andygates Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 I like playing with pyros, always have - my junior school volcano caught fire and my LARP scripted wizard fights had flashpots and fireballs from hilltops. Lately it's been firebreathing and thermite. :evil:A friend has a solstice bonfire, with booze and wassailing and fire-breathing and stuff. It's become tradition that I light the bonfire with thermite. It started out as an expedient event for testing my composition, but the planned use -- one-shot thermite art casting -- got distracted by the FOOSH! Oh such a lovely foosh.As you all know from school chemistry, it takes a high-temperature source to ignite thermite. You generally use either a magnesium taper or a bit of pyro composition; schlubs like me use garden sparklers, as the sparks are magnesium hot and Mg tapers are hard to light outdoors. It's a bit close though and I scream and swear when startled by FOOSH so the plan this year? Electric igniters. Got me some nichrom resistance wire. Wound a coil around a slim former, soldered on some fly-leads, then slid it onto a sparkler. Applied 12v. The wire glows red immediately, the sparkler ignites with perfect control. WOOT! Houston, we are go for ignition. Quote Link to comment
This is Seth Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 Well that sounds safe. Gods forbid you burn off that magical moustache of yours. Quote You ever see those guys who look like they totally used to be in shape? I'm working to get back to that... Link to comment
Timmy M Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 lol nice video... gotta love the 'you beauty!' at the end works well with the accent Quote Link to comment
smurray Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 That was awesome! I am glad you found a better way of lighting your thermite. Quote Smurray -- Ranger (Level 4)STR 8 | DEX 5 | STA 8 | CON 8 | WIS 14 | CHA 9Challenges:Current,, First, Second, Third, FourthIt never hurts to add a little more color to life... a lot more color could be a bit painful. Link to comment
ETFnerd Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 I feel like I just met you in your youtube videos. Nice to meet you Andy. Quote i don't care what u think of me. unless u think i'm awesome. in which case u're right. Intro - Workout Log - ABS Log - Fitness Philosophy - Accountability - NERDEE - Weight Maintenance Link to comment
Hermione Gainser Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 That was awesome. But please... be careful of the 'stache. That is too glorious a 'stache to go up in flames. I highly encourage more youtube videos. Quote "I'm just going to remember to not eat like an asshole most of the time" - MoC three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: one must squat.- Brobert Frost Half-Elf Warrior | Current Challenge New Battle Log | Old Battle Log Special thanks to AkLulu for drawing my awesome avatar! Link to comment
bigm141414 Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 That was awesome. But please... be careful of the 'stache. That is too glorious a 'stache to go up in flames. I highly encourage more youtube videos. Do they make fire rated 'stache protectors? Like a little hard hat? Because that stache needs to be preserved for future generations. Quote "Pull the bar like you're ripping the head off a god-damned lion" - Donny Shankle Link to comment
Hermione Gainser Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 Do they make fire rated 'stache protectors? Like a little hard hat? Because that stache needs to be preserved for future generations. Seriously, you're killing me today. My coworkers think I've lost it. Also, I think I have a new product line in mind! Facial hair hard hats! *Teeeheee* Quote "I'm just going to remember to not eat like an asshole most of the time" - MoC three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: one must squat.- Brobert Frost Half-Elf Warrior | Current Challenge New Battle Log | Old Battle Log Special thanks to AkLulu for drawing my awesome avatar! Link to comment
andygates Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Doubly dangerous if you've got a waxed moustache. That's a total human-wick spontaneous human combustion threat!Spent, er, the entire day building and testing my pyro firing box. I really need a better soldering iron. These little butane jobbies are field-expedient but suck compared to even a cheapo mains unit. Still, I have triple-safe heavy 12v making incandescence at a safe distance, which is what is required. :thumbsup:Ready to misbehave. by andygates, on FlickrNerd points: the box is a couple of old backup tape cases, and the battery is one scavenged from a UPS that was being retired. Quote Link to comment
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