Cheap Explosions

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 6:33 pm

Rrrrrrroooiigghht... We have a rough plan for our next box office hit, and we've come to the conclusion that we need some big explosions, and lots of 'em.

I know we've talked about explosions a lot on this forum but I'm looking for more cheap methods like creating a crude see-saw with a plank of wood, putting debris and talcum powder on one end and jumping on the other. Any other methods like that would be great!

We were gonna get a pyrotechnic on the case, but he was asking for prices as high as Ã‚Â£800 for simple fireball explosions

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 6:18 am

DO NOT PAY THAT SORT OF MONEY!!

Here is a basic guide for a gas/petrol blast:D

Gas fireballs are widely used in movie effects. They are quite simple to construct. It is simply petrol that sits on top of a BP charge or similar. Here is a simple example of this theory:

Step 1. Fuse (any sort of fuse that yo care to use) a film canister as shown in the diagram.

Step 2. Cut off a corner of a Ziploc bag or such like (cut enough as to make a pouch 3 inches deep). Then get a second film canister and place the bag corner in it. Fill the bag with 20ml of petrol.

Step 3. Fold up the top of the pouch and twist the bag closed. Take a wire tie and tie the baggie closed .

Step 4. Pour in 5g or more of Black Powder ( or what ever combustion that you can get your hands on) into the fused FC. Next insert the gas filled baggie and put the film canister lid on.

Light and take cover to test. Will produce a decent little fireball but is very flammable ina confined area. To cut down on the flammable part simply only use blckpowder in a larger dose and pack the rest of the FC with cotton wool.

Click here for a small pic
PIC

[Edited on 20-6-2003 by Grant]

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 6:39 am

Just another quick note. The gas explosion is basically a FAE charge which means:

Fuel and Air

This does make it dangerous and a lot of experimentation and testing is advisable first.

Lacking the gas just makes it a combustion charge, much safer.

But experiment and see what is best for you!!!

These last 2 posts are purely hypothetical though!!

hanasand · Post by **hanasand** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 12:58 pm

I think Im going to use my trash can (25cm diameter) and fill it up with explosives and 1 liter of fuel in a plastic bag. That's going to blow up like hell! right?

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 6:48 pm

When you say film canaster do you mean still photo canisters? I always presumed you meant film canisters...

We will definately do lots of experimentation, and a lot of firework operations will commence beforehand (mixing gunpowder and what not).

I'm just a bit worried about the locations we're using and what not. I'm pretty sure most of this stuff will occur in public places.

John Groshko · Post by **John Groshko** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 6:45 am

The safest, cheapest, and most effective way to make reilistic film explosions.

Materials:

-The interior containor for Kinder-eggs (those hollow chocolate easter eggs that come with toys in the center)
-Baking soda
-Vinegar
-Tissue

Instructions:

-Fill the bottom half of the chocolate egg container with viniger.
-Fill the upper-half with baking soda, and cover the opening with a tissue.
-Attach the upper half to the bottom half (Making sure to always have the bottom half, filled with vinegar, remaining upright!)

You can than throw, role, or shake the container to mix the vinegar and baking soda.

You'll have about 1-2 seconds before it explodes!

Have fun.
(This method also works for larger explosions.)

Mushiman · Post by **Mushiman** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 6:50 am

That sounds pretty cool

I'd like to see some footage though

slimdog55 · Post by **slimdog55** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:52 am

I'll try the egg method one day.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:02 am

Sorry been busy.

Yes Ornsack just a normal 35mm film cannister.

I also would like to see some shots of that egg bomb in action.

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 4:15 pm

It'd be great for another cameo appearance from a Kinder Egg shell in our next film too after the success of its last appearance in Chemical Ali...

I'll give it a go. Am I right in thinking it just explodes in to a splat of fizzy baking soda stuff? Cus we used to put that mixture in to test tubes and bung the lid on... Before standing back and watching the cork explode in to the air!

Good times

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:34 am

I think the egg bomb will no be very impressive

John Groshko · Post by **John Groshko** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:34 am

Just make sure that you use a kinder-egg container that seals nice and tight, and you should get a nice explosion when it goes off.

(It looks great for gun-fire that hits the ground and stuff.)

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 1:08 pm

I will try it this weekend.

It does take alot to impress me though:D

Post by **Matt** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 10:33 pm

Right, I'm eating Kinder eggs for lunch tomorrow !!

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 2:44 am

I just do not know what casing to use for a larger blast with the egg method. I want little or no shrapnel

John Groshko · Post by **John Groshko** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 6:27 am

There is no shapnel if you use a genuen Kinder-egg prize container.

When the container explodes; only the two end pieces blow apart, and the only shapnel is that of the left-over tissue used to cover up the baking-soda.

Most of the time there is no damage done to the Kinder-egg container, and you can re-use them for other explosions.

If you want a larger (small land-mine) size explosion, use the prize container from one for those super-sized Kinder-eggs.
But, you better have plenty of baking-soda and vinegar to make you of these go off.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 10:50 pm

What about if you took a plastic lemonade bottle, cut it in half and then slid on half back into the other half ? Maybe using sticky tape to seal the join.

The same as a kinder suprise container but bigger !!

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 11:54 pm

I will test it this weekend.

How about a 1 litre paint can sealed nice and tight?

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 12:28 am

Don't seal it too tight... When we used to do this with test tubes we found that putting the cork in too tight would mean waiting in suspense for about 3 hours

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 5:25 am

Well i am expecting results & Ornsack you know that I am hard to impress:D:P

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 7:03 pm

Yeah I hate to say it but it's probably several steps back from what you normally do!

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 12:22 am

All will be confirmed this weekend:D

digital toaster · Post by **digital toaster** » Sat Jun 28, 2003 6:04 am

I live in iowa so i drive 30 minutes south and i can get a grocery sack full of fireworks for 15$ that is the way to go! it sure beats making dodgy s*** and not knowing if it will work the way you want

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Sat Jun 28, 2003 12:27 pm

Not really, sometimes fireworks are good but you can't really get fireworks that create huge fireballs!

Fireworks are best for gunshots, magical and electrical explosions in my opinion

Twabi2 · Post by **Twabi2** » Sat Jun 28, 2003 2:23 pm

the egg bomb didn't create a fireball (well, maybe i did something wrong...)
it just exploded, whitout fire

just what i expected
the vinager and the soda (natriumbicarbonate :p ) mixed togheter create a gas.
That's why the container pops open...
Think this is a good method for mines or so.
When you cover it with dirt, it would look nice...
But, when you just throw it away, it isn't THAT great, just an exploding egg :p

[Edited on 28-6-2003 by Twabi2]

MattHawkins Online - Film Making Forum

Cheap Explosions

Cheap Explosions

Use a Kinder-egg, Baking soda, and vinager

Egg Bomb

Kinder-egg explosions.