Whistle, for non rocket purpose.

[Pechovski]

Hi, i think im looking for some tips regarding making whistle mix for other purposes then rockets. The whistle will only be used for small whistle inserts and whistle spolette´s, most importantly im looking to replace my flash burst boost with whistle. I read a little discussion between fellow countrymen, and the statement seemed to be that a catalyst only needs to be added for adjusting sound pitch and thrust. I also read Danny´s catalyst tests, but im becoming a little clueless on the subject with making whistle for the more simple uses i stated above.

 

Im currently working with Na.benz and KClO4 without a catalyst, and if you read my comment... the Na.benz was kinda horrible to work with as it wanted to stick to everything after it was ballmilled. Im thinking on maybe switching to another fuel, k.benz? it seems to be more commonly used.

For the mixture i used baby oil and Naphtha, first i mixed it with the Na.benz to a smoothie and then the pot.perch was added. It became a really smooth play dough, but it was not dry enough to be pushed through a screen. I flattened it out and waited over night, then i could start granulating it and mix it in with some hot water under the mixing container. It became reasonably dry, enough to stay like a fine granule powder without caking to much. The thing is that it still stinks Naphtha since Saturday, i also tested to ignite a small pile of it just for fun. It ignites easily but doesn't "thump", the small granules was kinda lifting and flying away.

 

So, do i really need to do this to produce a whistle mix that is not intended to be used as a rocket propellant? As i said ill be using it mainly as a booster to my BP burst. But i also want a little sound for inserts and maybe some spolettes.

Would replacing my fuel for k.benz make the whole production less messy? And does the all the chemicals really need to be that fine so it becomes airfloat/talcum? I guess im looking for some "hated" but valuable shortcuts.

Dag stated he just mixed/blended his fuel in a blender, i also saw a old post where he just mixed the chemicals with some baby oil. Also if i got it correct, whistle used for coating hulls is just dry mixed?

 

I will be adding a catalyst (Fe2O3), im just experimenting a little on the ways i can go on to produce whistle intended for my needs. Any tips or insight would be helpful

 

//Pech

[dagabu]

Pech,

 

Yes, you will need to finely mill your Benzo, K or Na. to a talc fineness. I screen all my Benzo (what a pain) to make sure that it all passes a 60 mesh screen. It takes too long to get it to pass a 100 mesh screen.

 

Yes, I use a blender for both the Benzo and the Pot Perc BUT NOT IN THE SAME BLENDER! They were less then $5.00 each at the Goodwill store. The Benzo is milled with the catalyst as I cant get the mix to burn even with a torch.

 

I wet the Pot Perc with the Coleman camping gas and mineral oil and add the Benzo to the mix. Use a plastic bag to kneed it or screen it several times (YUCK!) to make it homogenous. I also make up my oil and camping gas mix ahead of time with a 10:90 parts mix so that I simply add 10 parts mix by weight for every 1 gram called for for oil.

 

I then screen it through a 10 mesh screen to dry some and push it through a 20 mesh screen for use.

 

I like Red Iron Oxide for the sound and Copper Oxychloride for the power.

 

Frankly, you make whistle for rockets and use it for whatever you want to use it for, I would never make a non-phlegmatized whistle just because I would likely end up using it in a rocket and blowing it up.

 

-dag

Edited June 1, 2011 by dagabu

[DeepOvertone]

I've had success with k-benz and perc. No catalyst, no phlegmatizing agent. I mill my K-benz and k-perc in a coffee mill (I use separate mills of course) and it works very well. I would use the diaper method to mix. If you want to use the wet method, try adding just a half percent of oil with the naptha. That way you aren't waiting ages for it to dry, and as an added bonus it wont be so dusty when you go to pressing it. Edited June 1, 2011 by DeepOvertone

[Mumbles]

I'd second the use of a catalyst. Iron oxide as suggested earlier would be my choice. Whistle inserts and spolettes are really for the sound, so you want something to help that. I usually made that as I needed it, but kept some whistle made with copper oxychloride bound with red gum around for use in breaking crossettes and boosting some shell breaks.

[guntoteninfadel]

Okay, explain to the village idiot. Whistle in spolettes makes noise? Any one have video or know of U-tube showing this? I just cant get my brain around how that looks/sounds. Thanks

[Mumbles]

There is a good writeup in the PGI bulletin and the Anthology, but I don't know if there is much info anywhere else.

 

Normally a small amount of BP is used on the flush end of the spolette, and the surface on the interior of the tube. This is to improve fire transfer, and prevent some other issues. The biggest thing is that the spolettes are put flush end in, IE you light the surface in the middle of the tube. You need the open area for the whistle sound. Below is a link to one in action.