A question about torpedo

[reginaqingqing]

I want to know some basic knowledge about torpedoes. What are the characteriscs of torpedoes? I mean, not from the techinical point, but based on the everyday life experience. (I'm an English leaner)What's the differences of torpedoes and other fireworks? Thank you.

 

 

[Mumbles]

They're very simple things. Paper cups packed with a friction generating component, like gravel, and a friction sensitive explosive. Most of the compositions typically are deemed to dangerous to be used by conventional wisdom. No one really makes them anymore. There is a much smaller, more tame, version on the market today in parts of the world. They're called snap pops, or throw downs, or probably a variety of other things depending on brand.

[reginaqingqing]

They're very simple things. Paper cups packed with a friction generating component, like gravel, and a friction sensitive explosive. Most of the compositions typically are deemed to dangerous to be used by conventional wisdom. No one really makes them anymore. There is a much smaller, more tame, version on the market today in parts of the world. They're called snap pops, or throw downs, or probably a variety of other things depending on brand.

 

 

So when people play torpedoes, do they light the torpedoes or do they throw the torpedoes on the ground? When the torpedoes are played, do they look like glowing dandelion or people just want to hear the big sound it makes? If they look like glowing dandelion, are the glowing dandelion smaller than the glowing effect other fireworks make? Thank you.

Edited August 13, 2011 by reginaqingqing

[Mumbles]

No one really "plays" with them. They are thrown into the ground to initiate the effect. All they really do is make a loud noise, and typically throw gravel around, which can be fairly dangerous. I'd have to check, but I do believe torpedoes are illegal at least in the US.

[NightHawkInLight]

Yes, they are illegal in the US. Made so by the child protection act or some such in the 60's I believe. The pop pops that came around in the last year or two got through a loophole in the regulation that placed them into the novelty category. That loophole has since been closed making them illegal again.

 

Speaking of pop pops, I came across this video a few weeks back:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tduhGmZHQGQ

 

Possibly the most dangerous and irresponsible thing I've ever seen. I figure it's not something that will ever be attempted again anyway now that the fireworks cannot be bought any longer, so perhaps one bad idea has died out.

Edited August 13, 2011 by NightHawkInLight

[allrocketspsl]

one of the web sites maybe skylighter has a smooth rock painted with a compond and when dropped they are suppose to have a large explosion,been meaning to make on the list,lol!

 

http://www.skylighter.com/skylighter_info_pages/article.asp?Item=43#silver

[nater]

These were most likely torpedoes, I can't imagine keeping a bunch in your pockets while tap dancing, but they were far different times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlgAj_29Z7U

[Peret]

Anyone contemplating making impact crackers should at least read up a bit to understand how insanely dangerous these compounds are. Here's an inspector's report following a fatal accident at a small shop making toy caps.

 

Fatal Accident Report (pdf)

[OneEyeCharlie]

Here's an inspector's report following a fatal accident at a small shop making toy caps.

Quite the interesting read Peret. Thanks for the link. I think many people, myself included, viewed that particular point in time as a manufacturing free-for-all with little oversight or restrictions. That report shows that there was more oversight than I imagined; albeit horrifically lax by today's OSHA overkill standards.

 

The language itself, of the report, was highly entertaining. When is the last time you've read a modern inspection report that made use of the phrase "some blackguardly lads"? At times I felt I was reading a narrative transcribed by Mike Swisher.

[NightHawkInLight]

Here is a post I made regarding torpedoes last time the topic was brought up:

 

There are many compositions that could be used in a torpedo, including those with realgar. The requirements of a torpedo composition are to:

1-Be energetic enough to cause a bang in small amounts

2-Have the sensitivity to be initiated upon impact

3-Remain 'stable' in storage

 

1 & 2 are characteristics that would prevent just about any builder from using such a composition even in a firework that was to be ignited from a safe distance, yet the purpose of a torpedo is to be thrown from the hand. A lot of faith goes into imparting momentum from your hand into an object that is meant to explode upon impact.

 

The manufacture of such devices is even more dangerous than the use. All compositions for torpedoes use potassium chlorate in combination with other chemicals to form what are lovingly named by the pyro community as 'death mixes'. By making them you risk life, limb, property, and a very possible run in with the law. There is no way to handle such compositions that could ever be called safe. I cannot overemphasize the danger involved. You may be lucky enough to experiment with death mixes for years, but they are unpredictable, and will most certainly cause an accident in due time even with stringent safety measures.

 

Now having given fair warning I will list some compositions. Every one has incompatibilities between two or more chemicals that makes them dangerously sensitive. Here are several that have been used:

 

Potassium Chlorate - 12

Sulfur - 7

Antimony Trisulfide - 9

 

Potassium Chlorate - 4

Sulfur - 3

Antimony Trisulfide - 1

 

Potassium Chlorate - 16

Sulfur - 12

Antimony Trisulfide - 3

 

Railroad Torpedoes:

 

Potassium Chlorate - 16

Antimony Trisulfide - 12

Aluminum Dust - 1

 

Potassium Chlorate - 40%

Sulfur - 16

Sand (-60mesh) - 5

Binder - 5

Neutralizer - 2

 

The composition of the realgar torpedoes was likely something like this:

 

Potassium Chlorate - 63

Realgar - 37

 

I post this information to educate your curiosities, and hopefully scare you into pursuing real pyrotechnics rather than these obscenely dangerous and crude devices.

[Richtee]

These were most likely torpedoes, I can't imagine keeping a bunch in your pockets while tap dancing, but they were far different times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlgAj_29Z7U

OMG he was smoking a CIGARETTE!

Edited August 16, 2011 by Richtee