Fireworks

[david and julie]

Brought back memories that planenut.

Do you remember how pieces of 1/2inch copper pipe were bent over to make guns to fire bangers!

We used to buy bangers by the dozen, wrapped with elastic bands, then carry them around in our pockets all night. Thinking back we probably carried enough to take our arms or legs off!

I can remember opening a launderette door and chucking a rip-rap in! we must of been nearly as bad as today's youth, not as violent though.

Nobody really bothered about H&S then.

 

[planenut]

I was in the church choir, so I was a good boy.
Still, it didn't stop us breaking open loads of bangers stuffing the powder into the base of a chimney and eventually demolishing it.
My ear still smarts from the memory of meeting the local bobby as he cut off our escape.

 

[pipme]

'Crow scares' ... Almost instant fuse ... blue flash ... pop into sink overflow, fag end on the touch paper run like F on the 'H' of hiss .... blast came on the final 'S', enlarged overflow a little !!
P

 

[2scoops0406]

I'll plead the 5th

 

[pipme]

Accepted !!

 

[kendor]

I'll plead the 5th

Of November?

 

[Damocles]

If plastic is a better explosive, does that explain why the fireworks seem to go out quicker?

 

[2scoops0406]

Kind of, plastic explosive is, well, an explosive. Gunpowder is technically a propellant. i.e.

Gunpowder explodes (burns) a lot slower than plastic. Hence why the bangs from modern fireworks are a sharp craking sound as opposed to the duller thud of the old gunpowder based fireworks. This is also why fireworks now have fuses and detonaters rather than the old blue touch paper. Plastic will not explode unless detonated, unlike gunpowder, which I guess is the reason for the change.

 

[masona]

Fireworks still going on last night, are they 1/2 price now ?

 

[planenut]

Oh, whoopidoo, it's Duvali, and where I live, it's been actually worse than November the 5th.
Thank goodness for the ban on use after 11p.m., well it hasn't helped, it is now 3.30a.m., (i'm at work) and yes I still keep hearing fireworks.
Have you considered how they can trace a loud banging rocket back to it's launch-point to pursue a prosecution?

 

[Damocles]

Nice to know that had guy Forkes succeeded the houses of of pariament would not have exploded but merely been propelled a bit

 

[jasy]

Kind of, plastic explosive is, well, an explosive. Gunpowder is technically a propellant. i.e.

Gunpowder explodes (burns) a lot slower than plastic. Hence why the bangs from modern fireworks are a sharp craking sound as opposed to the duller thud of the old gunpowder based fireworks. This is also why fireworks now have fuses and detonaters rather than the old blue touch paper. Plastic will not explode unless detonated, unlike gunpowder, which I guess is the reason for the change.

Okay, modern day aerial fireworks are made up of a container, stars, bursting charge and a fuse. The fuse will burn and acts as a delay so that the firework will gain sufficient height before the bursting charge explodes and ignites the stars inside. The bursting charge is very tightly packed and is a black powder this is what causes the explosion and ignites the stars which makes us all go ooooooh. I have not yet found any reference to plastic explosive.
Plastic explosive will not go off if lit with a match, even if you shot a piece of plastic it will not go off, it is mainly detonated by an electrical charge.

 

[2scoops0406]

The explosive bit, is not black (gun) powder anymore. Detonators can also be chemical as well as electrical. OK, I'll put my hands up and agree that it may not be plastic, but after having taken a couple of the things apart recently, they're definitely not black powder anymore. Still if it makes 'em safer I'm all for it, it's only a matter of time before Joe Public won't be able to buy them anymore (Nanny state) It is the case that you now cannot buy Cat 4 fireworks, and this I am completely in agreement with, 'cos these 'aint really fireworks, but much closer to proper ordnance, need certificates, insurance, the works. Also as Jasy has pointed out, these MUST be electrically detonated.

 

[jasy]

I am all for banning them for general sale. An organised display is just fine and it stops the lunatics from causing havoc each year. Can someone confirm this but i am sure they are banned in the states

 

[kendor]

I am all for banning them for general sale. An organised display is just fine and it stops the lunatics from causing havoc each year. Can someone confirm this but i am sure they are banned in the states

Lunatics? no way!