On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 15:43:01 GMT, "Capt. Frank Hopkins"
wrote:

Of course Gene, one should NEVER, EVER mix brylcream with powdered
swimming pool chlorine and wrap it in aluminum foil! It might just go
ka-foomp and make an impressive fireball!

CF

Gene Kearns wrote:

On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 07:23:11 GMT, "Capt. Frank Hopkins"
wrote:


hehe, alas, the days of childhood. Charcoal, saltpeter and sulfur with
assorted other chemicals. We made some dandy fireworks during the
summer. I would spend days grinding charcoal briquettes into fine powder
and mix it in the proper proportions. Add a little copper and you get a
get green. Some magnesium and get a brilliant white. A little zinc and
get blue-green, and just plain makes a nice yellow.

We would take rice and break it up, and put it in a rock tumbler with a
little wet powder mix to make the stars. A piece of 3 inch water pipe
for a mortar, and kraft paper from the butcher and potato paste glue to
make the shells.

My friend and I would light up the sky over the lake on the 4th and
Labor Day.

Of course the government had to get involved and make homemade fireworks
illegal.


Capt. Frank
Parallax wrote:




ROFL.... don't forget the potassium permanganate and sugar. And I
really miss those M-80s...


Hmmm... never tried that one. Can you still buy the stuff? I don't
think there has been any of that stuff around the house since about
1956 when, very early one morning, my dad groggily tried to use it to
brush his teeth. Was also my first lesson in words not acceptable in
polite company.....