Hello,

I need some help on making flash powder what checmicles would i need for a beginner.Also what would be the steps in making it. Or if you dont feel like helping me at least send me a link.

Dude, do you have something agenced question marks or what? Anyway, the best way, IMO, is the bag method(put the two chems in the bag and shake it). Use the standard 7/3 mix (KCLO4/600mesh al) for best results.

United nulcear dosen't have info on that subject nomore so I'll go from my own memory.

Weight out the amount of aluminium powder and potassium perchlorate, the ratio should be 7 grams of potassium perchlorate per 3 grams of aluminium, A scale, tiple beam balance is a must for every pyro or chemist.

Dump the aluminium powder into a plastic zip lock bag.

Spary static guard in the bag.

Dump in 7 grams of potassium perchlorate. Zip the bag.

Now mix well.

When finished the flash is ready to be used.

Note for best effects you need a high mesh aluminium powder like around 600mesh german dark.

Hey I was looking around, and they say you can use a 2 to 1 ratio... like 2 cups of potassium perchlorate and 1 cup of aluminum powder. Is this true or what ??

I am also a begginer at the whole pyro gig, so I could be wrong, but im just telling you what I read.

And when mixing Aluminum powder and Potassium perchlorate, can you use a plastic bowl and a plastic spoon?

Okay, if you're a beginner, don't make flash.....

But anyway, when something is ratios, it is by WEIGHT (pounds, grams, whatnot), not VOLUME unless specifically stated. (cups, tablespoons, etc).

If I were you, I'd start with something easy and less dangerous; black powder. Flash is sensitive, dangerous, and powerful - screw up with flash means bad shit happens, screw up with BP and less severe, but still bad, things happen.

Yea but I read that the flash mixture of aluminum powder and potassium perchlorate are the least sensative micture to use in making flash powder. Is this ture?

Perchlorate and Al is the safest and most powerful flash that can be easily made.

K thanks for the re-assurance.

Just bought myself a 5x4' board and a 3 1/2' long dowel for making/stiring the chemicals.

Oh yea, when making the actual M-80's (using flash powder), should you use epoxy glue or hot glue to glue the end caps on?? Which one works the best in your opinion?

quote:Originally posted by And1Drew:

Hey I was looking around, and they say you can use a 2 to 1 ratio... like 2 cups of potassium perchlorate and 1 cup of aluminum powder. Is this true or what ??

I am also a begginer at the whole pyro gig, so I could be wrong, but im just telling you what I read.

And when mixing Aluminum powder and Potassium perchlorate, can you use a plastic bowl and a plastic spoon?

By most peoples prefrences, don't really use Customary units while making anything related to pyrotechnics. It is easier to use the metric system because you don't need to have all the silly conversion stuff.

You can basically mix Flash with anything that has a 0% chance of sparking, friction, or electrical shock. I mean 0% chance.

quote:Originally posted by And1Drew:

K thanks for the re-assurance.

Oh yea, when making the actual M-80's (using flash powder), should you use epoxy glue or hot glue to glue the end caps on?? Which one works the best in your opinion?



You are still way too inexperienced to be making any kind of salutes. Start off making smoke bombs, and learn some general chemistry first before you even try mixing ANY chemicals together.

Yea I totally get where you are coming from there... but what is so hard about making M-80's.... well mainly Flash Powder ??

I mean all you do is take 7 grams of potassium perchlorate, and 3 grams aluminum powder and then mix them together in a static/flame free enviorment.

Then once your done mixing it (by shaking it up in a bag coated with static gaurd) or (by putting it in a plastic bowl and using a 3 1/2' dowl to stir it) all you have to do is take the flash powder and pour it inot the tube with one end cap already sealed and a 1/8" hole already drilled in the middle of tube with a fuse in it.

I mean is that really all that hard to do?

You can go ahead and do it, but im just agianst people making explosives or even simple fireworks without having (or wanting) any knowledge of chemistry. Thats the definition of a "kewl" for most people.

What kind of stuff do I need to know then... I have been reading up on diffrent kinds of stuff for the past week or two, before buying anyhting.

And before my chemicals and tubes etc. gets here, I will try to read up even more on diffrent kinds of chemistry stuff.

But what should I really be doing to get "ready" to start making explosives/fireworks... which I eventually want to make (the fireworks that is).

You can go ahead and make the M-80s, since you seem to want to be careful, and not just want to make them to blow mail boxes up or sell them to stupid people just for money.

Just learn the basics of chemistry, like what chemicals are poisonous, what chemicals are unstable whem mixed, and what chemicals give off dangerous fumes. Everyone (not just me) here wants all pyros to be safe, and know that mixing potassium chlorate (KClO3) sulfer, and sand is a very bad idea, and that breatheing fumes given off by some reactions can be deadly.

Basically, what you want to do is find and read all the information you can on what you want to do. The more information you have, not only about the composition you are making, but about lab safety and standards as well, the less likely something will go wrong and harm you.

That's about the best thing I can say, is just read and learn as much as possible.

And use your head, too. That thing can be useful sometimes. ;-)

Yea your right about the saftey and info thing.

