Calcium Carbide Legal?
Mark L. Mitchell
I recently bought a carbide lamp and went to the hardware store here that has
everything to buy some calcium carbide. The guy told me that he didn't have
any, couldn't get any and thought it was illegal for him to sell it anymore.
Anyway, after talking to him for a while he pointed me to a place out in the
sticks that he said might have some. They did and I got 2 2lb. cans. The guy
asked me if I was going mole hunting and I told him "no, the front sight on my
44mag is orange, besides wouldn't you want to gass them or something?" He
just stared for a minuite and went back to what he was doing. My son asked
what that was about and I said "don't know but lets get some oxygen and PVC
pipe so we can hunt moles and put in a sprinkler system at the same time. I
think I've got some beer and matches at home."
So, is 4lbs. enough to last my life or should I go back and buy them out.
And, are "they" taking this away from us also? The only thing we'll have left
is Play Dough and that won't even be any good since they will probably reduce
the salt content and cut out the coloring.
Mark
Daniel M. Worsham
Mark L. Mitchell <sha...@easystreet.com> wrote in article
<5r6df0$n...@xring.cs.umd.edu>...
# I recently bought a carbide lamp and went to the hardware store here that
has
# everything to buy some calcium carbide. The guy told me that he didn't
have
# any, couldn't get any and thought it was illegal for him to sell it
anymore.
#
#
# So, is 4lbs. enough to last my life or should I go back and buy them out.
#
# Mark
#
#
#If you shoot like I do it won't last a lifetime. It will probably turn to
powder long before you use it. Since it rides in my shooting kit it gets
shaken up pretty well. Champions Choice sells it for 7.00 a 2 lb can. I
know I saw it several places at Perry last year. Champion's Shooter Sopply
was one. There is a note that it will only be shipped by truck. Not UPS
or Parcel Post.
Good Shooting,
Dan
Daniel
On 23 Jul 1997 22:08:32 -0400, sha...@easystreet.com (Mark L.
Mitchell) wrote:
#I recently bought a carbide lamp and went to the hardware store here that has
#everything to buy some calcium carbide. . . .
. . . [shortened]. . .
# and I said "don't know but lets get some oxygen and PVC
#pipe so we can hunt moles and put in a sprinkler system at the same time. I
#think I've got some beer and matches at home."
#
#So, is 4lbs. enough to last my life or should I go back and buy them out.
#
Hmmm... beer, matches, PVC pipe, calcium carbide.... Yes, I think 4
lbs. outghta last you the rest of your life. You might only need one
match to last that long. too! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!
Dan Swinmurn
What exactly is calcium carbide used for?
--
Dan Swinmurn
------------
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707-445-1879
FAX 707-839-5458
sore...@digisys.net
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On 25 Jul 1997 08:19:37 -0400, Dan Swinmurn <aide...@tidepool.com>
wrote:
Miner's lamps. The one's they used to wear on the front of their
helmets. Also work great for PVC pipe cannons, if I remember
my youth correctly...
#What exactly is calcium carbide used for?
#--
#Dan Swinmurn
#------------
#Aiden Sound
#707-445-1879
#FAX 707-839-5458
#
Daniel M. Worsham
Dan Swinmurn <aide...@tidepool.com> wrote in article
<5ra5kp$3...@xring.cs.umd.edu>...
# What exactly is calcium carbide used for?
# --
# Dan Swinmurn
# ------------
# Aiden Sound
# 707-445-1879
# FAX 707-839-5458
#
# Dan,
You put it in your carbide light, add a little water. This produces
acetylene gas, the flame from which is used to blacken your sights to cut
down on glare. It can also cause a greater contrast between your front
sight and the target black.
Good Shooting,
Dan
Robert Walter
miner's lamps (or cavers). Basically, the lamp consists of a small water
reservoir with an adjustable vent at the top and a reflector mounted behind
the vent. Drop a piece of calcium carbide into the water and it reacts,
generating a flamable gas (acetelyne, methane, I don't remember) anyway,
strike a match, light the gas, adjust the flame for maximum light output,
clip it on your hardhat and away you go. No bulbs to break or batteries to
wear out.
