HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: brett_lindenbach@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (brett lindenbach)
Subject: Re: Books
Organization: microbiology, univ. illinois
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 01:57:57 GMT

In article <62328@cup.portal.com>, nathanf@cup.portal.com (nathan benjamin friedman) writes:
> 
> Hello,
> 	For about a year I have been following this newsgroup
> diligently .  Several times people have posted names of books 
> on pyrotechny, but I have stupidly ignored most of them.  I am
> looking for the names of books on the theory and production
> of fireworks.  I am mostly interested in shells, mortars, and
> similar fireworks.  Thank you for your help.
> 
> 			Nathan Friedman
> 
 The best book I have found is "The Chemistry of Powder & Explosives"
by Tenney L. Davis, (Angriff Press, Hollywood) which is somewhat old (1943),
but a very good book nonetheless. It takes you from the history of black
powder and explosive basics, to every imaginable pyrotechnic mixture, 
aromatic nitro compounds, nitric esters, nitroamines, smokeless powder,
dynamite and other high explosives, primary explosives, detonators, and 
primers. Each subject receives historical, as well as synthetic info. The book
weighs in just under 500 pages. If it can be found, get it.
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: thermite ignition
Date: 22 Jul 92 22:03:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpcvaac.1992Jul22.220342.3983
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

brg2x@honi1.acc.Virginia.EDU (Barry Richard Gribble) writes:
: 
: 	A good friend of mine claims that he made thermite that
: had sulfur mixed in and the result was a match-lightable thermite.
: 
: 	I don't have the ratios or first-hand confirmation, but
: I do believe it.  Has anyone else tried this?

In many compositions, sulfur lowers the ignition temperature. I 
don't know if this would be true for thermite.

If you make the powders fine enough, you can ignite the mixture
with a match, without using sulfur. However, the mixture is likely
to burn too fast for safety.

I certainly do not want to be near a thermite mixture while it is
burning. Molten iron is not my idea of a good thing to have contacting
my body.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: brett_lindenbach@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (brett lindenbach)
Subject: Re: fulminate
Organization: microbiology, univ. illinois
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 01:27:06 GMT

In article <IeOP6nS00UhWE1mq0_@andrew.cmu.edu>, "Andrew E. Switala" <as7y+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
> 
> How does one make mercury fulminate?
> 
> 
Take ~2 g mercury. Dissolve in ~200 ml concentrated nitric acid, with gentle
stirring. A fume hood is absolutely necessary! When dissolved, add 2 vol 
95% (v/v) EtOH. Stand back and watch the show (~20 min). During this time,
white, then red vapors come off, which are known to be toxic. A buff colored
ppt forms, which is the desired product. After the RXN subsides, rinse several
times with many volumes of dH20 in order to bring the pH back up around
neutrality. To be useful, the compound must be dried. BE CAREFUL! It is very
unstable when dry. Because it is insoluble in water, store it under water.
I post this strictly for academic purposes, and do not suggest making any.
;-)
From: pierson@cimcad.enet.dec.com (Dave Pierson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Gerb Experiment
Date: 24 Jul 92 00:32:48 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <1992Jul23.165113.11201@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com
(bill nelson) writes, in part:

>rdm6670@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
>: Does anybody know any companies that sell cardboard tubes, fuses, and 
>: powders/chemicals?  I used to have a catalog (about 8 years ago), but
>: don't remember the names or addresses of any companies...

>There are several. Firefox and KSI both carry such items. I do not
>know Firefox's policy, but KSI only sells to PGI members, those who
>are engaged in the commercial manufacture of fireworks and schools.

>I do not have the addresses handy but could probably find them if I   
>looked long enough.

	I keep 'em handy by...  8)>>

Pyrotechnics Guild International, Inc is a non-profit organization of
professional and amateur fireworks enthusiasts: builders, shooters & watchers.

Membership includes a quarterly journal and an annual convention.
Idaho (Fire) Falls, Idaho, 92

For membership information, contact:

	PGI
	Ed Vanasek
	18021 Baseline Ave
	Jordan, MN
	55352

	You need either three reccomendations from random people or one
	reccomendation from a PGI member.  Dues are $25., US.


