Search found 1068 matches

by richardh08
Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:34 pm
Forum: Chemistry
Topic: Strobe Chemistry
Replies: 3
Views: 47

Re: Strobe Chemistry

Unfortunately., jpyro's addition of publication data at the bottom of page 1 resulted in a disruption of the article's layout that both Yuriy and I had put in a lot of effort to maintaining. I believe he is working to get a fix.
by richardh08
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Chemistry
Topic: Strobe Chemistry
Replies: 3
Views: 47

Strobe Chemistry

An interesting paper has just been published in the Journal of Pyrotechnics.

It is free to download if you are registered and signed in on www.jpyro.co.uk
by richardh08
Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:45 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Yeah, boy! Moon, here we come!
Replies: 7
Views: 71

Re: Yeah, boy! Moon, here we come!

GMT is 6 hours ahead of CST so, for me, the landing happened after 11pm. As there was a bit of a delay between landing and the establishment of communication, I'm not sure what the exact time of landing as. But to make it memorable for me, I'm calling it as 23:24 (GMT) on 22/2/24!
by richardh08
Thu Feb 22, 2024 4:20 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Yeah, boy! Moon, here we come!
Replies: 7
Views: 71

Re: Yeah, boy! Moon, here we come!

Great news! Can't wait to see it happen.
by richardh08
Sun Oct 29, 2023 2:52 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Ken Kosanke
Replies: 1
Views: 266

Ken Kosanke

I have just seen, on the Fireworking forum, news that that Ken passed away on October 26, 2023. Here is a copy of an obituary that has appeared on that forum: Kenneth (Ken) Lee Kosanke (April 11, 1943 ‒ October 26, 2023) Ken Kosanke died quietly from Parkinson’s Disease on October 26, 2023. His wife...
by richardh08
Fri Oct 20, 2023 11:14 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Today's solar eclipse
Replies: 1
Views: 56

Re: Today's solar eclipse

Sorry for taking so long to respond. I agree that watching any kind of eclipse is an amazing experience. Over the years I've seen several partial eclipses - and two total ones. I saw the first of these from northern France in 1999 and the second from China in 2009. Actually, make that one and a half...
by richardh08
Wed Sep 13, 2023 10:13 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Good Friends and LOTS of jute!
Replies: 8
Views: 2046

Re: Good Friends and LOTS of jute!

5000lb is over 2 tons! I can't imagine how much space that amount of jute yarn would occupy.
I'll echo that wow!
by richardh08
Thu Aug 10, 2023 5:14 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Back in business
Replies: 1
Views: 2006

Back in business

The recent outage happened because nobody thought to let us know that the annual fee was due. :cry:
All sorted now.
by richardh08
Fri Jul 14, 2023 11:04 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A great disappointment!
Replies: 9
Views: 2192

Re: A great disappointment!

I've been meaning to ask for a while; which of his books were you reading?
by richardh08
Tue May 23, 2023 10:26 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A great disappointment!
Replies: 9
Views: 2192

Re: A great disappointment!

Well I, for one, think his books are still worth reading.

Since I'm not a literary scholar, I guess that puts me firmly in old fart territory. ;)
by richardh08
Sun May 21, 2023 1:35 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A great disappointment!
Replies: 9
Views: 2192

Re: A great disappointment!

I get the impression that the educational system is heading towards 'the worst of times' on both sides of the pond. For me, education has always been a case of 'please sir, I want some more', but I now see increasing numbers of those who view learning as an unwelcome distraction from what (they beli...
by richardh08
Thu Apr 20, 2023 10:35 am
Forum: Safety
Topic: 'Not _exactly_ safety, although...
Replies: 2
Views: 3281

Re: 'Not _exactly_ safety, although...

Besides, I didn't want to relegate ALL new posts to Richard! :D Yes, things get harder the older you are. The other day I had to get rid of an old bit of bedroom furniture. Despite having got it up there a good few years ago, I found I couldn't even lift it. I ended up having to spend ages breaking...
by richardh08
Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:41 am
Forum: Useful files
Topic: AFN Articles
Replies: 57
Views: 39973

Re: AFN Articles

The latest article by xpyro, which appeared in the August 2022 issue of AFN. It describes some interesting variants of strobe compositions based on barium nitrate and magnalium.
2022-strobe.pdf
by richardh08
Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:12 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A bit of a setback
Replies: 7
Views: 1671

Re: A bit of a setback

Not quite dead yet, but it was close! My backups did include a system image, so I ought to have been able to make a full recovery. But, despite the replacement hard drive being twice the size of the old one, it refused to restore, telling me that there wasn't enough space! Both I and my local expert...
by richardh08
Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:07 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A bit of a setback
Replies: 7
Views: 1671

Re: A bit of a setback

Nah, it was the hard drive that broke and nothing was recoverable. Fortunately, the vast majority of my data was backed up and is now recovered onto a replacement drive. I did lose a lot of software, but nothing crucial. This PC is clearly on its last legs, so I plan to get a replacement. To avoid a...
by richardh08
Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:35 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A bit of a setback
Replies: 7
Views: 1671

A bit of a setback

As some may know, I have spent a long time trying to work out the reaction mechanisms for AP-based strobe compositions. Despite having made some progress, I recently came to the conclusion that I needed more data. So, for the first time in several months, I made up a couple of sets of samples and ra...
by richardh08
Mon Aug 29, 2022 8:56 am
Forum: Rockets and Tooling
Topic: An appointment at 0833 EDT
Replies: 1
Views: 1233

Re: An appointment at 0833 EDT

If I've got my sums right, that's 13:33 BST - but I doubt I'll see much from here!
by richardh08
Sat Aug 06, 2022 5:43 pm
Forum: Rockets and Tooling
Topic: We're going to see it with the 'nekkid eye'!
Replies: 4
Views: 1346

Re: We're going to see it with the 'nekkid eye'!

That's a very tempting thought, Lloyd. It's a long time since I last visited the USA, and I know very little other than a few places in Colorado. Maybe next year...
by richardh08
Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:42 am
Forum: Chemistry
Topic: MJG "FER" Snappy ematch
Replies: 27
Views: 12910

Re: MJG "FER" Snappy ematch

You are asking me to expand on a comment I made over three years ago! But I'll do my best. I think my point was that a) I don't think I have ever seen crackle that did not exhibit an initial, glowing smolder phase, even if only very briefly and b) being based on a thermite reaction, with significant...
by richardh08
Mon May 23, 2022 10:47 am
Forum: Useful files
Topic: AFN Articles
Replies: 57
Views: 39973

Re: AFN Articles

Here is the latest article by xpyro, entitled 'On the tailed silver and colored star compositions'. It appeared in the March 2022 issue.
TailedStars.pdf
by richardh08
Mon May 23, 2022 10:45 am
Forum: Useful files
Topic: AFN Articles
Replies: 57
Views: 39973

Re: AFN Articles

Here is another article by xpyro, entitled 'On strobe microstar compositions', which appeared in the October 2021 AFN issue.
Microstars.pdf
by richardh08
Mon May 23, 2022 10:42 am
Forum: Useful files
Topic: AFN Articles
Replies: 57
Views: 39973

Re: AFN Articles

Here is one entitled 'On dragon eggs and crackling flowers' that appeared in the June 2021 AFN issue. It was written by one of our members, who prefers to be known here by his forum nickname of xpyro.
DECF.pdf
by richardh08
Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:50 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The Pyro-Gear cooperative.
Replies: 27
Views: 16721

Re: The Pyro-Gear cooperative.

Only Ken can comment on his current state of health. However, I did speak with him last week.

It was he who recently shut down access to the forum for a while, in response to a possible security issue.
by richardh08
Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:59 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Bowing out...
Replies: 5
Views: 1710

Re: Bowing out...

What's going on is my attempts to understand the chemistry of AP-based strobes. I intend, eventually, to go public with my findings, but only when I'm sure that I fully understand how everything works, and that might not be for some considerable time. At present, I think I have a good understanding ...
by richardh08
Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:09 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Bowing out...
Replies: 5
Views: 1710

Re: Bowing out...

I'm sorry to hear that, Lloyd. Your contributions and comments will be sadly missed.
by richardh08
Tue Mar 08, 2022 4:21 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Descartes???
Replies: 2
Views: 1432

Re: Descartes???

I know Descartes subscribed to the mechanical philosophy, so that would more or less fit, but I don't ever recall coming across that quote.
by richardh08
Thu Mar 03, 2022 5:01 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Videos... I hope!
Replies: 13
Views: 2271

Re: Videos... I hope!

Yes, I guess it's largely just a matter of what you are accustomed to, Lloyd. But I've lived 90-odd percent of my life in the British climate and I really struggle with heat and humidity.
by richardh08
Thu Mar 03, 2022 12:59 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Videos... I hope!
Replies: 13
Views: 2271

Re: Videos... I hope!

Sometimes I really envy you for your location, Lloyd, but I probably could not cope, long term, with the Florida climate.
by richardh08
Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:18 pm
Forum: Rockets and Tooling
Topic: Where to buy sieves / screens in the UK?
Replies: 11
Views: 1902

Re: Where to buy sieves / screens in the UK?

WinterTrees wrote: Fri Feb 04, 2022 6:25 pm Yes I bought 8, 20 and 60 (they didn't sell 12 or 50).
I'm pleased to hear you found what you wanted.
I agree with Lloyd that the ones you have bought form a good basic set.
by richardh08
Wed Feb 02, 2022 12:12 am
Forum: Rockets and Tooling
Topic: Where to buy sieves / screens in the UK?
Replies: 11
Views: 1902

Re: Where to buy sieves / screens in the UK?

Inoxia (www.inoxia.co.uk) sells SS wire mesh sheets in a wide range of dimensions and mesh sizes.
by richardh08
Sat Jan 15, 2022 7:15 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Videos... I hope!
Replies: 13
Views: 2271

Re: Videos... I hope!

... an unusually complex and expensive way to drive a brush over a sheet of plastic - I believe I could do that faster by hand...
------------------

Yup! But my client demands I 'clean' the sheets that way! <smile>

Lloyd
by richardh08
Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Videos... I hope!
Replies: 13
Views: 2271

Re: Videos... I hope!

I look forward to seeing them, Lloyd.
by richardh08
Fri Jan 07, 2022 12:22 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Vacuum failure, making multi-shot plates
Replies: 3
Views: 1512

Re: Vacuum failure, making multi-shot plates

Although I have to admit that I wouldn't know one end of a router (or a vacuum pump) from another, this is the kind of problem that I am well familiar with. It's one where you know exactly what is going wrong, only to find - after investing a significant amount of effort - that the real issue is som...
by richardh08
Sat Jan 01, 2022 3:56 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Happy New Year, all!
Replies: 2
Views: 1385

Re: Happy New Year, all!

Happy New Year to one and all. Today didn't start too well for me, as my PC refused to boot up, and I started worrying that I might have been hit by malware scheduled to hit at the start of the year. But I eventually got it going and everything appears to be fine. I'm now wondering if it might prove...
by richardh08
Fri Dec 24, 2021 12:18 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: merry xmas
Replies: 3
Views: 1593

Re: merry xmas

I, too, wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
by richardh08
Wed Dec 22, 2021 5:01 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Dr. John Conkling
Replies: 2
Views: 1486

Re: Dr. John Conkling

Sorry to hear that. He was only 78.
His book is one of the things that inspired me to research the crackle and strobe mechanisms.
by richardh08
Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:40 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: UKPS forum has died?
Replies: 14
Views: 2413

Re: UKPS forum has died?

It may be back (sort of) but it appears to be far from healthy. Today I can get to the main index, sometimes, but not to any of the sub-topics - and nowhere near the possibility of posting anything.
by richardh08
Sat Dec 11, 2021 12:07 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: UKPS forum has died?
Replies: 14
Views: 2413

Re: UKPS forum has died?

So it is!

I wonder if there will be any explanation forthcoming about what happened to it over the last few weeks.
by richardh08
Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:41 pm
Forum: Media Room
Topic: Crackle Mine
Replies: 7
Views: 1810

Re: Crackle Mine

Sorry about the delay in responding, but I didn't have an answer to your question - and after digging through a pile of old data, I still don't have an answer. As far as I can see, there doesn't appear to be any obvious relation between noise level and the proportion of Bi2O3.
by richardh08
Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:08 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: UKPS forum has died?
Replies: 14
Views: 2413

Re: UKPS forum has died?

I may be wrong, but I get the impression that one of the major contributors to the Society's decline was willful neglect by some of the longer-standing committee members. It is true that the management of the Society was unwieldy and out-of-date, so I can understand why people were reluctant to cont...
by richardh08
Fri Nov 19, 2021 11:54 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: UKPS forum has died?
Replies: 14
Views: 2413

UKPS forum has died?

Although the UKPS website is still in existence, the link to the forum currently shows a blank page. To my knowledge it has been like that since yesterday.
Does anyone know any more?
by richardh08
Wed Nov 17, 2021 4:14 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 'been awfully quiet here! With 4F past, what's up?
Replies: 3
Views: 1504

Re: 'been awfully quiet here! With 4F past, what's up?

We haven't yet been asked to transfer the copyright or to review the galley proofs, so I am guessing it will be a few weeks before it is published online, and quite a bit longer before it appears in print.
by richardh08
Wed Nov 17, 2021 4:09 pm
Forum: Media Room
Topic: Crackle Mine
Replies: 7
Views: 1810

Re: Crackle Mine

Was it one of your new crackling formulas? It contained a bit of everything, from variants on Lloyd's composition to samples of my newer compositions, including some that contain only CuO and Al. Binders ranged from double base powder, via straight NC and an assortment of commercial gloss lacquers ...
by richardh08
Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:32 pm
Forum: Media Room
Topic: Crackle Mine
Replies: 7
Views: 1810

Crackle Mine

Here's a little something from November 5th.
https://youtu.be/knxKjbVDQuw
It contained scraps left over from a lot of experimentation with a wide range of different crackle compositions, hence the big spread in delay times.
by richardh08
Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:16 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 'been awfully quiet here! With 4F past, what's up?
Replies: 3
Views: 1504

Re: 'been awfully quiet here! With 4F past, what's up?

I haven't had much to talk about recently. For the last few months I've been spending most of my time on co-authoring a review article on strobes. A lot of the source material was in Russian - not one of my strengths, so it required extensive use of Google Translate and then figuring out what it rea...
by richardh08
Fri Nov 05, 2021 11:24 am
Forum: Chemistry
Topic: Webinar on Copper(I) bromide as blue emitter
Replies: 1
Views: 1408

Re: Webinar on Copper(I) bromide as blue emitter

I'm sure it will be well worth making the effort to listen to what these guys have to say.

I believe 10am Pacific Time is 5pm here in the UK.
by richardh08
Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:57 am
Forum: Rockets and Tooling
Topic: Nozzleless rocket article.
Replies: 4
Views: 1981

Re: Nozzleless rocket article.

A highly interesting read. Thanks Dave.
by richardh08
Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:48 pm
Forum: Chemistry
Topic: Does potassium chlorate have different crystal shapes?
Replies: 13
Views: 2779

Re: Does potassium chlorate have different crystal shapes?

I congratulate you for your persistence and thoroughness.

But you may have guessed that I'm not particularly surprised by your findings :o)
by richardh08
Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:34 am
Forum: Chemistry
Topic: Does potassium chlorate have different crystal shapes?
Replies: 13
Views: 2779

Re: Does potassium chlorate have different crystal shapes?

I await the results with interest.

I don't expect the guy's claims will be verified, but you never know...