HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: fisher2557@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: electrical igniters
Date: 8 Oct 92 13:48:22 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Oct7.235232.70948@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu>, mas4@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (MICHAEL ANTHONY STRAUSS) writes:
> -Steel wool, again...
> -A polarized capacitor 16v and 1000uF or larger
> -DPST switch
> -12v DC battery (not a car battery)
> -wire
> 
>                          /
>     ___________________/: ____________ ;;;       Steel Wool
>    |          | +       :              ;;;;;    /____/
> + ---battery I Icapaci- : switch        ;;;;;;  \
>   ---        I I  tor   :/            ;;;;;;
>    |__________|________/  _____________ ;;
> 
> 
> Close switch and Voila!!

I don't know why everyone is going to all this trouble of fooling with
capacitors...  it's not necessary.  The reason for the cap in the first place
is to get the required current, right?  Do what I do -- use a rechargable
(nicad) 9v battery.  Take some fine steel wool and twist it into a *thin*
strand about 3" long. (the thinner, the better -- try 6-10 strands) Now take
some normal (not the green waterproof type) fuse (6" is good) and twist the
wool with the fuse.  Take care not to overlap the wool.  Now just clamp on some
small alligator clips right onto the fuse/wool (one on each end of the wool)
and lead the clamps to the battery.  A momentary switch is recommended, but two
bare wires can do in a pinch.  I recommend running out to rad-shack and getting
50' of speaker wire. (don't forget alligator clicps (2) and a 9v snap-on
connector) If you can't safely set it off from 50' away, you have no business
setting it off at all.  Anyway, you can splice the fuse with a "good"
waterproof fuse if you like.  The wool will not always flair up enough to set
off the green stuff.
If it does not go off, you probably used too thick a strand of steel wool.

I applied this idea to a neat little toy.  Took a large magic marker, removed
the insides and pulled off the back cap, but kept the tip cap.  Pulled the
stick off a bottle rocket. (NOT the screamer kind -- only the report ones)
Inserted it in the back of the marker, fuse first.  Fuse comes out the tip end,
attached steel wool there, twisted the wires on. (no aligator clips) Led the
wires out thru a hole in the tip cap, put on the cap, led wired to a
battery/switch electrical taped onto the marker.  Voila!  One hand-held bottle
rocket launcher.  When I press the button, it takes a while (1-2 sec) to
ignite, but then it leaves the tube, goes a CONSISTENT 10' (every time so far! 
not sure why so reliable...) and BOOM.  Kinda neat.
 
later,
 Nathan

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: motazev@hobo.ECE.ORST.EDU ( )
Subject: Re: <None>
Organization: ECE Dept.,OSU,Corvallis
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 02:30:35 GMT

Would it be very dangerous to use a hot glue gun to glue the ends of
a cracker filled with KCLO4 and AL flashpowder? Would a weaker elmers 
or such glue suffice?
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: usgcjsx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Felix_T._Cat)
Subject: Recipe for that rotten egg stuff (Ammonium Hydroxide?)
Organization: Georgia State University
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 20:44:46 GMT


How do you make that real smelly stuff
that stinks like rotten eggs, it used to come in little glass vials..??
Any info...?

-- 
/oo\ ---------------------------------------------------------------- /Oo\
 ~~                                                                    ~~
DO not attempt to adjust your television set...     A REAL Atari FAN!       
We are controlling transmission..                   A REAL Genesis FAN!      
usgcjsx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu                             A REAL Felix FAN!
I STILL think Freaks should have won an Oscar!      Kerry King is my Dad!
WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER ? Thats usgcjsx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu
/oO\ ---------------------------------------------------------------  /OO\
 ~~                                                                    ~~
From: 00acbrown@bsu-ucs.uucp
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Volume increase in fuel air detonations.
Date: 11 Oct 92 04:11:34 GMT



Could someone post the increase in volume caused by a complete
explosive combustion of fuel air mixtures, including heptane and more common
fuels (regular gasoline, kerosine, ect.).

Proper fuel-air ratios (mass and volume, if possible) for varioyus fuels 
would also be quite useful.

I have looked for this information and I can't find it, and my poor wee 
brain has been away from my chemistry training too long for me to attempt
figuring it out the hard way (i.e. figuring it out from the formulas for
complete combustion, ect.)

This might be useful for all those with tennis ball cannons, ect.

