How to Make Flash Paper - Magic Trick Fireballs (Nitrocellulose)

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This is a demonstration of the salt method I use to make nitrocellulose. A better demonstration of the flash cotton I have made with this method can be seen in my video 'Fireballs Vs. My Hands'. A much higher quality flash paper can be made with this method if 100% cotton paper is used rather than fabric. I chose to use fabric because it is more readily available and less expensive than cotton paper.

A more advanced process for making much higher quality nitrocellulose can be found here:
http://www.grassrootsdiy.com/NC.htm

The torch I use in this video can be purchased here:
http://www.buylighters.com/Roburn-Micro-Torch_p_1079.html

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[scasemagic]

Do you have to use cotton or can you use tissue paper?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@scasemagic Tissue paper will work with this process and will burn quickly when it's completed, but it would be extremely hard to make it keep its shape. It will probably be a lump of mush by the time you're done nitrating it.

[pyrosimple]

what concentration is your acid?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@pyrosimple ~95%

[SuperTrackstar22]

What's sodium bicarbonate? And where can I get it.

[Nighthawkinlight]

@SuperTrackstar22 The common name is baking soda.

[KuroPoptart]

the caaton. lol cotton.

[micklea1]

Use plastic tongs to add and remove the paper … no not use any metal it will react with the acid

You should ware a mask the vapor produced by the acid is in effect tiny droplets of acid and gloves

DO NOT TRY ANYTHING STUPID!

Like adding glycerin or solvents to the mix!!

IT WILL END BADLY!

[micklea1]

You should leave the tissue paper in the acid mix for about 4/5 mins turning over half way through then soak in running water for about an hour

You can place a few sheets on top of each other whilst in the max say 3 but no more

I use a dustbin with a hole in the bottom and a hose with running water in the top

[micklea1]

MMMMM

Not sure about using potassium nitrate!

Should use equal amounts of concentrated Sulfuric and Nitric acids

As stated, during the mixing process a lot of heat is generated so an ice bath is a good idea

You need to use chlorine free tissue paper it’s a matter of trial and error tissue paper that contains chlorine (used during the manufacture) will go brown chlorine free will stay white

You can use cotton balls and follow the process described above to make flash wool

[rickydeeman]

And I'm also wondering if this is reactive enough to be ignited by a flint spark?

[rickydeeman]

How do you get that sulfuric acid?

[kardshark100]

where can you buy the solution you used last is it home made or did you buy it

[jtparm2]

@lyrison flash cotton burns much faster than flash paper, but they are made with a similar process

[zakshaks]

or you could just heat up the reactants potassium nitrate and the 18 molar sulfuric acid and run the vapors through a condensor that uses a fish tank pump to circulate the water to have a higher yield of nitric acid as well as a higher concentration.

[demnlordd666]

@Nighthawkinlight couldn't you use vellum paper for a quicker burn? it is a high grade tracing like paper that once was made from animal skin but modern stuff is from cotton. so should nitrate very well. though it is not as mobile as tissue it is quite thin