So far I bought a 5x4 foot board to use as a "blast Sheild" and a 4 foot long dowl to use as a mixer. And I am going to buy some static guard tommaro... so if all goes according to plan, I should be fine, but ya never know.

And yea, I have read up on the certain chemicals I am using now for the flash powder. Before i start the BP I will read up on that too, but for now im more concerned with just making flash powder. Because when I start the BP, I am going to try to make bottle rockets and motors with stars .

But im gonna take it one step at a time lol.

dont you all love these threads where ya feel good and learn, its so flame free... ahhhhh....

quote:Originally posted by met_B_A_N_S:

By most peoples prefrences, don't really use Customary units while making anything related to pyrotechnics.

Except all the pyro suppliers... pff.

how safe/powerful is pot permanganate and aluminum powder

i was also wandering on flash powder as i cant get hold og potassium perchlorate i heard that sulfur and zink could be used to meke a good flash is this true?

i dont know about permangenate + aluminium as i havent made it but i think its relatively safe.

Don't even get into sulfur based compositions if you haven't made the much more safe perchlorate/aluminum composition.

Also And1Dew you are acting WAY too lax toward flash powder, 'yeah all i gotta do is mix the shit togethar and put it in a tube with hot glue.' Do not underestimate ANY explosive. If your fingers get blown off just remember you will never ever ever feel them again. Imagine if you couldn't type on the keyboard or wack off!

quote:Originally posted by 6C:

Imagine if you couldn't... wack off!

Horrors!

quote:Originally posted by And1Drew:

Hey I was looking around, and they say you can use a 2 to 1 ratio... like 2 cups of potassium perchlorate and 1 cup of aluminum powder. Is this true or what ??

I am also a begginer at the whole pyro gig, so I could be wrong, but im just telling you what I read.

And when mixing Aluminum powder and Potassium perchlorate, can you use a plastic bowl and a plastic spoon?

No Dude, you don't want to do that. Aluminum and Potassium perchlorate have different masses. The 2:1 ratio will work, but keep in mind that ALL pyrotechnic mixtures are mixed according to weight unless otherwise noted.

A cup is a unit of volume, ounces and grams are units of weight. Also, you should check multiple sources before attempting a recipe. Someone could have made a mistake at your expense.

It might seem like I am "lax" about it, but im not... I have spent alot of time researching this procedure and have bought all the neccassary saftey supplies and equipment.

But hopefully nothing will happen when im doing all this. I got a giant piece of wood and a 4 foot long dowl to stir it, along with static guard.

quote:But hopefully nothing will happen when im doing all this. I got a giant piece of wood and a 4 foot long dowl to stir it, along with static guard I personally think that method is much more unsafe than using the plastic bag method. Wouldn't you think that stirring powder with a wooden rod is going to cause some friction?

I do...You could use all the static gaurd in the world, but it ain't gonna stop friction from occuring.

Just my 2 cents though, good luck.

quote:Originally posted by sofkow:

I personally think that method is much more unsafe than using the plastic bag method. Wouldn't you think that stirring powder with a wooden rod is going to cause some friction?

I do...You could use all the static gaurd in the world, but it ain't gonna stop friction from occuring.

Just my 2 cents though, good luck.[/B]

Unless the dowel is one fire while you mix the chemicals together, mixing 7/3 flash powder with a wooden dowel will not ignite it, from friction or from static. Other compositions may ignite, but as long as it is the standard 7/3 there should be not problems. Like you said, all the static guard in the world will not stop friction from occuring, so if there is the possibility of it, why not be as far away as possible?

occuring, so as long as there is the

Yea, if It's gonna ignite, I wan to be as far away as possible, and to be behind something big and thick to shield me.

Will stiring the flash powder mixture with a wooden dowl really make it prematurely ignite ?

I mean, as long as I do it gentley and take my time doing it, won't it be just fine ?

Honestly, what are the chances that it will explode on me if I am extremly carefull and take all the neccassary precautions ?

I put mine in a tupperware container, close it, spray it with static guard, put on heavy ass leather gloves and shake it very, very gently back and forth. Not up and down. It is very easy to mix. The chemicals mix quickly.

And1Drew had better not be Andrew Hastings, but likely not. I'm very suspicious....

Sry nope, im new to totse, a admin can check my IP as well ... meaning it wont match up to this guys, whoever he is.

quote:Originally posted by And1Drew:

Will stiring the flash powder mixture with a wooden dowl really make it prematurely ignite ?

I mean, as long as I do it gentley and take my time doing it, won't it be just fine ?

Honestly, what are the chances that it will explode on me if I am extremly carefull and take all the neccassary precautions ?

Just do it.. as long as you're careful and not a moron, which you seem like you're not, you'll be fine. Unless there's some freak accident, but that's just a risk you have to deal with.

Yea I know, hopefully it wont rain fire on the day I am going to mix the chems up.

I just got my scale yesturday, and tommaro I should be getting most of the chems and fuse. Then thursday the tubes

By Saturday, everything should be in my posetion, and the mixing should procede, i'll let you all know if I survive