How to Make a Signal Flare - 56juqingba: How-to instructions you can trust

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Last Updated: May 6, 2021

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A signal flare is a lighted rocket or smoke flare that alerts someone to your presence. Since the early days of rocket design, military and civilian authorities have counted on smoke and burning-light flares to communicate and save lives. Commercial and military units vary in size and functionality. Smaller units are now readily available for campers and hikers. Since many people prefer to make their own camping and hiking supplies, there is a general interest in both smoke and color-burning flares. While DIY projects to build mercuric oxide-based burning-light flares are prohibited, smoke flares can be easily produced.

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Steps

Method
1 Method 1 of 2:

Signal flare #1

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Method
2 Method 2 of 2:

Signal flare #2

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Question What bonding agent is used in this? What different chemicals does it contain? Community Answer You can use a tablespoon of glycerin for the bonding agent. Thanks! We’re glad this was helpful.
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Question Do I need to “cook” or heat up the mixture? Community Answer It should be cooked until the mixture has the consistency and color of peanut butter. Thanks! We’re glad this was helpful.
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Question Will the flare shoot into the air? Community Answer Not unless you put a propellant below it. Thanks! We’re glad this was helpful.
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Tips

If you want to add color to your flare you can add metallic salts such as magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) to make it white. Strontium Nitrate to make it red (this can be some-what hard to find.) Barium will burn a pale green. So will borax. Copper sulfate burns a green too. Potassium permanganate burns purple. Look online for some other colors. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

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Warnings

When you light the flare, keep it well away from the rest of your body. Or just lay it on the ground and leave. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 3

Things You’ll Need

Method 1:

Tube (PVC, cardboard tube, anything will work really)
Powdered aluminum
Potassium nitrate (there’s a perchlorate that works better. Either sodium perchlorate or potassium^{[citation needed]})
Bonding agent (flammable glue, or nail polish)

Method 2: