HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rpeacock@cudnvr.denver.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: <None>
Date: 13 Oct 92 15:44:16 GMT


 I've been perusing rec.pyro and rec.model.rocketry (I think it's called) for
about the last 3 months and have read all of the FAQ's for each. For some
reason, I haven't been able to find anything about making a good "engine"
for lofting my charges skyward. The model rocket folks don't like people
making their own engines for safety as well as competition reasons, which
I can understand.

 I would like to come up with a general formula that can be adapted for 
different payload weights but is also contained in a tube/canister/etc.
that would be fairly easy to load. Any ideas?

Please e-mail me at the below address and if I get enough ideas that merit
posting, I will compile them all and re-post.

Thanks in advance!


*******************************************************************************
*        Rob Peacock         *  He who makes the biggest BANG WINS!           *
*  University of Colorado    *  BITNET rpeacock@CUDENVER                      *
*         at Denver          *  INTERNET rpeacock@cudnvr.denver.colorado.edu  *
*                                                                             *
*             /\ /\ /\  Gateway to the Fourteeners  /\ /\ /\                  *
*                                                                             *
*        Nobody pays any attention to what I have to say anyway!              *
*******************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: electrical igniters
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 20:09:55 GMT

fisher2557@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
: 
: 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.

They were not using the steel wool as an igniter for a fuse or mixture of
chemicals. They were showing circuits demonstrating the exploding wire
principle.

Bill
From: mvp@netcom.com (Mike Van Pelt)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Liquid Fuel Rockets
Date: 17 Oct 92 00:32:06 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

In article <1992Oct15.174133.1813@gagme.chi.il.us> russ@gagme.chi.il.us (Russell J. Price) writes:
>Whatever became of OTRAG, anyway?

They had the misfortune to have built their facilities in Angola.

G. Harry Stine has argued (in an editorial in Analog, I think) that the
Soviet Union targeted Angola for "revolution" specifically in order to
destroy OTRAG.  If so, I suppose it wouldn't have much mattered where
on the equator OTRAG had tried to set up operations.  He said it was
the first space war, and the Soviet Union won.

-- 
Mike Van Pelt          | What happens if a big asteroid hits Earth?
mvp@netcom.com         | Judging from realistic simulations involving a
                       | sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we
                       | can assume it will be pretty bad. -- Dave Barry
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: bednarek@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971)
Subject: Re: hairspray powered mock cannon
Organization: GE Medical Systems, Magnetic Resonance
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 11:01:58 GMT

David Bromage (brom@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au) wrote:
: deanp@peg.pegasus.oz.au wrote:
: : 
: : A friend saw some people in a park the other day, dressed in period
: : costume an having a mock battle.  One of the people had a device that
: : my friend found most interesting: a mock cannon that shot tennis balls
: : about two hundred metres.  I was basically a tube with piezo (?) electric
: : gas igniter built into the base.  You fill the tube with hairspray and
: : pop a tennis ball in, hit the igniter and off it goes.
: : 
: : My friends questions to this conference:
: : 
: :   o what hairspray would be best (if you have seen one before)
: 
: Any one with a hydrocarbon propellant, not chorofluorocarbons or nitrous
: oxide.
: 
: : 
: :   o what other gas could be used that was easily available & dispensable
: 
: Possibly propane or butane, available in small cans from camping suppliers.
: Natural gas or acetylene would be expensive and too powerful.
: 
: : 
: : the main problem it seems is getting something that will generate a fair
: : "pop" to launch the tennis ball without peeling the thing open, and without
: : having to be to concerned with the gas/air mixture.
: 
: With butane use a fuel/air ratio of 1:2, with propane use 2:3. Sorry can't
: help past that.
: 
: 
: Although not in the realm of this newsgroup, compressed air might be a
: beter method of firing tennis balls. A short burst of 100psi air should do
: the trick.
:
Some times I wonde how many people out there are really in love with death?
 
: 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.
: 

--
------------------------------------
| Excuse me while I kiss the sky!  | 
|                            J.H.  |
____________________________________

The usual disclaimer of self and employer applies to all above comments.
#
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: hunter@quake.sylmar.ca.us (James Collins)
Subject: Temperatures reached...
Organization: Quake Public Access, Sylmar CA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 21:27:04 GMT

Out of idle curiosity, does anyone know what the temperatures are reached 
by thermite?  I remember something between 2000 and 4000, but I might be 
wrong (and I assume that is farenheit and not celsius, but I don't 
remember).  Also, how about the ignition temperature of thermite.  
Finally, what temperatures does the potasium permaganate/glycerine combo 
reach.  Thanks in advance.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
James Collins                        | Tips to live by from Rodney King
hunter@quake.sylmar.ca.us            | and Reginald Denny...
james.collins%bbs@quake.sylmar.ca.us | STAY... IN... THE... CAR...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: dcb@kopachuk.uucp (David Breneman)
Subject: Re: electrical igniters
Organization: Tacoma Screw Products, Inc.
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 19:14:04 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.134822.7411@iscsvax.uni.edu> fisher2557@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
>
>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.
> 

Hmmm...  This would be great to mount behind the grill of your car.
Then if someone cut you off in traffic, just push the horn button and...

