Creating a bright flash?

[Bujenkem]

When I was a kid I remember buying some fireworks that made it seem like the sun was up when it was pitch black outside. I think it was a "fountain" or something but I'd like to be able to create something like this.

I'd like something that can be super bright but only last for about a second or half a second, and I don't really want an explosion cause those are dangerous.

Is there any way I can do this without chemicals that are hard to obtain? I'd like one that lasts several minutes as well.

EDIT: It seems this forum is for snobby chemistry nerds that are obsessed with high explosives. Not a place for pyrotechnic discussion. It should be renamed "There's a bomb making chemistry nerd in us all" lol. This forum is dead anyway.

I also found this:

For photographic use, mixtures containing magnesium and nitrates are made much more fuel rich. The excess magnesium is volatilized by the reaction and burns in air providing additional light.

That should work nicely if I could obtain magnesium powder. I'll probably try aluminum powder first since that's easier to find.

[nuclearrabbit]

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...rent=flare.flv

[The Savage]

Originally Posted by Bujenkem

EDIT: It seems this forum is for snobby chemistry nerds that are obsessed with high explosives. Not a place for pyrotechnic discussion. It should be renamed "There's a bomb making chemistry nerd in us all" lol. This forum is dead anyway.

Most of the pyros here either left of graduated to HE (Who'd of guessed zoklet peepes mainly like to blow shit up? ), there are other much better pyro only forums if that's what you're looking for.

[BlackopsNinja]

[DJ Meaty Cheeks]

Cut open a bunch of shotgun shells and light up a big pile of the propellant. Not sure if it'll give you a flash like your looking for but good fun either way.

[Hammer Tank]

http://www.sciencestuff.com/prod/Chem-Rgnts/C2007

magnesium burns extremely bright white. buy a little ribbon of it and it will burn like a (really fast) candle.

[InspiredByMe]

Originally Posted by Bujenkem

EDIT: It seems this forum is for snobby chemistry nerds that are obsessed with high explosives. Not a place for pyrotechnic discussion. It should be renamed "There's a bomb making chemistry nerd in us all" lol. This forum is dead anyway.

Shut up, no one here makes bombs. Unlike people fishing for a cheap comp and quick flash we like to use common sense here and we like to keep ourselves safe, preferably the people that come here to but they don't always listen.

Your venturing down the road of most other kidiots, straight to flash what a brilliant idea or so you think.

Just keep with the KNO3 and S, don't try a high powerful oxidizer and you should be fine. And if this is your first time doing real pyro for gods sake don't do flash first, make some smoke bombs or bp with that KNO3 you get first. Get a sense of what your playing with before you do something stupid.

[nuclearrabbit]

Originally Posted by inb4lock

You want a slow Nitrate flash composition. Something like 50% Potassium Nitrate, 30% paint grade Aluminum, and 20% Sulfur would work well. You can get KNO3 and Sulfur at a hardware store (Sold as 'Stump Remover' and 'Garden Sulfur' respectively), and Al powder at a paint store or on eBay. A few grams of this mixture in a loose pile burns for about a second, and is extremely bright.

If you want something that lasts longer, you can press this composition into a tube to form a flare. I once made a 200g KNO3/Al/S flare, and it lit up an entire 5 acre backyard for about 30 seconds.

lulz that's what my video is.

[Hammer Tank]

Originally Posted by InspiredByMe

Shut up, no one here makes bombs.

incorrect. I make bombs

[nuclearrabbit]

Originally Posted by Hammer Tank

incorrect. I make bombs

Shoa, where in CO are you at?

[Hammer Tank]

my location is misinformation

[nuclearrabbit]

Originally Posted by Hammer Tank

my location is misinformation

So is mine.

A pile of CuO/Al makes a good flash too.

[Irukanji]

Glass tube, sealed at both ends, and put 50-100Kv through it. Should make a bright flash

Also remember a 10,000 sparkler sparkler bomb pic doing the same sort of effect.

[nuclearrabbit]

I had a video I made in the past. Zirconium wire in a sealed glass tube. Pass a current through it, the glass melts, the Zr exposes to the air, really blinding shit.

[usernameunavailable]

Argon flash. Google it.

