I tried to make some flash powder using 70% potassium perchlorate and 30% aluminum powder. The aluminum powder I used was called 400 mesh atomized. I can't get the shit to light, even if I use a fuse or seed it with black powder. Can anyone tell me why?

Wow that is strange. Where did you get the aluminum powder?

I got it from www.pyrotek.org

Why didn't you just get 600 mesh german dark?

dont buy the atomized anymore. Get the flake, but i am not sure if the have it in 400 mesh. I do know they have it in 425. I would just go ahead and buy the german dark, becuase for a really strange reason, it is cheaper than the 425 mesh.

It's my first time making the stuff and the 400 atomized was cheaper than the German dark. I guess it's going to end up costing me more money anyway since I'm going to have to get the German dark after all...

would you happen to know anyone named Amber Brown? Anyways, you could resell the 400atomized if you wanted to. Even 400 atomized, i would still expect it to at least ignite.

Yes, I do know someone named Amber Brown. What's your name? Do you know some one named Peewee?

On second thought, don't post your name...I wouldn't post mine on this website.

how old is she??? I out in KCMO, and if you are talking about over here, i cant remember right now, i went to a hot box party last night.

My name is Nick, look at my name here.

[This message has been edited by NickSG (edited 12-16-2002).]

She's 19 and has lived in Portal, Ga her whole life, but she has a good friend from Missouri.

By the way, my screen name is Big Daddy, but that's not generally what I go by.

god damnit. My ex-girlfriend is Amber Brown, she is 16, but her and 2 of her freinds ran away to some place in Gorgia. I am still lookin for her little bitch ass.

Sorry I couldn't help...

Back to the topic at hand, I would still like any logical explanation as to the failure of my flash powder. When I tried to cover it with black powder to light it, the aluminum melted and formed a hard crust. I don't know if that means anything, or what.

i have no idea. Did you measure by weight or volume.

I measured by weight. Is there any way I can test the KClO4 to see if that's the problem? What proportions should I use to mix it with sugar?

Well you could figure out the actual chemical reaction that happens when you ignite that mixture to get optimum results, OR you could just mess around with the ratios. I would start with a high fuel content, simply because fuel (sugar in this case) is probably cheaper.

In short: try 1:1.5 KClO4:sugar

How did you make the flash powder?

Atomized is tiny round balls and flake is tiny flakes (obviously...). Flake has much greater surface area, making it much easier to ignite. So basically, you blew it. Next time do more reading before you go spending your money...

Here's what you need to do: Buy dark flake aluminum. Measure by weight. It'll work. Now that you have this atomized, you can mix it a bit with your flake (maybe 25% or so) to use it up, but not too much or it won't light easily and won't work as well.

is there anywhere I could get aluminum powder other then in online shops like?

You could get around 400 mesh by ball milling alumnium foil for several hours.

You can always mill some aluminum. If you have a mill, try milling your atomized aluminum. Might make it into flake. If not, maybe hammering?

Try 1/1 KClO3/sugar on the flash. Or try a sparkler fuse.

yeah, ball milling atomized will make it flake, and a little giner also. I heard that you can buy 400 mesh aluminum powder at auto shops, it stops leaking of something, i am not sure.

You can also get around 400 mesh by puting a ball of foil in a juiceman jucier.

CTR

like a blender? I tried a blender with aluminum foil, and after 10 minutes, i got maybe 100 mesh aluminum. I am not trying it longer, becuase i do not want to burn it.

Wtf is a juiceman juicer? I have an old blender though, that will have to work sence i don't have a ball mill yet.

quote:

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Originally posted by NickSG:
yeah, ball milling atomized will make it flake, and a little giner also. I heard that you can buy 400 mesh aluminum powder at auto shops, it stops leaking of something, i am not sure.

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I think you are talking about a compound you pour in your gastank and after driving around for a while it will burn carbon off your valves. Not sure if it is the same thing though.

My dad wants me to ask this question if i want my ball mill in my room. So here it goes. I was just wondering if the heardened lead-antimonomy balls or whatever the balls are that they sell on UN will slowly grind down over time if i leave my ball mill on for a long time. I don't really want to breathe in lead dust or ingest any for that matter.

no, they dont grind down, becuase they are mixed with antonimy.

what about the lead shot at my local gun shop, would that if it wasn't mixed with antinomy. Wow, this is a fucking stupid ass post that's just going to waste everyone's time. I'm guessing i already know the answer.

����Not at a rate that is even remotely harmful.
����First off, if your ball mill is properly constructed it will be well sealed enough that no powder of any sort will esacpe. If not, lead is the least of your worries as the material you are trying to mill will spill out. Also, lead's natural properties do not lend to powdering. Lead is soft and tends to mash or deform instead of grinding into a powder like more brittle material.

~Zero

yeah, it works pretty good. It might dent in a few places, but will not powder into a dust.

Thanks, i'm sure my lortone tumbler will be fine. (I would insert a smiley face here but i don't have a fuckin clue how and don't really care)

I strongly suggest you run that ball mill someplace other than in your house...

Probably, i don't want another another .... incident. The cardboard tube mortar thing is still fresh in my mind. What can i say, i don't learn easily.

All you do to get a smile face is click on the thing that says smiles legend of the left side of where you type... dont run the ball mill in your house as i can explode, ask zero.

CTR