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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Hi everyone,
I read in another forum about getting the most out of a piece of flash paper by exposing it to a lot of heat. (but not a lot like in glo plugs, otherwise it will go off). It is supposed to become sort of crispy, that one is able to crack it. When it is cracked, it bursts into flames. Does this work? Has anyone ever tried this before. It looks like this procedure takes a lot of time. I have tried the hair dryer and also a lit hylogen lamp. But I gave up. Does an iron (the one used for clothes I mean) work? Help me, please. Ivan
Yours,
Ivan |
BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
This sounds like a theory, and I wonder if it will work at all. I can imagine what it would take to get the paper so dry it would crackle. And unless static electricity is what sets it off, which is probably possible but not probable.
A unit like a food dryer (the kind that uses a light bulb to make dried fruits, etc, might dry it, but I still think it wouldn't be worth the effort - because if just cracking it - set's it off - you would be hard pressed to take it anywhere to use it, without it going off. Sounds rather silly and functionally impractical, even if it was possible, which I don't believe. But Hey, I am the guy who said; "those Wright boys had better stick to bicycles, cause they will never get that other thing off the ground!" But seriously, I just think that flash paper at normal humidity, is a nice balance of dangerous, and useful, easy to handle with reasonable caution, I wouldn't try drying it out anymore. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Thanks a lot for the help BroDavid.
Yours,
Ivan |
Peedlkyle New user I live in my house 98 Posts |
BroDavid, the idea on the other forum he saw (I saw it too) was to place dried FP into a split playing card. What do you think of that idea, is it still dangerous? I've never done it so I have no idea how to handle dried FP. Also niva, in one of the other posts here they suggested microwaving FP, I think that would work really good.
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
Hmmm, I guess that I don't see why/how that makes sense. PM me the link to the "other place" (I hate to leave home; "The Café", but I can exist in the air outside of here too.) And I will try to see more clearly the purpose of doing it, and the application in a split card.
I am slow, but I am teachable, so maybe I can learn something more on it. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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eps New user 3 Posts |
The dealer gets flash paper wet in a pack. Just lay out the paper to air dry. Don't dry it under any form of heat or it may be set off accidentally. Best to let it dry naturally.
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Albert Tam New user Hong Kong 2 Posts |
I total agree with eps, let it dry naturally. No matter how, those are danger items which need to be handled safely.
There are other concerns, give air to the dry paper when you store them, the air tight plastic bag would not be good for them. |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Yes I know one has to be very careful with these things. But it was said in this forum, that if the Flash Paper is dried in a microwave, it won't ignite. Besides, if it ever ignites, it does so inside the microwave and there are no dangers there.
And another thing. I am not trying to dry the FP but rather, I am trying to get the FP crispy to the point where it can be cracked. Ivan
Yours,
Ivan |
Gr8neSS New user Las Vegas 53 Posts |
I also saw that post in the other forum... It sounds very interesting... I am dying to know if it works but too much of a #@#$ to try it myself. LOL.... someone brave please let me know how it turned out.
Brandon |
Peedlkyle New user I live in my house 98 Posts |
Once I get some FP I will try this. Just a little piece so my microwave doesn't get ruined if it goes wrong. I think it would work pretty good though.
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
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mghia Veteran user Kymystical 387 Posts |
I never heard of this. Just drying the paper will not do anything except make it easier to light.
THINK! my friend what you are doing, IF it does work. Just CRUMBLING it will set it off. So what about transporting or holding it before you want it to go off? I never understand how people do not think things through. They want stuff that reacts with water or air but forget that the air has moisture in it and air can get into load spots and then you could be in trouble. Flash paper safe in the microwave? Sorry but two things will happen. A full sheet will produce enough gas to blow your microwaves door open. OR if it does not, the flame could melt the plastic in the mircowave. Safe? Nothing in fire magic is SAFE! Some things are SAFER than others but when working with NITROCELLUOUS you really should be trained and not trying to get it to set off by "Crinkling" it. It's one "OK" property, is that normally you need an outside source to light flash paper. I really think you need to think this through. You will have to tip-toe around with it, if it is that sensative which makes it unstable to be practical. I do believe that drying it out might make it easier to set off with a spark. If you work with flash cotton you know it only takes a SPARK to get the fire GOING. |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Better safe than sorry. I would always let it dry in advance.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Hi,
Thanks again for your help. I do not think it would be that difficult to transport these dried flash papers. Just a thin metal box, like the ones to carry cigarettes in, would do the job. You also got me thinking about the possibility that the FP melts the plastic of the microwave. I never thought of that. Thanks for mentioning it. But that would never stop me from trying it. A plate would do the job there. And finally I would NEVER dream of putting a whole piece of FP inside the microwave. I only need a small piece, smaller than the size of a playing card. Thanks again Ivan
Yours,
Ivan |
mghia Veteran user Kymystical 387 Posts |
Transporting CAN be dangerous even if this over drying is possible. THIN METAL? Man you are not thinking. THINK of all the metal shards flying around your car from the pipe bomb you created. Or the fact that you will freak out if something happens. You will probably drive off the road or into traffic.
Yes the amount of paper will make the difference but you seem still not to know how FP works. Do you use a flash wand? Why do you think a small piece of cotton can send just a wad of paper 15 feet and how a burning flash paper will move out of that tube so fast and closer to 25 feet? GAS my man! The reason it does not explode is because it has a place to vent. Don't give it a place to vent and if the metal is to thin it will blow the metal apart. My point was that if DRYING to the point that a crumble would set it off, it would mean it was very UNSTABLE. SO just rubbing around in your moving car could set it off. SO even if you think you are safe with your transport you still might be out of luck when you get to your show and you have nothing but smoke. Cars are also made of flamable materials that put off toxic gas. You are going to do what you want but I figured I would put my two cents in. Nitrocelluous is what you are dealing with that is what Flash paper is. NITRO can become unstable over time. Trust me, you want whatever control you can over it. |
kingsnqueens New user Oklahoma 77 Posts |
Hello Niva,
I make my own Flash Paper. I don't recommend this unless you train with a chemist that has the expertise to do this. Making flash paper can be hazardous to you, the building you work in, and innocent by standers. Back to the subject. When I'm making paper I hang it on the clothes line to dry. Then iron it to get the wrinkles out (warm not hot iron). I work on one sheet at a time keeping the other at a distance. When they're done I put them neatly in a zip lock bag wet with distilled water. I store my flamables in USMC Ammo box painted red. I hope this helps! ...... Manyfingers |
BLAZE New user london ,England 13 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-12-04 22:26, BroDavid wrote: I know of a couple of chemicals that if dried out will have this sort of reaction and the trigger is kinetic energy which causes rapid decomposition (in other words to rough and it goes off) can someone please p.m. me the link so I can take a look, if it looks ok, I'll give it a go and let you all know how I got on, if not, send get well wishes to Kings College Hospital, London. hehe, BLAZE
that is not dead which can eternal lie
yet with strange eons even death may die H.P.Lovecraft |
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