Twotails Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Flash cord I was just wondering, Think of BM, The possability of making a flash coated string like that, to be used as an effect, or an almost-instant ignition type fuse. I did try it with standard 70/30, like BM only with one layer, and used NC to bind it to the string. It spudders, and lights unevenly(but in areas that an even coat was applied, it lit all at once, no outer sleave to direct flame,ect) I was thinking two coates on cotten string would be needed, maby a third. or a tube of some kind(maby 6mm kraft tube) filled with this mixture and allowed to dry would function similer. Or assembiling multipule strands of flash cord and inserting it into a paper or plastic tubeing like QM(paper would be better for apparent reasons). I would like some input, or ideas from people on this. Now you couldent use this like normal fuse, but maby for chaining ground effect, waterfalls, or similer together it would add an added effect. Just a thought.....
Richtee Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Flash cord I was just wondering, Think of BM, The possability of making a flash coated string like that, to be used as an effect, or an almost-instant ignition type fuse. I did try it with standard 70/30, like BM only with one layer, and used NC to bind it to the string. It spudders, and lights unevenly(but in areas that an even coat was applied, it lit all at once, no outer sleave to direct flame,ect) I was thinking two coates on cotten string would be needed, maby a third. or a tube of some kind(maby 6mm kraft tube) filled with this mixture and allowed to dry would function similer. Or assembiling multipule strands of flash cord and inserting it into a paper or plastic tubeing like QM(paper would be better for apparent reasons). I would like some input, or ideas from people on this. Now you couldent use this like normal fuse, but maby for chaining ground effect, waterfalls, or similer together it would add an added effect. Just a thought.....I thought this was addressed in an eariler post/topic. All you will ever get from a bound flash comp ia a sparkler/star. And it won't be fast. All I have ever got anyway.
Twotails Posted November 9, 2009 Author Posted November 9, 2009 Maby its becouse im useing 3 micron AL, but it does seem to work (in the areas that are fully coverd with mix)
Mumbles Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 It actually is a result of the inferior way you make black match. The string can actually quickmatch from the inside, especially with the shell of composition you are creating with the fast evaporating solvent. Properly incorporated, this will not burn much faster than black match. It's been used as a replacement for thermolite. Dan Williams did a write up on it. The mix is a slightly cooled flash powder. There is also a good write up by Tony Petro in Best of AFN 5 on page 128. http://www.fogoforum.us/thermalite.php To get it to burn quickly, try dusting the surface of the flash soaked string with BP. In the article by Tony Petro, he clearly states this is required for nitrate based flashes.
Twotails Posted November 10, 2009 Author Posted November 10, 2009 Hmm, I like that artical, Seems like it will accomplish what im aiming for. I'll give that a go(i dont have every chemical listed, so, i'll have to try to do without it, or make a substitution) Thanks for the input, I'll have to order the chems needed that i dont have sometime.
dagabu Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Hmm, I like that artical, Seems like it will accomplish what im aiming for. I'll give that a go(i dont have every chemical listed, so, i'll have to try to do without it, or make a substitution) Thanks for the input, I'll have to order the chems needed that i dont have sometime. Funny, that's how I make sparklers, Al, pot perc, water and dextrin, dip a bamboo skewer into it and let it dry. Lots of sparks! D
tentacles Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 At Mason City, there was a movie-type effect called "thunder and lightning" or somesuch, it was a long length (or many lengths connected) of hose filled with flash powder. Pretty neat.
al93535 Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 Flash cord, or perhaps more correctly flash string.... Its a common effect in the industry, cotton string that has been nitrated. fun stuff
BadDroid Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 I'm just wondering, what would be the point in flash string/cord, even if it does behave like quickmatch?Quickmatch would be superior for many reasons, eg: the paper tubing prevents it from taking fire early, black powder is a much more stable composition, and i'm just guessing on this one, but i think that a flash cord would not pass fire very well. Not to mention the fact that black powder is cheaper than flash. The nitrate impregnated string is cool, i've never made any/gotten my paws on it, only watched videos, but i'd imagine it could be a pretty cheap and quick alternative to quick visco if consistency is not necessary. I understand it's mostly used by magicians.
Ventsi Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 This thread is about FLASH COATED STRING, not flash string[NC]. I personally think it could be pretty cool effect , or maybe[as Tentacles said] using some flash inside a tube, I think that with some spherical Ti, and hot flash the effect would look pretty kick-ass in the dark. And flash string is WAY too expensive and burns too cool to have any pyro use outside of indoor stuff.
Twotails Posted November 14, 2009 Author Posted November 14, 2009 My origanal though would use this in lancework. As the lance burns down, it lights the cord on fire, these cords could be made into a desine(as part of a finaly) much like that of a spiderweb, or somthing simmiler. It might be doable with three coats, although i have noticed that if it bends sharply (90 degrees or more) the coating splits, and the fire seems to skip, or delay. my cure for this is to apply a small amount of slovent before bending, or painting another coat of the liquid flash comp onto the bend. it works best if not bent more than 45 degrees without wetting it. it can set off numorus cords if placed direcly in contact of the lit cord. I'll be doing a timed test for this cord(with flash applied 2 times, and again with three coats) I'll also test its sutability for setting off Visco. It'll give me somthing to do.
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