[Obie]

It was probably a sparkler bomb

[AprenticeChemist]

First off to answer the first persons post, if I was you I would go with KNO3/Mg mix because its the easiest to obtain chemicals and ratios are not as critical. Also I say Mg over Al because one Mg generally produces brighter compositions and the mesh of the Mg doesn't have to be as fine as the Al and Mg is not that hard to obtain just buy a firestarter thing from a camping store. But KNO3/Al/S works wonders to.

Secondly as far as good pyro/HE forums APCforum.net is still around and they have a HE section except its only accesable to those that have proved their worth and experience. Basically if you are a noob and want to make explosives you have to go somewhere else they only allow access to those with some pyro/HE experience or those they deem responsible. APC is a great place for information though. As far as here and BB(backyardballistics the TOTSE version of this) there was a time about 5 years ago when BB was an excellent website for information when greats such as Andyboy, Warweed, Zero, Ratbastard and many other legends of BB still posted but then it just started going down hill and there was only noobs asking questions and the vets trying their best not to get annoyed at the ignorance.

So in conclusion get some Al or Mg some KNO3 and sulfur wouldn't hurt. Then you can either look up a ratio for an Al comp or just use apx. 50/50 mix of KNO3/Mg. For the few seconds just burn the composition in a pile or loosely in a tube. For a longer burn compact the fuck out of it in a tube. Also if you are really interested in learning more pyro go to APCforum.net great place for noobs.

[Unholy Batman]

the brightest burning mixture is 50:50 NaNO3 + Mg. it burns significantly brighter then KNO3/Mg. It is used in military illumination ordinance.

[cheech]

Just keep rubbing your virgin penis until it feels really good. Then you will see a bright flash.

[My Mom Is Dead]

Originally Posted by InspiredByMe

Shut up, no one here makes bombs. Unlike people fishing for a cheap comp and quick flash we like to use common sense here and we like to keep ourselves safe, preferably the people that come here to but they don't always listen.

Your venturing down the road of most other kidiots, straight to flash what a brilliant idea or so you think.

Just keep with the KNO3 and S, don't try a high powerful oxidizer and you should be fine. And if this is your first time doing real pyro for gods sake don't do flash first, make some smoke bombs or bp with that KNO3 you get first. Get a sense of what your playing with before you do something stupid.

RANT RANT RANT RANT!!!!!
lol, you have failed hardcore, buddy. Our good, dear OP specifically stated he does NOT want explosives of any sort. He's looking to make fountains at best. Flash powder may or may not be the answer to what he's looking for, but you're getting your panties in a bunch accusing him of kewl newbertry. In short, go fuck yourself.

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by Bujenkem

That should work nicely if I could obtain magnesium powder. I'll probably try aluminum powder first since that's easier to find.

As already said, forget about the Al and go with Mg, as a substitute you could use Ti, but I think that might be a bit hard to find.
Another compound that might help you get the effect you're looking for, would be Antimony trisulfide, but I don't know where you could get it as I have no idea how it works where you live.

Oh, and try to keep the tone civilized, gentlemen, after all, this is a specialist forum and there's no need to drag it down to the level of the general conversation forums.

[ChronicBoom!]

Originally Posted by Hammer Tank

http://www.sciencestuff.com/prod/Chem-Rgnts/C2007

magnesium burns extremely bright white. buy a little ribbon of it and it will burn like a (really fast) candle.

You can buy "bars" of this and shave pieces off. You can probably find it in the camping section, it's for starting camp fires.

[My Mom Is Dead]

Originally Posted by ChronicBoom!

You can buy "bars" of this and shave pieces off. You can probably find it in the camping section, it's for starting camp fires.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...112&zmap=66560

They'll look something like that.

[InspiredByMe]

Originally Posted by My Mom Is Dead

RANT RANT RANT RANT!!!!!
lol, you have failed hardcore, buddy. Our good, dear OP specifically stated he does NOT want explosives of any sort. He's looking to make fountains at best. Flash powder may or may not be the answer to what he's looking for, but you're getting your panties in a bunch accusing him of kewl newbertry. In short, go fuck yourself.

Did I even suggest op to make explosives? No.

In case you haven't noticed flash can also fuck up lots of things. I wish that site with those pics was still up, you know the one with the guy that got a co2 case through his leg because of BP.

OP maybe you could idk check the resource thread...
http://www.zoklet.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=27923