Please mail this information directly to me, also, as my newsfeed is
somewhat undependable.
From: jarmala@pcuf.fi (Ari J{rm{l{)
Subject: Cracking rock
Organization: PCUF
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 00:36:58 GMT

David Slack writes:
 
>some kind of small blasting method in order to crack the host
>rock (not remove it).  I just want to fracture is enouph to make
>it possible to remove it by hand.
 
Use expansive cement. It is like ordinary portland cement, it
hardens after you have added water but also expands and cracks the
rock.
 
---------------------------------------------
Ari Jarmala (the three 'a's are umlauted),
     o             o
at 60 19'49" N   24 18'38" E
---------------------------------------------
 
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: dulcinea@cwis.unomaha.edu (Shaene Steinauer)
Subject: Re: Please help
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 22:09:09 GMT


Me again--

Estes rocket ignighters work great--about 6 or 7 times on 1 AA battery.
Anyone have any ideas on how to make an ignighter that will last longer
than a few shots?

Thanks,

--Shaene Steinauer
From: alumni101@camins.camosun.bc.ca
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: re: Fizzling fuse effect
Date: 16 Oct 92 03:50:43 GMT
Organization: Camosun College

As far as the JETEX products previously mentioned, they were re-released just
about a year ago.  A hobby store that I was affiliated with at that time was
able to get them from various resources.

I hope this helps.
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: brom@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (David Bromage)
Subject: Re: Liquid Fuel Rockets
Organization: Monash University 
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 04:42:53 GMT

Gary Hughes - VMS Development (hughes@gary.enet.dec.com) wrote:
: 
: I missed that the original poster was from Oz, specifically Melbourne.
: 
: The engineering library at Monash used to have a complete set of the Journal of
: the American Rocket Society (which I think eventually became the AIAA). Their
: early journals detail a lot of info about their experiments with solid and
: liquid propellant rockets.

They're still there as well as some very useful rocketry texts.

: 
: There is a lot of good practical info there about things that worked and didn't
: work.
: 
: Be warned however that these journals were written before we knew much about
: the hazards of long term exposure to chemicals like hydrazine. They may also
: assume that you know the short term risks and hazards associated with them, and
: not spell them out explicitly.
: 
: There is (or was) a lot of material in the Melb Uni engineering library too,
: but I never found anything as directly applicable as the ARS journals.
: 
: gary

Cheers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Bromage       brom@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au   : 
Monash University                                : "I think thinking is 
Clayton, Victoria   				 :  so important"
 Australia                                       : 	-Baldrick
 						 :   
     May the source be with you			 :     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	All views expressed are my own except those which conflict with
	my personal opinions.
From: kraai4712@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Help Me!
Date: 15 Oct 92 12:20:09 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

Read the following and carefully and decide for yourself if we should help
someone who has been unable to learn how to spell or to use English, presumably
his native language.

In article <DHDNsB1w164w@cellar.org>, blu@cellar.org (Dan Reed) writes:
> Ok, Ok, now then, Ive been known to play around with "stuff", so I know to 
> take adqite precations and so on.  Im not stupid, however, today, my 
> secratairy brought in for me, one M-80, and one 1/4 stick.  Ive blown up 
> M-80's before, so I know what they can do (noise, damage, and shock).  
> However, ive never blown up a 1/4 stick.  I live in a very remote area of 
> South NJ, so chances are its going to be set off in a feild (we tossed out 
> the idea of blowing it up in the backyard, about 500 ft from the house, in 
> fear of losing windows).  Its got a 30 second (or what looks to be 30 second 
> fuse) on it IMHO this is not enough...so....  

I'm no expert myself, but this is pitiful.  "adquite precations"

Please post honest discussion.  
Irrational flame should be directed to kraai4712@iscsvax.uni.edu.

jim kraai
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: <None>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 05:34:01 GMT

motazev@hobo.ECE.ORST.EDU () writes:
: Would it be very dangerous to use a hot glue gun to glue the ends of
: a cracker filled with KCLO4 and AL flashpowder? Would a weaker elmers 
: or such glue suffice?

People have proposed it. I am sure some people do so. However, with a
good flash powder, such tight confinement is not necessary. All you
need is a light plug to keep the powder in the tube.