ZEBMED
Dan,
Calcium Carbide is used mainly for carbide lamps in the past in the mining
industry. The used was forlight for the miners since it makes acetelyene
and can be ingnited. Competition shooters use it for blacking gun barrels
and sights for shooting and it works great. The farmers use it for
removal of moles, the kids (parents) use it in various homemade cannons on
the fourth of July and desperate fishermen use it to fish with not legal
of course. BUT it seems to be banned and unavailable from varius sporting
goods stores or outfitters as of lately. I;m not sure but I BELIEVE ITS
BEEN BANNED. If anyone has information for a place to purchase this other
than Champions Choice or other gun outlets please contact me so I can pick
some up...........
Hope this helps
Mark
StL
jay haas
Carbide lamps and canons (4th July noise makers)
Stephen Swartz
Hey Guys:
Isn't calcium carbide the "active ingredient" in the fuel for those
carbide cannons ("Bangsite") we used to have as kids? I beleive
you can still buy calcium carbide as a granular powder in small
tubes (about $6.00 for a 4 oz tube?) from the current supplier
of parts & stuff for the carbide cannons.
I have an address & such at home for one of the cannon suppliers
at home . . . they also advertise in the back of American Rifleman
every other issue or so.
This option is probably a little too expensive.
Steve
In article <5re8bb$9...@xring.cs.umd.edu>, zeb...@aol.com (ZEBMED) says:
> ...
Harmon Sommer
Dan Swinmurn wrote:
#
Add water and it liberates acetylene gas. Used to be available at
welding supply houses for use in acetylene generators for gas welding
and cutting torches. Also used in miners carbide lamps. Don't know
if its still available or if it is considered to hazardous to store and
ship.
Don't put any in your hand and then spit in it. It gets real warm real
fast. ie. an exothermic reaction.
Call a local welding supply company for more information.
Harmon
HAILMASTER
In article <5rk098$k...@xring.cs.umd.edu>, Harmon Sommer
<k285...@aracnet.com> writes:
## What exactly is calcium carbide used for?
#
#Add water and it liberates acetylene gas. Used to be available at
#welding supply houses for use in acetylene generators for gas welding
#and cutting torches. Also used in miners carbide lamps. Don't know
#if its still available or if it is considered to hazardous to store and
#ship.
#
#Don't put any in your hand and then spit in it. It gets real warm real
#fast. ie. an exothermic reaction.
Actually, just the moisture from your hand can do that. You definitely
DON'T have to spit on it!
Bill
Call the Chrysler Customer Center if a dealer is screwing you around!
Chrysler Customer Center
1-800-992-1997
Chuck Andrews
Calcium carbide is also used for forcing pineapple plants to fruit. You
sprinkle a few pellets around the base of the plant.....Used alot in FL
and other southern states. Anyway, as of a few months ago, it could be
freely purchased at a local hardware store. It is a hazardous
substance, and should be placarded when shipped, but I think UPS will
ship haz-mats. As far as legal, no question it's legal in Fl, and should
be in most other states.
HAILMASTER
In article <5rm7bt$o...@xring.cs.umd.edu>, Chuck Andrews
<sl...@cybermax.net> writes:
#It is a hazardous
#substance, and should be placarded when shipped, but I think UPS will
#ship haz-mats. As far as legal, no question it's legal in Fl, and should
#be in most other states.
Anywhere there is caving, calcium carbide should be legal. This means all
50 states in the US should be legal.
As to shipping with UPS. It should be up to the individuals involved. A
pilot has the right to turn down any hazardous cargo. Unknown about the
drivers of the vans. If you are able to ship with UPS. You will probably
pay more because of the special handling from the hazardous cargo.
