16 replies to this topic

[Nessalco]

I've put together a tutorial on making and granulating TPA flash powder. A form of flash much less sensitive to handling, it is still an excellent report compound.

 

 

 TPA Flash Article.pdf   156.3KB   196 downloads

 

 

A video of the production process is at http://youtu.be/3fyoMKt9CYw

 

 

Mumbles OK'd posting this article in the General Section.

 

Kevin O

[TYRONEEZEKIEL]

I am particularly impressed with how slow burning it is in the open. In your video it looked like a white star comp.  Does that stuff seriously function as flash in a salute? I have never experimented with it but it seems that it would give less of a report than the same cavity filled with BP. 

[ddewees]

Nice video Kevin. Are you granulating it so you can store it, or just for ease of loading devices?

While it certainly burns slowly, it is an extremely hot burn. Not something you'd want climbing up your arms.

How do you compare it to using blue aluminum? Not as safe, but more reliable?

Thanks again for the detailed article, I still haven't used this stuff, but do have some TPA.

[nater]

Very nice video. Thank you for sharing.

[Nessalco]

I am particularly impressed with how slow burning it is in the open. In your video it looked like a white star comp.  Does that stuff seriously function as flash in a salute? I have never experimented with it but it seems that it would give less of a report than the same cavity filled with BP. 

This comp gives an excellent report when contained. I find the report to be just as loud as standard 70:30, and some people think the pressure wave is greater. Can't say, one way or another, but it certainly goes boom. Loudly.

 

Nice video Kevin. Are you granulating it so you can store it, or just for ease of loading devices?

While it certainly burns slowly, it is an extremely hot burn. Not something you'd want climbing up your arms.

How do you compare it to using blue aluminum? Not as safe, but more reliable?

Thanks again for the detailed article, I still haven't used this stuff, but do have some TPA.

 

Dan, I granulate it mostly so I can fill bottom shots solidly and not have the comp settle. An added benefit is the reduced dust - this year when I made my bottom shots, I went through 6 kilos of flash. It was nice and easy when it came time to clean up. Finally, when granulated the comp burns more aggressively in devices but burns slower in the open. I can't explain why - it seems counter-intuitive.

 

I agree I wouldn't want this stuff going up in my face, but I wouldn't want star comp - or any other comp - to do so. To my mind the big benefit is that it is far less likely to initiate at all - the TPA seriously desensitizes the comp. I can't compare it to blue aluminum, as I've never used it.

 

Kevin

Edited by Nessalco, 17 July 2015 - 03:28 AM.

[Nessalco]

 

The charge in this lampara is 15 grams of granulated TPA flash.

 

Kevin

[fckiamdead]

Thanks for sharing. Nice vid and pdf.

Have you tried the other "safe®" flash comp whit pentaerythritol? (It's a common comp in the army and patented)

[Nessalco]

I have not. I've had no access to pentaerythritol.

Edited by Nessalco, 17 July 2015 - 05:29 AM.

[ddewees]

This comp gives an excellent report when contained. I find the report to be just as loud as standard 70:30, and some people think the pressure wave is greater. Can't say, one way or another, but it certainly goes boom. Loudly.

 

 

Dan, I granulate it mostly so I can fill bottom shots solidly and not have the comp settle. An added benefit is the reduced dust - this year when I made my bottom shots, I went through 6 kilos of flash. It was nice and easy when it came time to clean up. Finally, when granulated the comp burns more aggressively in devices but burns slower in the open. I can't explain why - it seems counter-intuitive.

 

I agree I wouldn't want this stuff going up in my face, but I wouldn't want star comp - or any other comp - to do so. To my mind the big benefit is that it is far less likely to initiate at all - the TPA seriously desensitizes the comp. I can't compare it to blue aluminum, as I've never used it.

 

Kevin

 

Ok, thanks.

[nater]

I have had a hard time getting blue aluminum flash to ignite reliably. So far my first few experiments with TPA flash have been positive. I have not tried granulating it, but I plan to. My next test with it will see if it can work with light confinement such as flash bags and cap plug sized reports.

[ddewees]

Hunter told me once it worked with cap plugs... 

[pyrokid]

Has there been any experimentation with the addition of sulfur to the mix?

[zan89]

We in Hamex do it same way, we dont use tps but nitro lacquerfor binding it.

[OblivionFall]

Why not just use Blue Aluminum powder? Saves you some time and is $12 / lb from hobbyhorse. Can't ignite unconfined.

Also if you have trouble igniting it you could put a tiny "flash bag" of 7:3 normal flash at the end of a fuse to ignite it.

[Nessalco]

Blue aluminum is fine, I guess - I've never tried it. I got started making TPA flash and never bothered with other products. The one thing I've heard about blue al is that it is difficult to ignite even when contained - the clips I've seen showed the use of lots of blackmatch to get it going.

 

The cost is, I think, a wash. I got TPA for $6 a pound, and it replaces half the regular aluminum.

 

Kevin

[Pyroman24]

Blue aluminum is fine, I guess - I've never tried it. I got started making TPA flash and never bothered with other products. The one thing I've heard about blue al is that it is difficult to ignite even when contained - the clips I've seen showed the use of lots of blackmatch to get it going.

 

The cost is, I think, a wash. I got TPA for $6 a pound, and it replaces half the regular aluminum.

 

Kevin

Why can’t I download this PDF is it because I need to comment sorry admins for bringing old threads up

[justvisiting]

Pyroman24, you have to be logged in to download the PDF. I just downloaded it with no problem. BTW, the author has since passed away. If anybody wants the video or PDF, they might want to get it now.