By Harry Gilliam
Okay, I ran across this great game in the Washington Post (August 17, 2001). Click the link for a pdf of the article.
Without going into all the rules and gory details, the game is played by tossing a steel slug 60 feet towards a slanted mud bank in order to hit the center ring (the bull’s-eye). One of the ways you make points is by hitting a triangularly-shaped paper packet of so-called “gunpowder.” The packets are called “mechas.” More on those in a minute.
Who’d a thunk it?
It reminds me of horseshoes, kinda sorta. But mo-bettah, because something actually explodes when you hit it. And of course, as you will see in this video, because it is actually encouraged to play this wonderful sport while drinking.
(click the video to play)
Now, of course I will have to add Colombia to my short list of places to escape to once the laws and regulations start to finish their slow strangulation of our once-great country’s economy. Oops, there I go, ranting again. “Stop it, Harry!” Bad dog!
But let’s get right down to the nitty gritty, here.
First, some kindergarten pyro…
The “mechas,” the exploding Tejo targets, are said to contain “gunpowder.”
Now, gunpowder is just another name for our old fireworks friend, black powder. And black powder, my children, I can purty much guarantee you, will not explode when you lay a pack of it on a mud bank and sling a steel slug at it from 60 feet away.
Nosireebob. It will not.
The question, then, is what the hell IS inside a mecha? We all NEED to know that.
And that is what this contest is all about.
Fustest one to accurately determine two things about a mecha gets a free case of Sky Lanterns from Skylighter.
- Since it ain’t gunpowder, what is the explosive comp? Which chemicals?
- How are mechas made?
Just do your research, and answer both questions in the comments below.
The first person to answer both questions accurately wins the case of 36 Sky Lanterns.
IMPORTANTE!
You have to PROVE that your answer is correct. You can speculate and guess all you want. But guessing ain’t gonna land 36 Sky Lanterns on your humble doorstep. Nosireebob.
You will have to divulge your source for both the mecha pyro comp, and for the construction method. And show us all those sources.
The earliest comment/post on this blog who proves the answers, wins.
The judge for this contest will be Señor Harry Gilliam. All decisions by the judge are final.
CLUES:
When the mecha is hit, it often explodes and then burns.
It is not gunpowder (black powder). But calling them gunpowder would be a handy way to get around problems in shipping them… or in disguising their true composition.
The mecha’s explosive composition is a secret. That suggests to me that it may be really simple and/or that the mix may be illegal.
Check out other YouTube videos of Tejo and find close-ups of the mechas as they explode and burn. They don’t “act” like firecrackers.
Now, go get ‘em, and check back often to see what’s come up.
“Mechas are made of sulphur, gunpowder and phosphorus”, as suggested at the following web-site:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1642356
The “mechas” (translates as fuses or wicks) are made of red and black phosphorus, with sulphur or gunpowder added. It seems there are possibly some different compositions used as the most official seeming rules I found speak of using quieter, less smoky mixtures so as not to disturb players or assistants when Tejo is being played indoors. I found one video where the commentary states the packets contain mercury (perhaps fulminate of mercury to assist in the ignition of the phosphorus compounds)
The pyrotechnic mixture is wrapped in paper packets folded into equilateral triangles 6 cm on a side. These are apparently manufactured in legitimate factories, and illicit workshops.
The packets do appear to be dangerous, I found a news report of 4 boys being injured when one of them carried some onto a school bus or van where they ignited and nearly caught the vehicle on fire, and one report of a man who was carrying a large quantity, perhaps on a bicycle, and he was killed and eight others were injured when his mechas exploded. This last report also says the composition is made from red and black phosphorus.
composition ideas:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1642356
http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/nacional/un-muerto-por-mechas-de-tejo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMFTzaHJaKo
official rules and dimensions for Tejo here:
http://www.lcot.es.tl/Como-Jugar-Tejo.htm
Accident reports here:
http://www.rcnradio.com/node/100698
http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/nacional/un-muerto-por-mechas-de-tejo
HALF AMMONIA NITRATE AND HALF ALUMINUM POWDER. RUN A GOOGLE FOR TANNERITE
ITS AMMONIA NITRATE AND ALUMINUM POWDER HALF AND HALF.