Another newsletter is American Fireworks News, monthly, miscellaneous news,
technical articles, ads, $19.95/yr.

	AFN
	Star Rt Box 30
	Dingmans Ferry, PA
	18328

	AFN has ads from many suppliers, inlcuding refernce books.  (On a
	related thread, while Davis, Chemistry of Powder and Explosives is good,
	it is a tad old.  Safety concerns and knowledge of hazards have changed
	some in the intervening years.  At least one more curretn reference
	should be on hand.  Chemistry of Powder & Explosives has been reprinted
	tho.)
	 
thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
200 Forest St			|I am the NRA.
Marlboro, Mass		01752	pierson@cimnet.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles
From: evansmp@uhura.aston.ac.uk (Mark Evans)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Real throwdowns - Be careful!
Date: 31 Jul 92 13:54:05 GMT
Organization: Aston University

chem2149@waikato.ac.nz writes:
: I have not bothered with this group for awhile now due to the lack
: of interesting articles.
: Making throw downs with 0.5 grams of primary explosive is bloody stupid
: and shows the mentality of many who post here.

Simple DONT use throwdowns.
if you need the effect throw down a wad of paper and set off a charge on the
ground.
: 
: From my experience with explosives, O.5 grams of primary explosive will 
: definitely blow a finger or two completly off. 
: It will leave such a mess that the surgen will have to remove more just 
: to get to some part he can work with.
: If you are holing it in the plam of your hand and the unexpected occured
: (a sharp crack) dont expect to have full use of your hand, ever.

Don't even think of holding this sort of stuff in your hand unless it
is 
A) wrapped in thick cardboard
B) You are wearing gloves.

: 0.001 of a gram of primary explosive (eg Pb(N3)2) will rip a small hole
: in your skin and will take several weeks to heal. I will do some
: experiments on cardboard to find the minimum amount needed that will not
: cause a hole, if people are interested.

This is an absolutely minute ammount, conclusion: not a good idea to attempt
synthesis of this chemical. (anything you contaminate is potentially 
dangerous)
: 
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Evans                                   |evansmp@uhura.aston.ac.uk
+(44) 21 565 1979 (Home)                     |evansmp@cs.aston.ac.uk
+(44) 21 359 6531 x4039 (Office)             |
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com
Subject: Re: Moving Fireworks?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 04:32:30 GMT

In article <17360007@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>, rjs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Bob Schneider) writes...
> 
>	Is there any legal way to ship class B fireworks?

To transport class B fireworks one needs a DOT Commercial drivers license
with HAZMAT (hazardous materials) endorsement, and they must be transported
in a placarded vehicle (explosives B).  Even to get them to an airport.
And about the only aircraft that will transport any type of explosive is
military.

-Mike
From: tip@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Tom Perigrin)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Moving Fireworks?
Date: 24 Jul 92 18:41:03 GMT
Distribution: na, usa
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group


I occasionally order large (25 - 50#) quantities of black powder.  It is 
shipped UPS.   I've never looked at the truck to see if it is placarded,
I figure that's their problem.   All I know is I pay my $, and in a week
the stuff arrives at my door.
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com
Subject: Re: Lighter Flints?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 04:20:18 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.231617.22354@dragon.acadiau.ca>, 880518l@dragon.acadiau.ca (Nelson Langille) writes...
>What are lighter flints made of?  I know that it burns nicely when you grind
>(carefully) some out with the lighter and give it a spark.

They are usually misch metal, which is a mix of the rare earth elements,
mostly cerium.

-Mike
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Flash powder ....
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 05:03:47 GMT

farb@ecr.mu.oz.au (William_Cuming FARROW) writes:
: Flash powder   
: 
: potasium chlorate    (not sure how much)
: sodium benzoate      (less than the KClO3)
: sulfur               (just a tinsy little)
: 
: do it in small amounts !!!!!

Put the emphasis on VERY SMALL AMOUNTS. Mixes of potassium chlorate
and sulfur are to be avoided, if at all possible. Do not store any
mixtures containing the two - the mix can self ignite due to the
residual acid in the sulfur.

The main reason for avoiding potassium chlorate is that it forms
sensitive explosive mixtures with just about anything that will
act as a fuel. I would use potassium perchlorate instead, if it
is available.

Never grind any chlorate or perchlorate and sulfur together. The
usual result is an explosion. It is best to have a separate mortar
or grinding drum or board for chlorates and perchlorates.

Mix flash powders by pouring the small batch in the center of a
piece of newspaper. Mix by alternately lifting the corners of the
paper. It is best to slowly pour the mixed powder into the casing,
rather than using a spoon or scoop.

When preparing the casings - always punch the casing and install
the fuse - before pouring in the powder. It the mixture is a good
one, the cracker does not need tight confinement - just enough to
hold the powder in the tube - a disc of paper should be sufficient.
Do not fill the tube more than 1/3rd full - any more is pretty much
wasted and can actually decrease the desired noise.

Bill

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Real throwdowns - Be careful!
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 04:00:01 GMT

chem2149@waikato.ac.nz writes:
: <From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
: <Hm - that is 500 mg of a primary explosive - which is far more powerful
: <than flash powder. How much flash powder goes in a standard firecracker -
: <50 mg?  I am not too sure that I would want such a quantity to explode
: <in my hands. I don't think that it do much harm - however, I know of no
                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: <quantitative studies where this has been tested. Remember that the old
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yes, this is a stupid statement, and incorrect. I think the brissance tests
are fully adequate. In the test - HMTD is shown to be about 3 times as
brissant as Mercury Fulminate. In the Trauzl Test for power, it is shown
to have 230% the power.  In other words, a person is playing with the power
levels of blasting caps.

: <fulminate blasting caps often contained less than 5 grams of explosive.
: 
: I have not bothered with this group for awhile now due to the lack
: of interesting articles.
: Making throw downs with 0.5 grams of primary explosive is bloody stupid
: and shows the mentality of many who post here.
: 
: Then two people who should know a little better come up with some 
: ***** stupid comments.

You are right - my posting was stupid, and not properly thought out.
And, I do know better.

: From my experience with explosives, O.5 grams of primary explosive will 
: definitely blow a finger or two completly off. 
: It will leave such a mess that the surgen will have to remove more just 
: to get to some part he can work with.

Yep. Less than .1 gram is needed to initiate TNT. Less than that will
detonate a stick of 40% dynamite.

... deleted ...

: A funny story about throw downs.(only funny afterwards when the person
: was OK)
: 
: My friend had some old throw downs from China, they where a chlorate/P
: formulation. Any way, they where brightly coloured spheres and looked
: just like sweets. His flatmate (19 years old) picked one off the bench
: and stuck it in his mouth. One bite, "BANG" and his mouth opened wide.
: A puff of smoke and sand came flying out along with bits of the casing.
: We quickly saw he was OK, and he spat out the rest of the sand.
: We all started laughing, we laughed so much that it hurt.
: 
: They are banned due to the fact they look like sweets and even kids
: have had the same thing happen to them.

There were a number of formulations - another used P chlorate, Antimony
sulfide, lampblack and aluminum. It is not surprising that these were so
hazardous.

Thanks - it will teach me to make a hurried post without fully considering
what I am saying.

Bill
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Moving Fireworks?
Date: 23 Jul 92 16:59:44 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

rjs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Bob Schneider) writes:
: 
: 	Is there any legal way to ship class B fireworks? I would like to
: 	move some class B firecrackers from Syracuse, NY to Fort Collins
: 	Colorado without having to drive back there to get them. I
: 	haven't called the air lines, but, I suspect that they wouldn't
: 	accept explosives on board.

If I recall the new regulations correctly, it now requires a commercial
driver's license with a hazmat endorsement before a person can legally
transport fireworks across state line. I do not recall what the requirements
are for intrastate transport.

No, they cannot be transported by air. You will pay an arm and a leg 
getting them transported by truck. 

