h0lx Posted June 21, 2006 Posted June 21, 2006 I once was experimenting with mixtures and I discovered this nice fountain composition. It burns pretty fast and creates a high, short lasting spray of bright white flitter. And no flaming about the KMnO4 in the mix! I know it's dangerous, but without it the Al won't burn bright. --------------- Formula removed due to use of KMnO4 Unsafe mixture -Al93535 I make it with a coffe grinder, first throw in the sticks of C, then when all powdered enough, add sulfur and grind about 60 secs. Then I empty the grinder and grind the KNO3 until flour-like. then KMnO4 is powdered with a mortar and pestle, all ingredients are put in an airtight container and shaken. NEVER grind the mixture with KMnO4 inside!! OH and I will try to get pictures and/or video of it on weekend EDIT: Forgot to add: NEVER ram this composition, I only press with medium hand pressure and cast the nozzle from plaster.
Pyrohawk Posted June 21, 2006 Posted June 21, 2006 KClO4 can probably be substituted without changing the effect if anyone is looking for a safer alternative.
Mephistos Minion Posted June 21, 2006 Posted June 21, 2006 Probbably could, but for those of us who have not any KClO4 its not a bad com really. I have about 2 kilos of KMnO4 that I havn't used, so this will give me something better to make with it than flash.
h0lx Posted June 21, 2006 Author Posted June 21, 2006 BTW Make 1 batch for 1 fountain, the large mesh Al tends to float on the top of the powders. I have had 2 of 3 fountains lose it's effect due to the Al going all in one.
DeAdFX Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 I have made a mixture similar to this. I used Ammonium nitrate isntead of KMnO4 and 8 mesh Aluminum instead of 4 mesh variant. Surprisingly the pyrotechnic mixture burned nicly (no left over Aluminum). Unfortunatly this was a few years ago when I thought pyrotechnics was throw a bunch of shit into a pot and hope it burns.
mormanman Posted April 21, 2007 Posted April 21, 2007 What no way no one should ever ever never ever in a billion years no matter what should use KMnO4 NO DON'T USE KMnO4 TAKE IT UP WITH MUBLES AND READ Flash powder isn't inherently bad. However in the wrong hands, such as those of the inexperience, it becomes bad. It is quite dangerous to make and handle. Even I don't like making if I can avoid it. It of course has it's uses and such. None of these uses apply to newbies, as the devices are unneccesarily complicated. Flash powder is the main reason that there is trouble with the hobby. When someone hears you make fireworks, they automatically assume booms and bangs. I hope you realise that there is far more to the hobby. Accidents with flash are not neccesarily the most common, but they are often the most damaging and most publicised. It's rare to have a true accident with flash and walk away with sight, hearing, 10 fingers and no scars. Now onto why the forum doesn't like it. Newbies get started in flash WAYYYYY to early. To me flash has it's place in pyro, but on it's own it's not pyro. Ground salutes are very much frowned upon. They are just stupid, and cause undue attention to the person making them. Yeah they're loud, so what? That's all they are. You are many times more likely to be near a ground salute if it were to accidentally go off as well, making them by default more dangerous. Not to mention the higher shrapnel hazard. Another reason the forum discourages flash for newbies is because they always try to reinvent the wheel. Standard flash is 70-30 Perchlorate-Blackhead Aluminum. There are other mixes for specialized purposes, but 70-30 is the standard and used in most cases. Perchlorates and blackhead aluminum are not the easiest things to get. Newbies then experiment with other materials. In the process of experimenting they ask a hundred and one stupid questions about it, starting a new thread for every one. Being new to the hobby they want something simple. Flash and salutes are simple, but dangerous as well as very illegal. No one got into this hobby over night. It takes patience and lots of reading. Probably the number one thing that pisses me off is permanganate flash. No matter what anyone says it's dangerous, unstable, and IMO should not be made under any circumstances. 10 experienced members will all come by calmly and explain this to the person asking about it. Explain that it's probably not worth the risk, and that even though easy to obtain, it is about the last oxidiser than anyone would want to work with. Then comes some fucktard boomer maker that says KMnO4 flash is easy to make and fun. He's made hundreds of big salutes and never had an accident, so obviously it has to be safe, blah blah blah. This ruins the whole point. If someone wanted to try something they'll more often than not look for advise supporting what they want to do, rather than those points of view against it. If someone is using flash in a safe manner, I have no problem with it being discussed. However, when it's being used in an unsafe/destructive manner is when I get mad. 9 out of 10 bans result from flash powder related inquiries. Please, before asking about flash, search the forums. There are several topics on it, and will help to explain things well. Threads like "how do I make flash powder" will be locked and possibly result in a banning. People who continually ask stupid questions, are the ones not ready for the hobby. 1
mormanman Posted April 26, 2007 Posted April 26, 2007 Oh well I mean that I'm probobly never ever going to touch KMnO4 and I still wouldn't advise it to anyone but I'm just saying people have told me never to touch it so I (personly) won't. But thats just me. Anyway go have fun and be safe. I don't know what flame means so I'm gonna go look that up.
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