Seasonal Explosives Applications

[A.G.Morgan]

June is winding to a close and many of you know what that means here in the United States.

The 4^th of JULY is drawing near.

Never mind the historical significance. The facet of this holiday that ALL steampunks can appreciate is that for several weeks it is possible, nay it is nearly impossible to NOT, buy explosives and "light" artillery pieces for very reasonable prices.

The question is what to do with them. Sure, using "festival ball" mortar shells as hand grenades is fun, but I'm certain we can come up with more creative uses for these combustibles.

I'm trying to figure out a practical black cat powered canon. Any thoughts?

[CapnHarlock]

The only seasonal explosives I indulge in are the small paper "poppers" that explode on impact.

When propelled from a slingshot in the general vicinity of an opossum or raccoon (no need for a direct hit) they are most effective at keeping one's rubbish bins un-raided, without the need for more lethal tactics or armaments.

[phuphuphnik]

I make scale 18th century cannon for fun. My Daughter's can fire the little round smoke bombs about 30 yards. My 40mm mortar does the hollow plastic golfballs 25 yards, real ones go much farther.
If I want altitude Sugar rockets are the way to go.
I'm more a ballistics guy than explosive guy anymore. Got too dangerous.
Just remember Nitro goes 'crack' TNT goes 'THUD' but black powder is a good solid BooM.

[Zwack]

Given that we live with 11 dogs on a wooded lot (7 old growth Douglas firs) and that July is hot and relatively dry...

I do not like the fireworks that started to go off last week, and will continue to go off for another three weeks. 

Z.

[Anders]

Sadly some states have banned the "fun" stuff.  Around here we must either engage in illicit activities or settle for the crowd-packed city shows if we wish to indulge in the real boomers.

[A.G.Morgan]

Which state has trodden so violently on the rights of its citizens?

Here in the Indian Nations the only thing banned that I know of is bottle rockets (no it doesn't make any sense), but we just go over to Arkansas and get them and no one'll bother you in my experience.

[Anders]

Which state has trodden so violently on the rights of its citizens?

What state has not?  But to the topic at hand, Minnesota has egregiously legislated away our fun fireworks, leaving only sparklers and small fountains.  No point, in my opinion, since people who want to be stupid are going to be stupid regardless of laws or statutes.

[MPsy]

Ah, time to stock up on cheapo special effects.

[Yvarg]

I always enjoy taking apart commercial fireworks and pouring their contents into tennis or ping pong balls, then taping them up tightly with a sufficient amount of fuse. Of course, you can hardly get any worthwhile fireworks legally around here so I'll have to make a trip to Chinatown soon. 

[Sir Nikolas Vendigroth]

Bonfire night.

The night we celebrate the fact that the king didn't explode.

[elShoggotho]

Thank you, Sir Nikolas, for reminding me to make a replica of the House of Parliament, just to blow it up on the fifth of November.

[Sir Nikolas Vendigroth]

Thank you, Sir Nikolas, for reminding me to make a replica of the House of Parliament, just to blow it up on the fifth of November.

You're too late, Richard Hammond did it a few years ago.

I'm sure it's on hte intertube somewhere, if you look...

[GentlemanCaller]

Bonfire night.

The night we celebrate the fact that the king didn't explode.

Yes, I've never quite understood that one either.

[Smaggers]

Well in some places around the UK we used to burn an effigy of the pope rather than an italian mercenary (guido fawkes). 

Obviously nowadays this is seen as Not Tactful, so we've stopped.

Apart from one town that still does.

Hooray for ecumenical understanding and all that. 

[Zwack]

Yes, but at least November isn't during Fire season.  We've already had the first wildfires of the year.

Z.

[Smaggers]

Here's another one.  Up Helly A, which was tweaked in the 1870s to take on a particularly viking theme.

Great picture of victorian vikings here ->

http://www.uphellyaa.org/3.html

[hexidecima]

Which state has trodden so violently on the rights of its citizens?

Here in the Indian Nations the only thing banned that I know of is bottle rockets (no it doesn't make any sense), but we just go over to Arkansas and get them and no one'll bother you in my experience.

ah, Pennsylvania has.  However, we do have the utterly weird law that allows people to sell the higher powered stuff but no resident of PA can buy it.    We can only have sparklers and things like "snakes" etc. 

[T.Taylor the Third]

I love tennesse We can buy anything here all year round at the fireworks stores
from bottle rockets to thoes ones that explode in an awsome light show
me and my friends carey bottle rockets and lighters in our cars and throw them out the windows in rural areas (away from cops)

[Unkillable cat]

Bonfire night.

The night we celebrate the fact that the king didn't explode.

Yes, I've never quite understood that one either.

I always assumed that we celebrate the fact that someone tried?

[Great Bizarro]

Take a small tin can poke a hole in the bottom after emptying the content out, place it in a bucket of water with the level of the water about 1" from the top of the tin can, poke a firecracker (black cat preferred) in the hole, lean back a bit and light. It will go straight up about 20' or more. Makes the fireworks last longer!

[A.G.Morgan]

Bonfire night.

The night we celebrate the fact that the king didn't explode.

Yes, I've never quite understood that one either.

I always assumed that we celebrate the fact that someone tried?

I always thought it was just an excuse to fire off fireworks. Most holidays with them are I figure.

[Katlyntje]

Which state has trodden so violently on the rights of its citizens?

Maine is another such state. Honestly, I can't say I really mind that much. It's actually really funny to read the local police beat in the paper and see all the people who get busted with 'em.

[hexidecima]

I love tennesse We can buy anything here all year round at the fireworks stores
from bottle rockets to thoes ones that explode in an awsome light show
me and my friends carey bottle rockets and lighters in our cars and throw them out the windows in rural areas (away from cops)

bad idea.  can we say "forest or field fire"?

[Zorch]

I now share with you my favorite holiday re purposing project - the sparkler rocket.

Got sparklers?  Lame are they not?  Not for much longer!! 

Stuff you need:
1. Sparklers - any kind will do
2. A cardboard tube from a coat hanger or similarly sized/strength tube
3. Wirecutters and needle nose pliers (optional but helpful)
4. Tape (duct is best!)

First, remove the metal handles from the ends from as many sparklers as you and can cram into the tube -- then do exactly that.  Be sure to leave room for 3 WITH handles sticking out of the bottom.  Bend the three handles into Z shapes (these will be the legs of your rocket).  Leave one handle-less sparker protruding at least an inch out of the bottom of the tube.  Tape up the top of the tube.

Set the up someplace that wont catch fire and in a place where you don't mind scorch marks.  A well soaked board will work to protect the ground too. 

Light protruding sparkler and get very far away. 

Fun ensues! 

If you can find the tube in the aftermath, you can often reuse it multiple times.  This simple but effective bit of fun was taught to me by an uncle long ago - its surprisingly effective!  I take no responsibility for property damage, injury, loss of life, ....  you name it and it wasn't my fault!   Have fun!   

[Yvarg]

While that does sound like great fun, I have a feeling that not just "any kind" will do for that. Over here in California the only sparklers you can find are the cheap bamboo-handle ones which apparently are utterly useless for any of the great "modifications" of their wire-handled counterparts.