They look like the targets seem on the TV show Top Shot. I believe they are from the company that makes Sure Shot Exploding Targets. Their website is http://www.sureshotexplodingtargets.com/.
Like most safe people, they don’t tell the recipe. However, they did say it is a binary explosive, meaning it is two chemicals combined. One of them is a catalyst.
I did see that it contains Ammonium Nitrate and some other chemical called Prill.
Hope that helps,
Cheers
A little web research offers some hints
The game is tejo
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/travel-tips-and-articles/12948
The mecha explodes and contains sodium
http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/tejo/
The mecha contains potassium permanganate
http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/mechas/
Sulphur, gunpowder, and phosphorus
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1642356
Practical experience suggests black powder and a strike anywhere match that the steel ball/disk ignites. I used to make ‘poppers’ with a couple match tips, a BB, and a small scrap of aluminum foil. Throw it at the pavement and it goes bang.
Strike anywhere matches
http://www.amateurpyro.com/forums/topic/6362-strike-anywhere-matches/
I’m proposing a cheap and easy solution available anywhere. Simply black powder with some self strike match tips inbedded near the surface. Hit it with a chunk of steel and the match ignites to set off the black powder.
It seems a lot simpler and more reliable than using sodium metal and black powder – hit the mecha, break the paper, expose the sodium to wet mud, and set off the black powder.
And I can think of some potassium clorate/potassium permanganate possibilities, but prefer the simple solution.
To make them, start with a plastic base (to give a bottom strike plate). A few match heads. Black powder, a few match heads on top. Wrap in paper (and maybe something waterproof like saran wrap since you are putting them in mud).
Red phosphorous and potassium perchlorate – only reason I have for saying this is I used it 35 years ago!
can be done with amonium nitrate, extreemily fine aluminum, sulpher ? note these hav to be mixed on site! binary explosives can be shipped but check regulations cannot be transported after mixed. must shoot or expload it on site what is mixed? im working on potasium nitrate, and fine powdered alumin, depends on ratio of mix for sensitivity note these are extreamly dangerous if handled wrong. flash powder will work but has extreme danger when mixing
Mercury Fulminate was used in precussion caps way back when flintlocs were used. It is very unstable in the dryest and purest form. It is however, not volitale when wet. My answer to the first question is Mercury Fulminate. Website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulminate_of_mercury
A mecha is nothing more than a triangular paper. It is made in the same design as a tabletop football and it is packed with Mercury Fulminate. The pressure from the metal disk when it lands on the mecha ignites it.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1996-06-23/news/9606220415_1_tejo-beer-packets
Ok, I was right..
The article was in “Skylighter Fireworks Tips, Issue 41″
Titled “Silver Nitrate Torpedoes”
The comp is Silver Carbide
here’s the link to the issue:
http://www.skylighter.com/skylighter_info_pages/article.asp?Item=43
John, Where in the article does it mention “mechas?”
Harry, I have to withdraw my comment. In my excitement about the possibility of a case of beautiful sky lanterns arriving on my porch, I skipped over your postscript exhortations not to GUESS! And that’s all I’m doing here. Not having any connections in the Colombian gray market pyrotechnic community is probably going to hamper me from making any more than a guess, though.. I do promise to read the instructions down to the end from now on. Looking forward to seeing some well researched answers! Thanks! g.
Oxidizer is 85% ammonium nitrate 15% perchlorate
Catalyst 90% aluminium powder (500 mesh) 5% titanium sponge (325 mesh) 5% zirconium hydride (200) mesh
A mix of 8 parts oxidizer to 1 part catalyst will make a binary exploding target
This is a patented ( US patent 6,848,366)product that goes by the name of tannerite available at most hunting stores. There are a few other products out there but tannerite is the most common one out there.
Formula: KClO4
Molar Mass: 138.5489 g/mol
Common Name: Potassium Perchlorate ( from sky lighter )
Formula: Al.
Molar Mass: 26.9815 g/mol
Common Name: Aluminum ( from sky lighter )
The granular forms are often used for creation of silver spark effects in stars and fountains, while fine flake forms are used in flash formulations.
Potassium Perchlorate. 70%. ( from sky lighter )
Aluminum flake,dark. 30%. ( from sky lighter )
Ball mill the Potassium Perchlorate to a fine powder.
Mix in the Aluminum using the diaper method.
Make a Polumna Firecracker as large as rules allow.
These are friction sensitive and will explode when impacted.
That is my solution to the puzzle.
Sorry Harry, I don’t know that I know any Colombians, and if I did, they probably wouldn’t exchange a trade secret for some sky lanterns, even tho the lanterns ARE way cool.
I’m going to guess all I want; I’ll BUY my lanterns from you
Given the lack of solid confinement (paper triangles) I’m guessing it’s the same thing that used to be in the old “throw it on the ground & it pops” things..I have more details to follow, but I wanted to be first guesser, so I’m going to rely on my faulty memory.
I think I actually remember reading about the comp in one of YOUR blogs/newsletters.
It was about making the active ingredient in the above-mentioned “poppers” I forget the true name. It was made by bubbling acetylene gas thru a saturated silver solution (silver nitrate?) and collecting & drying the precipitate that forms (I forgot the name of the final product, silver + acetylene, you supply the correct name.
As for the proving (and why I didn’t make the stuff in the first place) to make a saturated silver solution, you’ll need about 100 grams of the silver compound in 100 MLs of water, and the article didn’t say EXACTLY how much precipitate
I’d end up with, even if I did it right. So I’ll pass on the proof.
I think there’s enough clues there to find the original article. I can do it with some time, but I wanted to be the first with the idea. Ah, vanity,vanity.
Please apologise my english. As yuo know in Argentina we speak spanish.
I dont know what that pieces has but when i was child me and my friends use to make “rompeportones” (means break big doors, similar to those mechas) and some variations.
The formula was, simple, Potassium Clorate and Sulfur (some times a bit of Aluminium powder).
All variations explode in different ways: Rompeportones was small envelopes whith litle stones that explode throghn against walls, other envelopes whithout stones explode when put on the rail of a tramway etc. but this formula is allways explosive with impact.
fulminate of mercury is the composition
MUD MAY BE THE THING. IF FOLDED PAPER CONTAINS AMMONIUM NITRATE, AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, AND ZINC, ALL VERY DRY, AND MAYBE A LITTLE FLASH POWDER ON THE INNER FOLD, IT WOULD WORK. DID SOMTHING LIKE THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH ROOM IN THE 50S. MOISTURE (WEIGHT PUSHES THE THING INTO MUD) TRIGGERS REACTION–FLASH WOULD MAKE IT BETTER. SMOKE LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THAT OLD ZN/S ROCKET FUEL BURN. I DIDN’T GET SUSPENDED.
Mechas are made of sulphur, gunpowder and phosphorus.
Check it out here: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1642356
Sounds pretty unstable to me.
No wonder airport security got their panties in a wad when this guy tried to take some back to the UK.
Mechas are made of sulphur, gunpowder and phosphorus. They can be made by folding normal paper footballs and filling them with this mix. Then just lay them out and toss those chunks of steel!
i really hope i won those lanterns!!
resources: one of my grandpas old friends from Colombia
Mechas are made of sulphur, gunpowder and phosphorus. They can be made by folding normal paper footballs and filling them with this mix. Then just lay them out and toss those chunks of steel!
i really hope i won those lanterns!!