I would use a white glue, if I absolutely had to glue the plug into
the casing.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: farb@ecr.mu.oz.au (William_Cuming FARROW)
Subject: Re: Liquid Fuel Rockets
Organization: Dept. Engineering Computer Resources, Melbourne Uni.
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 12:18:45 GMT

In article <rvassar.1usm@terapin.com> rvassar@terapin.com (Robert Vassar) writes:
>In article <1992Oct12.051411.15078@netcom.com>, mvp@netcom.com (Mike Van Pelt)
>writes:
>>In article <9228513.13060@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU> farb@ecr.mu.oz.au (William_Cuming
>F
>>ARROW) writes:
>>>A friend and I are currently in the process of building a liquid fuel rocket
>>>using H2O2 and hydrazine.  These are loaded into separate syringes and
>>>injected into the combustion chamber simultaneously using medicsal type
>>>needles.
>>
>>You don't want to play with hydrazine.  Really, you don't, especially
>>considering the rather crude, leaky apparatus you are describing.
>>Don't take my word for it; look it up in Sax.
>>
>>Caveat detonator.
>>
>>-- 
>>Mike Van Pelt                          Here lies a Technophobe,
>>mvp@netcom.com                            No whimper, no blast.
>>mvp@hsv3.lsil.com                      His life's goal accomplished,
>>                                          Zero risk at last.

Thank you kindly for sharing your superior wisdom with a novice such as
myself. Your penetrating insight and instant critical evaluation of my    
humble construction astounds me. Amateurs such as myself feel obliged to 
document their every claim, but your concise appraisal transcends this.
Your helpful criticism and suggestions for the future will benefit my future
works. I have seen the error of my ways, and, based on your advice, will
substitute an alternative for hydrazine - nitroglycerine :) perhaps? ;)

>There are safer hypergolic fuels than hydrazine. Heheh... Not much safer
>though. You may wish to look into Furfural alcohol and fuming nitric acid.
>
Where can I get hold of Furfural alcohol, and how can I stop fuming nitric 
acid from burning holes in the syringes? Glass ones are a little heavy.

>rvassar@terapin.com

Oh well, back to the drawing board. Life in a library sounds fun and
stimulating, any more helpful criticism is welcome,
Billy Boy
 	farb@mudil.cs.mu.oz.au

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: damon@vcd.hp.com (Damon Schaefer)
Subject: Re: Jezus Christ people!
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1992 02:17:15 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard VCD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

I for one will not dignify THAT post with a response.

(Oops.. Too late.)
From: ml5a+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Beirne Lively)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: <None>
Date: 15 Oct 92 02:26:45 GMT
	<Bw3Az5.Ey0@news.orst.edu>
Organization: Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

>
>Would it be very dangerous to use a hot glue gun to glue the ends of
>a cracker filled with KCLO4 and AL flashpowder? Would a weaker elmers 
>or such glue suffice?

Contrary to popualr opinion white glue or Elmers is actually stronger
than the hot melt glue.

ML5A@ANDREW.CMU.EDU
"I haven't failed I have discovered 10,000 ways not to make a lightbulb"
                                        -T Edison.
From: beck@freia.inf.tu-dresden.de (Andre Beck)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: carbide bombs
Date: 15 Oct 92 19:15:23 GMT
Reply-To: beck@freia.inf.tu-dresden.de
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, TU Dresden, Germany.


In article <mktjadx.719008205@gsusgi1.gsu.edu>, mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu
(Jeff A. Dilcher) writes:
>Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
>Path:
>math.fu-berlin.de!news.belwue.de!ira.uka.de!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!destro
>oyer!gatech!gsusgi1.gsu.edu!gsusgi1.gsu.edu!mktjadx
>From: mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Jeff A. Dilcher)
>Subject: carbide bombs
>Message-ID: <mktjadx.719008205@gsusgi1.gsu.edu>
>Organization: Georgia State University
>Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 21:30:05 MET

>Can anyone post me a "recipe" for carbide bombs?
>I am familiar with the effects of calcium carbide and water,
>but am not sure how to make and efficient combustible device.
>
>I was recently able to observe several of these "bombs" being
>detonated, and the incredible "loudness" of the blast, along
>with the shaking "concussion" of the blast was an awsome thing.
>I was told that these devices were made by somehow placing
>carbide in a plastic bag, then somehow also filling the bags
>with air before detonating with some kind of fuse system.

To get carbide bombs, you don't need any fusing. Acetylen will detonate
by itself when the pressure reaches >4 Atmospheres. Therefore, you only
have to use VERY stable bottles for this...

Anyway, don't do it.

