Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
HC is very dangerous. Back in the mid 80's (IIRC) one of the safety bulletins mentioned that it uses an acid or creates an acid when mixed with water. Do not breathe it...
Smoke Grenade question
- Thread starter loki.fish
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On the saltpeter-and-sugar in the frying pan experiment, don't try it with a nonstick pan! The nonstick coating (teflon, silverstone, doesn't seem to matter) catalyzes the potassium nitrate and makes the whole mixture go up before it even gets to its melting point.
Go ahead, ask me how I know.
Also, the melted mass is a sticky, hygroscopic mess that has to be kept sealed and frankly isn't all that great of a smoke mixture given the risk of toasting your kitchenware. And the burnt residue is tenacious.
A better plan is to go with a mixture of KNO3, sugar, and granulated parafin. Don't even bother melting it, just mix it real good and pack it into a fireproof container with a couple of holes in it to let the smoke out. When the hot exhaust gasses jet out of the container they expand and cool, condensing the parafin into super-fine mist that forms really effective smoke in a hurry. It's not very noxious, but could be considered about as good for you as inhaling any other particulate en masse... And smells like freshly blown out birthday candles.
Go ahead, ask me how I know.
Also, the melted mass is a sticky, hygroscopic mess that has to be kept sealed and frankly isn't all that great of a smoke mixture given the risk of toasting your kitchenware. And the burnt residue is tenacious.
A better plan is to go with a mixture of KNO3, sugar, and granulated parafin. Don't even bother melting it, just mix it real good and pack it into a fireproof container with a couple of holes in it to let the smoke out. When the hot exhaust gasses jet out of the container they expand and cool, condensing the parafin into super-fine mist that forms really effective smoke in a hurry. It's not very noxious, but could be considered about as good for you as inhaling any other particulate en masse... And smells like freshly blown out birthday candles.
carebear
Member
The instructors at the recon short course would pop HC and/or CS in our bivouac sites to "simulate a chemical attack" (but really just to screw with us). As we scampered off they'd be standing in the cloud yelling "come back <cough, cough> it's just white smoke!!"
I have no sympathy.
The folks that use it in the military are unlikely to have a full understanding of the hazards these materials represent. They're far more interested in understanding the applications and in finding new, and interesting, applications.
hso,
Before I retired there were several safety bulletins issued about using HC smoke, especially in an enclosed area. IIRC, around 1985 there was a fatality at the 25th Division Air Assault School in Hawaii. It involved the use of an HC smoke grenade in a tunnel. I believe the tunnel was part of their obstacle course.
Prior to that the only thing the Army worried about with smoke grenades was starting fires. The soldiers finding creative ways to use their pyro is one of the reasons why NCOs exist.
Jeff
Before I retired there were several safety bulletins issued about using HC smoke, especially in an enclosed area. IIRC, around 1985 there was a fatality at the 25th Division Air Assault School in Hawaii. It involved the use of an HC smoke grenade in a tunnel. I believe the tunnel was part of their obstacle course.
Prior to that the only thing the Army worried about with smoke grenades was starting fires. The soldiers finding creative ways to use their pyro is one of the reasons why NCOs exist.
Jeff
carebear
Member
To find even MORE creative ways? 
MORE creative ways....maybe before they grow up and mature in the job.
I could tell some stories, but won't....
Jeff
I could tell some stories, but won't....
Jeff
The company I work for gets involved in all sorts of things. Some of them are looking at some of the "more creative" ways things get used to see if there are overlooked applications. People with time on their hands and munitions get to be very creative.
hso,
Could I be a consultant? I saw all kinds of creative uses for munitions during my almost 29 years in the Army. Sounds like a fun job
Jeff
Could I be a consultant? I saw all kinds of creative uses for munitions during my almost 29 years in the Army. Sounds like a fun job
Jeff
Ok, before I cause Jeff to make a career change I think all the juice has been wrung out of this one and we'll shut it down.
I think all the juice has been wrung out of this one and we'll shut it down.- Status
