balloon bomb with lasers

zxn474l · Dec 24, 2009

THIS IS NOT FOR KIDS. I was wondering if a small balloon was filled with some propane or butane gas mixed with a little helium to make it rise up some off the ground and tied off to a string with a counter weight to keep it say 4 feet off the groung and you put some flash paper taped to the balloon centered with a large black dot and stood far away 20ft or more and lite the flash paper with the laser's heat making it flash would it pop the balloon and ignite the mixture making a specaial effect prop? NOT FOR KIDS AT ALL. Just a thought.

Gryphon · Dec 24, 2009

Rather than using heluim to lift a denser than air gas, i would suggest hydrogen, it
provides more lift than helium and has the added bonus of being flammable :evil:

Hemlock_Mike · Dec 24, 2009

I think that the fuel gas to He mix ratio would make the gas so lean that the flash paper would be the biggest part of the show. Now H2 is another story!

HMike

HanMan5000 · Dec 24, 2009

Could be cool, but your also risking a fire. I wouldent try that.

Gryphon · Dec 24, 2009

I have blown up some ziplock bags filled with HHO gas
(electrolysis of water) and that packs a punch! The little
snack bags filled with this stuff are louder than most little
fire-crackers, while a big 1 gallon bag can knock you off
balance from ~15' away :evil:
I wouldn't recommend the 1 gallon as its a bit ridiculous

billg519 · Dec 24, 2009

Try hydrogen and acetylene, but be extremely careful. There will be a big bang if you hit the flash paper!

photonaholic · Dec 24, 2009

Hydrogen balloons are awesome. acetylene balloons with added oxygen are LOUD, but do not float.

wet the grass down with a garden hose first.

Gryphon · Dec 24, 2009

I have only seen acetylene "bombs" in videos, never tried one myself. I have only used
HHO gas, its easier to get a hold of, and cheaper :crackup:

photonaholic · Dec 25, 2009

I showed a friend how to do acetylene balloons one day.

He ran to the store and picked up 100 balloons, then we went out to his dads barn. (Jason is 30, he and his father own a construction business, so they have a welder rig.)

We filled all the balloons with oxygen & acetylene from the torch set and the found a 12 foot long hardwood stick and attached a balloon to the end each time.

Each time sounded like a quarter stick, and after about six of them Len (The Dad & "Money Man") showed up out at the barn.

He was not impressed and quickly pointed out how much that gas costs that we were "wasting"

Jason and I had a freakin blast that day.

Greenmechanic · Dec 25, 2009

GRYPHON:I have blown up some ziplock bags filled with HHO gas
(electrolysis of water) and that packs a punch!

Hey GRYPHON ,at what voltage and amperage do you set your PSU for best results?
I have a variable DC PSU (up to 4KV@200mA) I have played around with mine using stainless electrodes in tap water, up to 2K@100mA (half power, was afraid to push it any higher, fearing the electrodes would arc between themself)
The cathode was bubbling like a Alka-Seltzer tablet.
I assume then just twist tie a baggie over the glass beaker? Then when inflated (keeping it upside down, take it off and zip it?
Definitely going to try this, popping balloons is fun, but to have them explode in a fireball--- Too cool!!!

billg519 · Dec 25, 2009

To get good results with electrolysis, usually you need to add something to the water to enhance conductivity. Back in school, the professor used a few drops of sulphuric (battery) acid. This way, a much lower and safer voltage can be used as well as the gasses being produced more quickly. If no battery acid, you can use salt, but this will produce hydrogen at one electrode and chlorine at the other so good ventilation is required. If you have some gallium lying around (there was a GB some months ago ...)
gallium treated aluminum will break down water, there are youtube vids on this.

LarryDFW · Dec 25, 2009

zxn474l;

I have detonated HHO balloons with my Red LOC laser, with my son.

I generated it with this little project from my truck:

One important Caution is static electricity concerns.

Rubber balloons will generate enough voltage to create a spark,

and HHO is a very explosive mixture.

Merry Christmas
LarryDFW

Deleted member 8382 · Dec 25, 2009

What about filling them with lighter gas? Easy and cheap!

Then, isn't there any easier way to ignite them than flash paper?

GeGGuli · Dec 25, 2009

mmust....try...no...balloonss...aargh....

photonaholic · Dec 25, 2009

A small lab compressor simplifies gas harvesting a lot.

They are great for gathering all sorts of gas, and for pumping low pressure tubes.

Gryphon · Dec 26, 2009

Greenmechanic said:
Hey GRYPHON ,at what voltage and amperage do you set your PSU for best results?
I have a variable DC PSU (up to 4KV@200mA) I have played around with mine using stainless electrodes in tap water, up to 2K@100mA (half power, was afraid to push it any higher, fearing the electrodes would arc between themself)
The cathode was bubbling like a Alka-Seltzer tablet.
I assume then just twist tie a baggie over the glass beaker? Then when inflated (keeping it upside down, take it off and zip it?
Definitely going to try this, popping balloons is fun, but to have them explode in a fireball--- Too cool!!!

I have my little cell hooked straight up to my modded computer PSU, attached to the 12V rails. The cell draws around 7A, which is about half its max rating.

I have a nipple on the cap (i think thats what they are called) which i have connected a small tube to that goes into the bags. I'll try and explain it better later when its not 1 in the morning

nite :tired:

balloon bomb with lasers

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