(Btw, what about this:
  Take a glass bottle with a fast closer, fill in some particles of
  celluloide (old plastic, nitrocellulose based, Table tennis balls
  and the like), put in your burning cigarette, close bottle FAST,
  and wait what happens ...
)
--
,------------------------+---------------------------------------------.
| Andre' Beck            |   TCP/IP-Mail: beck@freia.inf.tu-dresden.de |
| HG R 141b              |   VMS        : hermes::beck                 |
+------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
|   Computo ergo sum. Special greetings to BIM, BAM, BOM and HIRN.     |
`----------------------------------------------------------------------'
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: watpod72@olaf.carleton.ca (George Bragg)
Subject: Re: Liquid Fuel Rockets
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 19:32:44 GMT

In <1992Oct15.174133.1813@gagme.chi.il.us> russ@gagme.chi.il.us (Russell J. Price) writes:

> 
>I remember, a long time ago, a Popular Science article about OTRAG, a German
>company that was going to build cheap rockets for launching satellites.
>According to the article, they used ordinary diesel fuel, with nitric acid
>for the oxidizer.  I don't know if they used any additional ignition sources,
>though.  Whatever became of OTRAG, anyway?
>-- 

Oh, jesus!  Be careful with that type of explosive.  It's very similar
to mining explosives in composition and characteristics...

(If you want to know the ratio of diesel fuel to nitrogen fertilizer
for making mining explosives, check out the book "Mining explosives
for North American Engineers" - and no, I don't know anything else
about it besides the title...)
Xref: sparky rec.pyrotechnics:3286 sci.chem:3939
From: mingos@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics,sci.chem
Subject: Re: Mailing chemicals.
Date: 14 Oct 92 11:57:57 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620

In article <Bw115J.Jp9@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>, miguel@aclcb.purdue.edu (PHILLIP_SANMIGUEL) writes:
> 
>   I would like to mail some reagents to someone in England.  They would include
> Lithium Chloride, Lithium Hydroxide and Potasium Acetate.  Is this okay?  I'm
> hoping the person to whom I am mailing these can get hold of some perchloric
> acid and be able to make Lithium Perchlorate, for use in producing a vibrant
> red flame for juggling torches.  Otherwise the Lithium Chloride could be used
> (for a less impressive effect).  Also the Potasium Acetate produces a wimpy,
> somewhat chalky purple flame.  (With methanol used as the solvent in each
> case.) 
>   Does the US or British post mind me sending chemicals.  How about UPS or
> Federal Express?
> 

   If your friend can get hold of perchloric acid, I'd be very surprised if
he couldn't also get hold of LiCl, LiOH, and K(acetate).  It may work out much
cheaper than mailing them from the US.  Many companies will sell such compounds
to individuals in England.
   Just a thought...

  G.
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Help Me!
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Distribution: usa, na, world
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 17:41:05 GMT

court@newton.physics.mun.ca (J. Lewis) writes:
: >Let us encourage each other, teach each other, and leave off the petty 
: >bickering and ego trips based on ephemera such as spelling.
: 
: Most versions of Unix have a spell-checker.  It is worth using.

Yes, but many of us do not post from a unix machine.    

Bill

: 
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Jeff A. Dilcher)
Subject: carbide bombs
Organization: Georgia State University
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 20:30:05 GMT

Can anyone post me a "recipe" for carbide bombs?
I am familiar with the effects of calcium carbide and water,
but am not sure how to make and efficient combustible device.

I was recently able to observe several of these "bombs" being
detonated, and the incredible "loudness" of the blast, along
with the shaking "concussion" of the blast was an awsome thing.
I was told that these devices were made by somehow placing
carbide in a plastic bag, then somehow also filling the bags
with air before detonating with some kind of fuse system.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how I could duplicate this would
be appreciated.

mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu
Jeff
From: fisher2557@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Fuses
Date: 16 Oct 92 09:20:28 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <wZqPsB2w165w@cyberden.uucp>, rdicker@cyberden.uucp writes:
> Where can I get large ammounts of good cannon fuse cheap.  Preferably 
> some mail order place since I know this net is world wide.  I found that 
> you can get some fuses from "Gopher Smokers" in hardware stores, but 
> usually this is kinda expensive with short fuses.  I also really need the 
> good kind of fuse that is coated with some dark green fiber/plastic 
> stuff, they seem to burn the best.  Thanks.  E-mail me or post on the 
> net.      Here's the adress: cyberden!rdicker@moon.nbn.com   Thanks 
> again.

I must be fortunate then.  There is a hobbly shop in town that sells everything
from kites and RC airplanes to HO scale trains and *model rockets*.  They have
a small wall full of solar igniters and many packets of cannon fuse.  One bag
of 10' lasts me several months.  Only costs like $3 or so.  Burns at 1.2
sec/inch, consistantly.  It's much in demand at the store, too, because half the
time I go to get some, they're out.  I don't know where you'd find "large
quantities" of it, though.  How much is large?  50'?

later,
 Nathan
From: giddy@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: KCLO3 from KCL help please
Date: 9 Oct 92 18:17:34 -0300
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Hello all:

I would like to hear from anyone who has any experience making KNO3
by the electrolysis of KCL.

There was some info a while ago from AUS. but I only have part of the
ext and not the address. (maybe ZOZ or M. Fernee??)

I am most curious to know if I could get away with a AU anode rather than
platinum and also what appropriate cell voltage would be.

Thanks in Advance:

Kevin
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: philip@jetcom (Philip Peake)
Subject: Re: Help Me!
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 21:32:33 GMT
Organization: mentor
Keywords: 
Followup-To: 

In article <1992Oct15.122009.7690@iscsvax.uni.edu>, kraai4712@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
|> Read the following and carefully and decide for yourself if we should help
|> someone who has been unable to learn how to spell or to use English, presumably
|> his native language.
|> 
|> In article <ABC-123>, someone writes:
|> > Ok, Ok, now then, Ive been known to play around with "stuff", so I know to 
|> > take adqite precations and so on.  Im not stupid, however, today, my 
|> > secratairy brought in for me, one M-80, and one 1/4 stick.  Ive blown up 
|> > M-80's before, so I know what they can do (noise, damage, and shock).  
|> > However, ive never blown up a 1/4 stick.  I live in a very remote area of 
|> > South NJ, so chances are its going to be set off in a feild (we tossed out 
|> > the idea of blowing it up in the backyard, about 500 ft from the house, in 
|> > fear of losing windows).  Its got a 30 second (or what looks to be 30 second 
|> > fuse) on it IMHO this is not enough...so....  
|> 
|> I'm no expert myself, but this is pitiful.  "adquite precations"
|> 
|> Please post honest discussion.  
|> Irrational flame should be directed to kraai4712@iscsvax.uni.edu.


Ok, so I noticed it too.
But so what ? Is your attitude something like:

	"If you can't spell, why the f**k should
	 I help you - go destroy yourself !"         ???

That is what I seem to be reading into your posting.

I think that this is more a comment on the American (?)
education system than on the person writing the article.

Maybe placing a suitable pyrotechnic device under the appropriate
government agency would be more constructive than making public
comments about someone's spelling ability.

At the risk of exposing myself to a huge quantity of hate-mail,
let me just make the observation that as a REAL English speaker
(having been born and raised there), I have yet to meet
an American who speaks English ... :-)

Philip
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: fernee@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Mark Fernee)
Subject: Re: Thermite Components
Organization: Physics Dept. The University of Queensland
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 01:42:06 GMT

In article <BvrqEr.H58@NCoast.ORG>, btb@NCoast.ORG (Brad Banko) writes:
|> 
|> 	I was wondering, is there another way besides ordering from a
|> chem. suppy company to get Potassium permanganate and Glycerine? I'm sure
|> there's a reasonable substitute.
|> 
|> -- 
|> ______________________________________________
|> 
|> -----Internet : btb@ncoast.org
|> ___________________

Potassium Permanganate from a chemist/pharmacist/drug store. Used as an
antaseptic, especially for tinia (spelling?). Glycerin/Glycerol available
from the above premises and also supermarkets and other various small 
shops, just ask. 

As for Barium Peroxide --- ?

Aluminium powder, try a large Art supplier (May be sold as Silver Powder).
It is not too expensive. Also sold as Aluminium Bronzing powder.

I hope this helps,

Mark.

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Thermite Components
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 23:32:14 GMT

btb@NCoast.ORG (Brad Banko) writes:
: 
: 	I was wondering, is there another way besides ordering from a
: chem. suppy company to get Potassium permanganate and Glycerine? I'm sure
: there's a reasonable substitute.

You can get KMNO4 from a water treatment supplier. Glycerine you can
find in the drugstore section of your variety store.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics