would learn from a place like that! I think thats going to be what I ask for when I turn 16 *Sigh* Three more years... My dad won't need a liecence to get into the class b zone and building zone right? "Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Within this level there is an additional option open to members of a household where the PGI Bulletin is already sent. A member would thus receive no PGI Bulletin but would still have all the other privileges of full membership." "Only PGI Members, or persons escorted by PGI Members, shall be permitted in any of the firing areas. Any persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. (All decisions on the classification of this material shall be left to the discretion of the B-line Shoot Boss). " -PGI Safety Guidelines 2010 Please see the application for details for age requirements-http://www.pgi.org/membership.aspx Edited January 9, 2010 by dagabu
Updup Posted January 10, 2010 Posted January 10, 2010 So what your saying is, my dad would have to become a PGI member ($50?), and then he could let me into the classes and building zone and such. Altough I don't want to make anything, I would like to take classes and watch other people make their devices. And it wouldn't hurt to shoot some stuff =P
dagabu Posted January 10, 2010 Posted January 10, 2010 So what your saying is, my dad would have to become a PGI member ($50?), and then he could let me into the classes and building zone and such. Altough I don't want to make anything, I would like to take classes and watch other people make their devices. And it wouldn't hurt to shoot some stuff =P Nope, $85.00 for him and $35.00 for you. The primary HAS to take the bulletin, mom can have the $35.00 membership without the bulletin too. Oh the HELL you say!! No building? You WILL be building something, don't make me drag your sorry butt down to the rocket tent to pound out some drivers Seriously, there are rocket building and 5" shell classes you can take as well as C-sales that you can have the rents buy for you and you can shoot. Bring mom, she can hang out with my wife and you and dad can hang with me and my two and go build a girandola and see how many APC guys we can take out in the stands!!
dagabu Posted January 10, 2010 Posted January 10, 2010 Im thinking of going to americra in my gap year (2012), so I would be over 18 by then, do you need an adult to be in the biulding areas at the PGI or do you need to be 21? I hope to meet you if you can make it up here and meet us yanks. I have a good friend in Canberra I have been promising to visit some day.
TheSidewinder Posted January 10, 2010 Posted January 10, 2010 Do those requirements (OR Federal laws) say anything at all about having to be a US citizen as well? Hopefully not, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did.
Updup Posted January 10, 2010 Posted January 10, 2010 Sounds great, don't expect to see me at the 2010, 11, or even 2012 PGI though, I'll hopfully make it some day, but when I'm a little older . I would build, but wouldn't I have to haul all my stuff down there? Or mabye I can borrow some of your stuff Eh *grin of mischif*? Also, Mabye by the time I come down to PGI I'll have my stupid AL .
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