What is the best fuse?

[sturmgewehr]

Here's a topic witch I don't know why isn't discussed much. The problem with visco is that it's ruined by the smallest moisture. Very little of the NC plasticizer(flammable) make it stop there. Also if you try to insert it by twisting and press a bit hard, it can also jam. Also the gases must be driven away, or else it burns like stopin. And it throws sparks everywhere.

For many applications it's great, no doubt and those who can buy it are lucky, but what is better? For example a rigid pipe with some composition? So far I warp my visco with a layer of paper, then aluminium foil, then duct tape as a cheap compromise. Has anyone had the idea, for example of magnesium ribbon, going trough a cylinder with oxidizer, like permanganate(unsafe) or perchlorate?

[mike_au]

I've never had any of those problems with visco. Mine will happily burn underwater, you have to be a little careful inserting it but it's not that big a deal, I don't know about driving away gasses but I've never had it go out. I guess it produces some sparks but pretty much all fuse will produce either sparks or hot gases, it is burning afterall.

 

It really depends how you define "better", timefuse and spolettes are better for shells but visco tends to be a pretty good all round fuse. That's probably why it is so popular.

 

I don't think that mag ribbon wrapped in oxidizer would offer significant (or really any) benefits over normal fuse.

Edited July 8, 2013 by mike_au

[flying fish]

What are you using your visco for? Decent visco shouldn't have any of those problems. I've left visco (even uncoated chinese 1/8") in very humid environments and still had it function consistently. Though I don't reccommend that...

 

For example a rigid pipe with some composition?

 

That sounds like a spolette to me ('cept a spolette is made of hard wound paper tubing).

[optimus]

Sounds like you're using crappy visco. The quality can vary wildly so I'd look for some higher quality visco before worrying about other types of fuse. There are things like Manitor/PIC that will stand up to more abuse/bad conditions than visco but for most purposes, visco will do the job just fine.

[sturmgewehr]

I'd like more then few seconds delay on 5g firecrackers, first the fuse is physically susceptible to bending for example, also I'm supprised that a drop of whatever liquid at the one end would render a whole section unburnable. That happens after it's thrown in the dirt. Commercial firecrackers have that resilient cast piece at the end, and when they begin to burn, the stuff won't fall off when you throw them. Melt KNO3/sugar would work great, but will absorb water. What is the best home made fuse mixture? Tell me your ideas and I'll make a video if I have the materials.

[FlaMtnBkr]

I still don't understand what you want to do. Even though most here don't condone making firecrackers, there is no reason visco won't work fine. There was a whole industry at one time that made high power crackers and used visco. I believe the military is still making 'similators' that use visco.

 

Are you talking about match crackers where one end is filled with composition that is struck like a match?

[sturmgewehr]

I'm seeking a solution for those who don't want to be dependent on visco, it's a commercial product after all and we can't be sure it'll be around. Also, home-made alternative to the next, better fuse. I doubt it's as simple as filling a thick walled tube with BP.

[mikeee]

Visco fuse will not be going away anytime soon. It is one of the most commonly used fuses and reasonably priced.

The better quality visco fuses have a waterproof coating on the exterior of the fuse.

For your application visco is your best choice.

[Mumbles]

... I doubt it's as simple as filling a thick walled tube with BP.

 

It can be. Look up spolettes.

[sturmgewehr]

Some of us have to buy roman candles, to take out the visco. They would often want a licence or something in the shop.

What compositions are good and water resistant for spolettes, perchlorates, nitrates?

[mikeee]

The visco they use in a roman candle is some of the cheapest stuff available.

When they ram the material into the roman candle it takes it tole on the fuse.

You might look at some of the home built visco machines and make your own visco fuse if it is hard to come by.

There are several websites that show details on making the machine.

Youtube has some video's if you want to see how it works.

You might also want to try making some black match which might work for you.

[psyco_1322]

Spolettes are made with black powder, nothing else.

 

Are you from Germany? Most places can easily get good visco. I don't see what the issue with some good visco is, you aren't supposed to throw it in the dirt and kick it around before you use it. There is also time fuse, it's pretty heavy duty fuse. American visco has enough NC on it, it probably wouldn't soak up water at all...it's enough the NC will burn off the outside of the fuse if you light it.

[Mike]

Judging by his name he`s german.

 

For spoletes just normal Bp is used.

 

Like some people allready said, visco will evenburn under watter for some time.

 

If you`re german,you should not have a problem, as you can buy visco.

[sturmgewehr]

When they make explosion experiment on science shows, they light some sort of a flexible tube, that smokes from the end and you can barely see where is the flame front. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that thing will beat the cr*p out of visco in terms of reliability. Yes the commercial visco kinda works but is no less boring then commercial fireworks...

[oldspark]

I kinda like my fuse boring, means its working.

