My whistle mix won't whistle

[pyrocyp]

It's my first time making whistle mix, but I cannot get it to whistle. I think the main reason it doesn't whistle is because I am just pressing it with my hand because I don't have a press, but I am also worried that even if I buy one it still won't whistle because my sodium benzoate is not particularly fine (my KClO4 is airfloat).

 

Take a look at these pictures,although they are hard to see with the plain eye when I zoom the camera you can see some white lumps these are the benzoate which despite grinding with a coffee grinder (I can't afford a ball mill) won't get small enough.

http://oi62.tinypic.com/25gz1wo.jpg

http://oi57.tinypic.com/2pttoo5.jpg
http://oi58.tinypic.com/2e3wg42.jpg

 

Now what I am considering is that I do not want to go buy a press if I am not sure that my mix will work. Do you think the particle size of the benzoate make so much difference? I do not want it to be perfect just to whistle.

Edited April 21, 2014 by pyrocyp

[mabuse00]

I'm pretty sure the coarse benzoate is to blame.

 

 

I think the main reason it doesn't whistle is because I am just pressing it with my hand because I don't have a press

In my experience it should whistle anyway.

Try a very small diameter tube, like 6mm to get better compression an leave a cavity at least 20-30mm long.

 

 

I can't afford a ball mill

Not more expensive than a press

 

Anyway, as I reported here

http://www.amateurpyro.com/forums/topic/9400-first-try-with-salicylate-fuel/

milling your own salicylate - and i think that will apply for benzoates too - is a pita.

 

Depending on where you live, just buy airfloat stuff whereever you got the perchlorate from.

Edited April 21, 2014 by mabuse00

[nater]

Presses are mandatory for whistles as well. You can get away pressing tiny whistles with body wright, but a press is safer and will produce better results. A 1 ton arbor press from harbor frieght is effective for 1/2" and smaller devices.

 

As was said by mabuse00, particle size is important too. I have better results using a coffee grinder for my potassium / sodium benzoates and sodium salicylate. After grinding them, pass the mix through the finest mesh screen you have. A 40 mesh would he a good start.

 

Please do not cut corners because of cost. If you cannot afford the tools to work with whistle safely , stick with more forgiving BP comps. Your limbs and skin will thank you.

[FlaMtnBkr]

Whistle is about as powerful as flash so you need to be very careful.

 

It is the benzoate almost definitely. If it isn't fine enough it won't whistle well if at all. I have had a lot of headaches with whistle and trying to get the fuel fine enough. I will only buy air milled stuff now because it works well and saves a lot of frustration trying to get it fine enough to work.