John A. Grossbohlin
sha...@easystreet.com (Mark L. Mitchell) wrote:
#I recently bought a carbide lamp and went to the hardware store here that has
#everything to buy some calcium carbide. The guy told me that he didn't have
#any, couldn't get any and thought it was illegal for him to sell it anymore.
#Anyway, after talking to him for a while he pointed me to a place out in the
#sticks that he said might have some. They did and I got 2 2lb. cans. The guy
#asked me if I was going mole hunting and I told him "no, the front sight on my
#44mag is orange, besides wouldn't you want to gass them or something?" He
#just stared for a minuite and went back to what he was doing. My son asked
#what that was about and I said "don't know but lets get some oxygen and PVC
#pipe so we can hunt moles and put in a sprinkler system at the same time. I
#think I've got some beer and matches at home."
Mark,
A word of caution with using the carbide lamp on your orange site... I
watched a friend of mine melt the insert on his Ruger RedHawk using a
carbide lamp! Keep that flame away from the plastic... If your lamp
is like mine you can still get the site black without putting the
sight in the flame or over heating it.
On the quantity... The stuff goes a long ways if all you are doing is
your sights and you keep the can tightly sealed. If you don't keep it
tightly sealed and it is at all humid you end up with a big glob of
white powder!
John
Glen Oakes
In article <5s1173$k...@xring.cs.umd.edu> gros...@mhv.net (John A. Grossbohlin) writes:
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ...
I haven't followed this calcium carbide thread, but in the "for what's it's
worth category" I remember enough of my high school chemistry
to know that when water comes into contact with calcium carbide,
acetylene gas is released -- wouldn't want much of that in a confined
space and have a spark as things could get kinda exciting!
_________________________________________________________
If you think an expert is expensive, try an amateur first!
_________________________________________________________
Only GOD Knows
John A. Grossbohlin wrote:
#
# #I recently bought a carbide lamp and went to the hardware store here that has
# #everything to buy some calcium carbide. The guy told me that he didn't have
# #any, couldn't get any and thought it was illegal for him to sell it anymore.
# #Anyway, after talking to him for a while he pointed me to a place out in the
# #sticks that he said might have some. They did and I got 2 2lb. cans. The guy
# #asked me if I was going mole hunting and I told him "no, the front sight on my
# #44mag is orange, besides wouldn't you want to gass them or something?" He
# #just stared for a minuite and went back to what he was doing. My son asked
# #what that was about and I said "don't know but lets get some oxygen and PVC
# #pipe so we can hunt moles and put in a sprinkler system at the same time. I
# #think I've got some beer and matches at home."
#
# Mark,
#
# A word of caution with using the carbide lamp on your orange site... I
# watched a friend of mine melt the insert on his Ruger RedHawk using a
# carbide lamp! Keep that flame away from the plastic... If your lamp
# is like mine you can still get the site black without putting the
# sight in the flame or over heating it.
#
# On the quantity... The stuff goes a long ways if all you are doing is
# your sights and you keep the can tightly sealed. If you don't keep it
# tightly sealed and it is at all humid you end up with a big glob of
# white powder!
#
# John
There is absolutely no reason for calcium carbide to be illegal to sell.
It is CaC2 which when exposed to water produces Ca(OH)2 and acetylene
gas. It is the acetylene gas that you are burning. And a simple tank
of acetylene, which I'm certainly aware is legal to buy, with no oxygen
flowing will give you the same carbon black material. The Big Bang toy
cannon sold at some hobby stores uses CaC2 and water to produce the
"pop".
Bill
Krister Engvoll
John A. Grossbohlin wrote:
# "no, the front sight on my
# #44mag is orange,
If you want lots of soot, and not much heat, camphor is the thing.
Glider pilots have used it for decades too soot their barographs.
Just remember not to let your kids eat it, and keep it stored air tight.
Krister
F4U1A214
Was able to find calcium carbide at a outdoor store in my mall yesterday,
$7 for 2 Ibs., since most of these stores deal with rock climbers and cave
explorers they usually have the lamps and fuel on hand.
Bill