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A signal flare is a lighted rocket or smoke flare that alerts someone to your presence. Since the early days of rocket design, military and civilian authorities have counted on smoke and burning-light flares to communicate and save lives. Commercial and military units vary in size and functionality. Smaller units are now readily available for campers and hikers. Since many people prefer to make their own camping and hiking supplies, there is a general interest in both smoke and color-burning flares. While DIY projects to build mercuric oxide-based burning-light flares are prohibited, smoke flares can be easily produced.
Steps
Mix together the potassium nitrate and the aluminum powder. Other metals will work, such as copper powder, zinc powder, potassium permanganate makes a purple flame.[1]
Cook the mixture on low heat for awhile and take it off and let it cool in a bucket or something.Advertisement
Add the bonding agent to the mixture and wait for awhile.
Add the mixture while it's about half done drying, put it into your cylinder tube. Also put in a few matches while it dries.
Light it up. Put it on the ground and have some fun.[2]
Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 cup potassium nitrate in a shake-able container or jar. Shake and turn the container to allow the material to be thoroughly mixed.[3]
Light a propane camp stove in a safe, outdoor location. Crank the flame down to a low level. Most propane stoves will produce a 1/4-inch high flame at this level.
Place the flare mixture in a heavy skillet and heat it slowly. Stir the mixture constantly. As the flare gum heats it will take on the consistency of melted plastic or chewed gum. Once the material gets to a consistency that allows it to be rolled over in the skillet, it is done.[4]
Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 30 minutes.
Shape the cooled flare material into a long, rectangular bar. Insert three matches -- wood-end first -- into one end of the flare. Push them in until the base of the match head is touching the material.
Wrap the flare in tissue paper and provide a 2-inch long paper end. Twist the end of the paper and put the flare in a self-seal plastic bag.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhat bonding agent is used in this? What different chemicals does it contain?
Community AnswerYou can use a tablespoon of glycerin for the bonding agent. - QuestionDo I need to "cook" or heat up the mixture?
Community AnswerIt should be cooked until the mixture has the consistency and color of peanut butter. - QuestionWill the flare shoot into the air?
Community AnswerNot unless you put a propellant below it.
Tips
- If you want to add color to your flare you can add metallic salts such as magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) to make it white. Strontium Nitrate to make it red (this can be some-what hard to find.) Barium will burn a pale green. So will borax. Copper sulfate burns a green too. Potassium permanganate burns purple. Look online for some other colors.Thanks
Warnings
- When you light the flare, keep it well away from the rest of your body. Or just lay it on the ground and leave.Thanks
Things You'll Need
Method 1:
- Tube (PVC, cardboard tube, anything will work really)
- Powdered aluminum
- Potassium nitrate (there's a perchlorate that works better. Either sodium perchlorate or potassium[citation needed])
- Bonding agent (flammable glue, or nail polish)
Method 2:
- Potassium nitrate
- Powdered sugar
- Mason jar or shake tumbler
- Propane camp stove
- Heavy steel skillet
- Safety goggles
- Gloves
- Cap
- Wood strike-anywhere matches
- Tissue paper
References
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