Okay for starters this is my first post in backyard ballistics so keep that in mind while your reading my post.

I want to try my hand at making thermite but I have some questions.
The main question is what would be a good source of aluminum to powder.
Also I'm open to tips and other suggestions.

Well, first of all, congratulations on a decent first post!

If it's for thermite, you don't need very fine Al powder, grey paint darkener will do nicely, you can ball mill it a bit to break it up/make it a weee bit finer.

As for suggestions, be sure to check out the sticky welcome thread and the informational links.
Always wear eye protection when mixing compoents/using devices, a bandana would also be a wise thing to put over your hair if you're going to be playing around with thermite.

Where can I obtain grey paint darkener ? Is it as easy as hardware stores or would I have to go to a specialist store.

Aluminum powder in 5 steps-

1.Cut Aluminum foil into 1 inch squares
2.Place in blender with salt
3.Pulse blend for X amount of time
4.Pour in water so salt dissolves
5.Filter off aluminum

These are not my ideas and are found at E&W

Chances are if you go to some company that machines aluminum among other metals and ask for chips, flakes, etc they will give them to you...

hurm ceramics stores are gold mines for metal powders

I to have a question and dont want to make a new thread how can i safly store a blasting cap for a couple of months and thanks in advance

In a BATFE approved magazine.

You'll have to be more specific than "a" blasting cap.

Organic peroxides don't store well, I'll tell you that much.

Organic peroxides don't store well, I'll tell you that much.

this.

if you dont have a secure location to store said blasting cap then dont keep it. ever seen that link in informational links or w/e?(the sticky up top, last page i quoted it)

Vanadium FTW!

we have a fairly large population of artists here in ********* as well as a glass working studio that covers a city block.


VERY many supply places that NEVER ask questions

this.

if you dont have a secure location to store said blasting cap then dont keep it. ever seen that link in informational links or w/e?(the sticky up top, last page i quoted it)

well fellas I dont really know to much about it it was givin to me by a friend of a friend etc etc the markings on it are dangerous blasting cap wrote down the side of said cap it has organgish looking material on the inside where the fuse goes in thats all I can tell you about it and if I decide to dispose of said cap what would be a safe way of doing this? besides setting it off! BUMP

Call the bomb squad and say you found it in the woods... but then they would ask you where...

Best to just find where it came from and tell the bomb squad that...

Yeah, if you don't know what it is, leave it to the professionals then.
It simply isn't worth the risk getting a hand blown off because of a degraded fuse, or a chemical incompatibility we can't tell you about because we've got no clue what exactly is in there.

Ok thanks guys Im just gonna get in touch w the guy who gave it to me and tell him to come and get the thing and if he doesnt want it then ill call the squad thanks for the help