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: mcaldwel@netcom.com (Michael Caldwell)
Subject: Re: Flash powder ....
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 20:19:42 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Keywords: potasium chlorate sodium benzo-ate(i cant't spell)

In article <9220410.9019@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU> farb@ecr.mu.oz.au (William_Cuming FARROW) writes:
>Flash powder   
>
>potasium chlorate    (not sure how much)
>sodium benzoate      (less than the KClO3)
>sulfur               (just a tinsy little)
>
>do it in small amounts !!!!!
>
>I'm making bangers out of it ( prob like your m80)
>But I cant compare it against anything , cause we 
>cant buy anything out here. 
>My one was 2 in long and the tubed was wraped around
>a pen, it dished the bottom of the rubbish bin (metal)
>and blew the lid to bits (plastic). not bad. but now 
>I have to buy a new bin (argghhhh)!.
>
>I don't know if any of you has tried this stuff
>but give it a look and tell me how it went.
>
>Billy Boy 

Use potassium perchlorate (KClO4) and Aluminum (Al) powder pyro grade and
you'll get the biggest brightest bang I ever saw.  I don't remember my
amounts, if a chemistry buff could help with the chemical equation I would
appreciate it.  I don't remember much chemistry myself, but isn't aluminum
oxide Al2O3?  My periodic table says the atomic weight of Al is 26.98154.
The atomic weight of O is 15.9994, K is 39.0983, and Cl is 35.453.  I
imagine the by-product of the reaction is potassium chloride (KCl), so the
equation would be 3 KClO4 + 8 Al => 4 Al2O3 + 3 KCl.  The atomic weight of
KClO4 is 138.5489 times 3 equals 415.6467, 8 times 26.98154 (Al) equals
215.85232, so 4.16g of potassium perchlorate and 2.16g of aluminum, by
mass, not by volume.  If aluminum is about 2 times as dense as potassium
perchlorate then it would be 1 to 1 by volume, which is what I think I
used.  Please don't try this, it's just a guess.  Could someone who knows
more than I do please double check my guesses, I've been thinking of trying
to make some again, but won't until I can research the formula, and I don't
have time to do that.

Michael
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: brech@vision.ethz.ch (Christian Brechbuehler)
Subject: Re: Lighter Flints?
Keywords: Flint
Organization: Institute for Communication Technology, ETH Zuerich
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 18:51:19 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.231617.22354@dragon.acadiau.ca>,
	 880518l@dragon.acadiau.ca (Nelson Langille) writes:
|> What are lighter flints made of?  I know that it burns nicely when you grind
|> (carefully) some out with the lighter and give it a spark.

They are (were?) made of an alloy of iron (Fe) and cer (Ce). They have to be
ground very carefully. Be prepared for the powder to ignite at any time while
grinding. Handling the powder roughly with a pestle in a mortar made of china
(how do you call them?) will light it. It will sit in the mortar, glowing
silently, the glow advancing slowly. When you decide to dump the hot powder
on a cold surface, it flares up, as it comes in contact with much more oxygen
and burns in a quite spectacular way :-(

Mix ground lighter flint into black powder slurry (with a little wall paper 
glue or similar as a binder), smear on on wooden sticks,
set to dry. Makes kind of sparklers. Quite pretty. Maybe dangerous? Not that
I know of.

	Christian Brechbuehler
	
	Communication Technology Lab, Image Science Group
	Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland

Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Moving Fireworks?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 01:44:52 GMT

I wrote:
: buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda) writes:
: : 
: : To deliver, you must have a CDL with Hazmat, a medical certificate, a placarded
: : vehical with bill of ladings etc.  I expect you will need to show a permit
: : and/or a Fed permit to ship.  You will also need insurance on your vehicle
: : for $5mil, if I remember correctly.
: 
: I think you have the insurance requirements too high - I seem to recall it
: being about $500,000 for interstate transport. I will try to remember to look
: it up. By the way, the figures I saw were the proposed insurance requirements.

I should have know better than to rely on my memory.

Mark is right for fireworks carried on a vehicle with a GVWR > 10,000 lbs.
The insurance required is $5Mil.

There is a misprint in the PGI Bulletin, so I cannot tell the requirements
for Class B fireworks carried in vehicle with less than 10,000 lbs GVWR.
It probably is $600,000.  Does anyone have a copy of the FMCSR handy to
check?

Bill
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Greek Fire
Date: 22 Jul 92 22:05:11 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

stevek@providence (Steven Klitzing) writes:
: What is "Greek Fire?"  This is something that the ancient greeks used to  
: torch castles and fortifications?  I've heard it was the ancient world's  
: version of napalm and that it had naptha or something in it?  Can anyone  
: elaborate on this?