-- 
David Breneman     Sys Admin, Tacoma Screw Products, Inc. |  ____  ____  ____
dcb@tacoma.uucp           |   SCREWIE the TSP CLOWN sez-  |   /   /___  /___/ 
 ..!uunet!tacoma!dcb      |  "Nylok lock nuts lose their  |  /   ____/ / 
CompuServe: 75760,1232    | binding strength after 1 use!"|
From: rpeacock@cudnvr.denver.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: A Source for Chemicals
Date: 13 Oct 92 15:27:09 GMT

For all of you folks that seem to be having problems finding your chemicals, 
try this place:
	COSCO-Colo. Scientific Instrument & Supply Company
	900 Broadway
	Denver, CO 80203
	303  832-2811
I have been dealing with them for aqbout 5 years now and they have been 
very helpful. Of course, when I buy KClO4 in 2-3 lb packages, they just
grin and ask me what I'm using it for... I just grin back at them and 
tell them I'm making a "little surprise" for one of the Boy Scout Honor
Courts. Then they have me write my address on the receipt and I'm off
to make bang-bangs.

I don't know how their prices are compared to other places but I bought this 
stuff about a year ago:
	german black Al -> $19.50/lb
	KClO4           -> $ 9.50/lb

I don't know if they ship but you can always call or write to ask. I hope
this helps!

*******************************************************************************
*        Rob Peacock         *  He who has the biggest BANG WINS!             *
*  University of Colorado    *  BITNET rpeacock@CUDENVER                      *
*         at Denver          *  INTERNET rpeacock@cudnvr.denver.colorado.edu  *
*             /\ /\ /\  Gateway to the Fourteeners  /\ /\ /\                  *
*            Nobody here pays any attention to what I have to say!            *
*******************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Jeff A. Dilcher)
Subject: Re: carbide bombs
Organization: Georgia State University
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 23:08:48 GMT

beck@freia.inf.tu-dresden.de (Andre Beck) writes:

>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...

What about a small handful of carbide in some water in a two litre coke
bottle?  Would that "self detonate"?  will it really detonate itself
without any flammable ignition?

>Anyway, don't do it.

I certainly would not.  This is strictly intellectual musing.

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: hughes@gary.enet.dec.com (Gary Hughes - VMS Development)
Subject: Re: Liquid Fuel Rockets
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 21:52:42 GMT


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.

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
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: court@newton.physics.mun.ca (J. Lewis)
Subject: Re: Recipe for that rotten egg stuff (Ammonium Hydroxide?)
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 15:48:39 GMT

>	What would FeS be called in a hobby store, or how would you
>ask for it? Is there any way to make this stuff yourself? (simple way btw ;)

Heat iron filings with sulphur.  The reaction is mildly exothermic as I
recollect.


Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: dulcinea@cwis.unomaha.edu (Shaene Steinauer)
Subject: Re: need access to chemicals
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 04:41:17 GMT

ch_hayhurst@vax.muskingum.edu writes:
> I would like to know how to get **chemicals that are restricted to make
> pyrotechnics**(eg. sodium chlorate).  Do you need a liscence so you can get them,
>  -->              Chris Hayhurst

Dear Chris,

I'm a layperson browsing for help (see my article on "please help"), but
I think I can answer your question.  Actually you answered it yourself....

"Chemicals that are restricted" are restricted to people with licenses
to buy them (and I think work with them).  That way, they make sure 
people don't buy too much of certain items that could be used very
destructively.  

That's what I gathered from a friend of a friend.  He really enjoys his
priveleges, though, so may I suggest that getting a license is worth it?

To the professionals out there, 

How much work does it take, what are the requirements, and was it worth it?

--Dulcinea (Shaene Steinauer)
From: v058l789@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (I AM the Nighthawk)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Help Me!
Date: 15 Oct 92 20:51:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

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 was thinking of building a remote detenator, or a timer, or tossing it out 
>a car at high speed.  How far should I be from "ground zero" when I set this 
>sucker off?  
> 
>PS - I plan to video tape it.... :)
> 
> 
>----- 
> Dan Reed (Blu-Max) blu@cellar.org - AutoCad Geek - VW Lover - InlineSkater 
>68 Cougar XR-7, 89 VW Golf, 72 Honda CL360Twin, Ti/99/4a, Vextrex, Timex


	Well... time was when I had a mess of those things... and I set them
all off within 200 feet of myself, as little as 75.  As long as you are just
looking for just the bang, and no shrapnel is involved (including debris from 
the surface you set it off on), I wouldn't worry about setting it off anywhere
outside of 200 feet from ground zero.  

					Ethan 
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: dulcinea@cwis.unomaha.edu (Shaene Steinauer)
Subject: Re: need access to chemicals
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 04:48:50 GMT


----leave it to another novice to try to explain something that's 
already been explained on the newsgroup.  Try reading #31 (I think)
rec.pyrotechnics.FAQ.  It should answer even my last questions to
the professionals....

Apologies to the professionals.

--Dulcinea (Shaene Steinauer)
From: tip@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Tom Perigrin)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Help Me!
Date: 16 Oct 92 00:22:17 GMT
Distribution: usa, na, world
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group

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.

[poorly spelled but honest plea for help deleted]

>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.

Sorry, but you tried to embarrass the guy in public, so I am going to
flame you in the same forum.

The guy asked an honest question relating to pyrotechnia and it's safety
aspects.  I think it behooves those of us who don't want to see our hobby
banned as unsafe to help this guy.  I don't think we should restrict
ourselves to help only those who can spell, or those who can construct
grammatically correct sentances.

I myself am a notoriously poor speller, and a fairly poor typist.  However,
my inability to spell has not prevented me from obtaining a PhD, nor from 
publishing four book chapters and 32 peer reviewed articles, the most recent 
of which has been accepted to the flagship journal of our professional
society.

Perhaps this is because I spend my time studying science rather than 
studying dangeling participles and how to spell words.  My goal is to
advance the field of science, not English literature.  I realize that it is
important to convey my discoveries precisely.  That is why I take
a LOT of time to write well written papers - my last four papers were accepted
without revisions.   Spelling is important, but less so than the
intellectual content of the paper.  I normally use a spell checker for 
the mundane task.  I figure "why waste my time learning to do something 
that a program can do better?".  I am a world class scientist - who cares
a fig if I am a world class speller?


However, I am much sloppier with spelling and grammar in these fora.  I do 
not have the time it takes to write deathless prose for these newsgroups.
So occasionally I let poor spelling slip through.  I realize that occasionally
my messages may raise a chuckle when I commit a malapropism through 
misspelling (is that one 's', or two?)   But in general I feel that as long 
as my messages manage to convey the desired meaning, what does absolute
accuracy matter?  This is not a formal forum,  but a gathering of friends
and collegues who are all interested in pyrotechnia.

Let us encourage each other, teach each other, and leave off the petty 
bickering and ego trips based on ephemera such as spelling.


Tom Perigrin
Educator 
poor speler
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: PCZZ@ibm.rz.tu-clausthal.de
Subject: Re: Flash & Bang
Organization: Rechenzentrum der TU CLAUSTHAL
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 10:37:43 GMT

In article <003316g.20.718570840@ace.acadiau.ca>
003316g@ace.acadiau.ca (STEPHEN EDWARD ELLIOTT GREGORY) writes:
 
>
>        I'm trying to make something that will make a bang and a lot of
>smoke and I figured this was the place to ask.
>        Any suggestions?
>
>Steve Gregory                                  003316G@ace.acadiau.ca
 
Try this one:
equal amounts of
         potassium perchlorate (KClO_4) and
         finest aluminium powder
carefully mixed and filled into a paper tube (don't press the stuff!).
Ignite it with a straw filled with black powder (75% potassium nitrate,
10% sulphur, 15% charcoal) which is sticked into the tube as a quick match.
Be careful!
 
cu       Nick.                    pczz@ibm.rz.tu-clausthal.de
From: pierson@cimcad.enet.dec.com (Dave Pierson)
Subject: Re: <None>
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 13:19:07 GMT

In article <1992Oct14.053401.3115@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com
(bill nelson) writes...
>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.

	People do use hot glue for salutes.  Such people become unpopular,
	because the hotglue forms shrapnel, increasing the danger.

thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
146 Main St			|I am the NRA.
Maynard, Mass		01754	pierson@msd27.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles
Xref: sparky rec.pyrotechnics:3265 sci.chem:3906
From: miguel@aclcb.purdue.edu (PHILLIP_SANMIGUEL)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics,sci.chem
Subject: Mailing chemicals.
Date: 12 Oct 92 21:03:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.Bw115J.Jp9
Reply-To: miguel@aclcb.purdue.edu
Organization: Purdue University AIDS Center


  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?

Thanks in advance,