[killforfood]

Sturmgewher,

 

I think Mikee pretty well covered it. Good quality Visco is inexpensive, readily available and is the best choice for your application. I don't see it going away anytime soon. That being said, I think there is great merit in creating quality products at home. Those who have designed and built Visco machines capable of producing a good quality fuse are without a doubt talented people.

Blackmatch is light years simpler to make and could be used in many applications but will never have the durability and consistancy of a good Visco. I'm not aware of a compelling reason to go in a different direction but would love to be proved wrong by one of our budding mad scientists.

 

KFF

[sturmgewehr]

After 40 minutes of utfse I came out with this:

Igniter cord in construction is similar to safety fuse, consisting of a pyrotechnic composition at the core, wrapped with a nylon sheath to provide shape and finally wrapped again in an outer plastic shell to provide water resistance. Normally, igniter cord also consists of a metal wire at the very center of the pyrotechnic core which also runs the entire length of the cord; the pyrotechnic composition will react with the metal wire (typically aluminum, iron or copper) to increase the energetics of the fuse.

What are the advantages of visco to this?

If you guys suggest me a compositions for this, I'll be glad to make one and report how it performs.

[oldspark]

sturmgewehr, the visco you describe sounds like low quality fuse not what I am familar with so no reason for me to look at other options, did you ever say where you bought the fuse you have, any good visco is water proof and will take a beating such as thrown on the ground.

[TheArchitect23]

After 40 minutes of utfse I came out with this:

Igniter cord in construction is similar to safety fuse, consisting of a pyrotechnic composition at the core, wrapped with a nylon sheath to provide shape and finally wrapped again in an outer plastic shell to provide water resistance. Normally, igniter cord also consists of a metal wire at the very center of the pyrotechnic core which also runs the entire length of the cord; the pyrotechnic composition will react with the metal wire (typically aluminum, iron or copper) to increase the energetics of the fuse.

 

 

That sounds like time fuse to me.

[Seymour]

Sounds like Plastic Igniter Cord to me. it's not the only plastic covered fuse with a metal wire core, but it's the most widely known as far as I am aware.

 

What benefits does Visco have over PIC?

 

It's generally a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

Other than that, the only real advantage that PIC has over visco is the fact that you can tie it like wire (it holds its shape due to the metal wire) and that it's so waterproof that as long as the ends are sealed you could leave it under water for a few months before you light it. Visco only last minutes or hours under water.

 

Basically for 99% of the time visco and PIC are both excellent and neither one outperforms the other. PIC is a bit more rugged and high quality, but it's not very common that the extra durability of PIC is required. I'd argue that it's almost never required.

 

PIC is better than Visco, but more expensive too. Good quality Visco is better than you need.

 

Thus I don't see any persuasive reason to use anything better than good quality visco.

[sturmgewehr]

Alright, what compositions can be used for this PIC? I'm skeptical with the metal wire because I can't be sure it will be inert with the pyrotechnic and I don't know a way to keep it in the center of the cord. Here's a big advantage-it doesn't ignite everything in it's patch, but just the stuff in the ends. Also the firecracker will looks so much more resilient and professional.

[leedrill]

 

there is no need for pic fuse in pyro use the main advantage of it is its ability to burn in water it will ignite anything it burns past the same as visco it usually has a blue'ish tinge to the flame not sure why but someone might be able to guess the comp by that fact i for one have tried to find out what is in it with no luck i am lead to believe it burns hotter than visco

 

http://www.pyrosociety.org.uk/forum/topic/1655-pic-fuse/

 

there is a thread on it in the uk forum if any of it helps you to decide to build a visco machine {if you want a fun project } or just buy visco i will say with honesty they are your best two options for an answer to [ what is the best fuse ] if there was something better out there i can assure you everyone would use it. but if your question is more regarding the fact you would like to make something better or improve on visco there is not much you can improve but no harm in thinking about

it could be a million dollar idea out there to come up with

 

and the wire is just a copper wire id say it would be inert with most chems copper is pretty stable but id love to see how pic fuse is made ive always assumed it is extruded some how but have no idea

Edited July 13, 2013 by leedrill

[oldspark]

Not sure the OP wants our opinion. Nothing wrong with good qualilty visco, is there a reason for reinventing the wheel?

[ollie1016]

I make my 3mm visco waterproof by coating it with NC and it works just fine. Or I just wrap 2" clear packing tape around it. In a spiral. Works great, medium duty , cheap , but not so good for the environment! I only really use it for attempting SFX. Eg got a depth charge burried a few feet underground, I would use my tape wound fuse for that. Visco forever!!!

[gasbag]

Sparklers underwater?

I've seen a number of clips of sparklers burning underwater, but what about a whole bundle of them wrapped together and sprayed with this sort of thing? Or perhaps sprayed individually first, then again after wrapped together?

e.g. http://www.getflexseal.com/