There is a lot of conjecture about what was used. It was also supposed to
burn under water. None of the formulations were recorded, so we can only
guess.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: beck@irs130.inf.tu-dresden.de (Andre Beck)
Subject: Re: Lighter Flints?
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Dresden
	<1992Jul22.185119.12729@bernina.ethz.ch>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 18:38:08 GMT

Tip for these lighter flints:

take one with a heat resistant device, hold it into fire until its red,
and then dump it on a cold surface. Will produce nice fireworks.

--ABP
From: 880518l@dragon.acadiau.ca (Nelson Langille)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Lighter Flints?
Summary: What is it?
Keywords: Flint
Date: 21 Jul 92 23:16:17 GMT
Organization: Acadia University

What are lighter flints made of?  I know that it burns nicely when you grind
(carefully) some out with the lighter and give it a spark.
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: mirk@nim.ctt.bellcore.com (Andy Mirkis)
Subject: Anyone out there know of a DZ around Winston-Salem NC???
Summary: Help!
Keywords: Where??
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc.
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 22:21:00 GMT

Anyone out there know of a DZ in North Carolina??  Preferably
around Winston-Salem.  Thanks in advance!!

-Andy

------------------------------
Andy Mirkis
Bell Communications Research
Piscataway, New Jersy
------------------------------
From: bleck@mobot.ai.mit.edu (Olaf Bleck)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Lost Prairie
Date: 28 Jul 92 16:18:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: life.25918
Reply-To: bleck@ai.mit.edu
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

|> >one last thing, anyone know if Delta has a policy concerning 
|> >rigs abord their craft as carry-on?
|> 
|> Hmmm,  It might make the other passengers a little nervous!


I just tell them with a smirk that I wouldn't get on a plane without!

-Olaf
B15057
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: porman@fenix.encore.com (Paul Orman)
Subject: Re: Two canopies out
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 21:04:43 GMT

In article <5484@lhdsy1.lahabra.chevron.com>, yzarn@lhdsy1.lahabra.chevron.com (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) writes:
|> In article <1992Jul28.023211.24481@mercury.cair.du.edu> tjreynol@zephyr.cair.du.edu (The Jumpin Dude) writes:
|> >In article <1992Jul27.150646.2526@virtech.uucp> mark@vti.com writes:
|> >>
|> >>I don't think that there could possibly be a reason for keeping
|> >>two perfectly working parachutes over your head.
|> >
|> >the guy that did that here a few weeks ago had this reason: 
|> >
|> >I didn't want to chop a perfectly good canopy.
|> >
|> >>In response(agreement?) to the above statement, I wouldn't want to
|> >>steer a personal side-by-side.  Brrrrr...  gives me the shivers.
|> >
|> >he said it flew just fine. his reserve lines are at least a foot 
|> >shorter than his main lines.
|> 
|> Yeah? Well, what would have happened *if* a little air disturbance at
|> 500-600' (or lower...) would have changed that side-by-side into a downplane?
|> 
|> I think that it is extremely risky to keep two squares over your head
|> *hoping* that they do  not start fighting each other. This is a very
|> unstable configuration. I would have chopped the main away.

Actually this seems to be one of those areas were everyone has a
different idea and nobody really has enough evidence to know who's
*really* correct.  Case in point: Didn't "Parachutist" just print
an article a couple of issues ago about some case studies in
multiple canopies out??  I don't remember all the particulars but
I seem to remember something like 100 tests jumps with both reserve
and main out at the same time.  They even printed a picture of one
of the test jumpers with both canopies out.  Looked more like a stack
than a side-by-side to me.  Granted, 100 jumps isn't very many and
they were probably all done with the SAME gear (the article may have
even stated that) so we need to collect more data with different
gear, gear configurations, and different jumpers and jump conditions,
but it would seem that we at least have a little bit of data sugessting
that two canopies overhead is not nearly as critical as some have made
it out to be.

Personally I would probably try to turn the canopies out creating a
personal downplane on *purpose* and then chop the main.  This would
probably reduce the chance of entanglement.  The reason I would get
rid of the main is not because of fear of what the chutes would do
in the air but rather because it seems like it would be very
difficult to flare two canopies on landing.
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving