um, Kipkay, this is the funky thing with mine. We built it and it works alright, but the switch DISCONNECTS the circuit when it's pushed. Other than that it works fine. Do the switchs have a negative and positive side?
hmmm you might have the type of switch that turns off when you push it, and turns on when its not pushed.
Thats really all I can think of right now unless one of your connections isn't on properly.
you could also have a short in the wiring. if the wires are touching someplace they're not supposed to, then pushing the switch could just be diverting the electricity back to the batter, and "turning it off"
Yeah, I think you have a wrong type of switch, usually they connect the circuit when pressed but this seems that you have you one those bit rarer ones that disconnect when pressed, try to find a another kind of push switch and try again
Theatre Effects... http://www.theatrefx.com/ No you can't get flash paper at Home Depot but you can try a magic shop. You can also get glo-plugs at hobby stores.
so a magic store and hobby stores. That answers my question. This is so cool! I'm making one with my dad as a good weekend project and then we'll both try to make one by ourselves. (although my dad's going to be around when i use the solder)
if people are wondering, this is where i got my materials.
heatshrink tubing, super glue/epoxy similar to JB weld, small zip ties (come in a big bag), momentary switchs (they come in 4 packs), butt splices (they come in a big ba), AA battery holder and batteries, and a soldeing iron (my dad were short of one), i all found at RADIO SHACK.
the aluminum rod (or copper) and the nut i found at HOME DEPOT, and they might have a glo plug if your lucky.
as for the glo plug, i would look in any auto parts store, and i have no idea where to find the amunition. i hope that helped
Kipkay says:
I'm not 'from' MAKE Magazine but have recently been contracted to produce their Weekend Projects. This ible is from MAKE as I say in the video. It is not my idea in any shape or form.
you mean the handheld one? if you do, all you need is a cotten shirt (100%) scissors, and thread. cotten thred works best. and of course, lighter fluid. cut a piece of the shirt and roll it into a ball. thread your needle with your thread and push it through the middle of the ball. wrap it around a buncha times and then push it through the middle again. VOILA! handheld fireball. douse it in ighter fluid (not absolutally saturated, but a bit) and light away! the cotten absorbs the lighter fluid so that only the lighter fluid burns, not the actual cotten. the thread it just used to hold the ball together, so cotten thread works best. other threads will just melt, and youll have to make more balls. i might post a real instructable if i figure out how.....
Flash Paper and Flash Cotton are both nitrocellulose.
Nitrocellulose is made by soaking cellulose (cotton, or paper) in nitric acid. A little sulfuric acid is also in the mix. This is a POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS procedure--find directions elsewhere!
(I made it in a high-school chemistry lab under the direct, careful direction of the instructor.)
I am definitely going to have to make this. I bought one of these awhile back online & ever since then I've been wanting to make my own. Now that I know someone else has attempted it I think I'll do it!
your Instructables are definitely the coolest, but I was wondering if the glowplug is something that could be bought at radioshack, and if not was theater effects a web sight or just a store that happened to be in your area? and also do you think a glowplug could be used to fire a spud-gun?
You can get a bog standard glow plug from any autos shop, it may even be worth asking your local mechanics, they may even give you a free one., a glow plug can be used to fire a spud gun, using a bit of flash paper and hair spray!
Kipkayon Mar 22, 2008in
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