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Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

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Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#51

Post by irrational »

1letterunixname wrote: post #39
robin_reala wrote: post #6

Ah, the old pop-tart solid rocket booster. Sugar is a good propellant (though you’ll need an oxidiser if you’re going far up). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-propellant_rocket#%22Can...

Are small, retail model rockets allowed to be launched from large public spaces in the US still? Or do they require a license, realtime transponder, and a bunch of bureaucratic red tape like RC aircraft that is effectively a dead hobby with a Hobson's choice between privacy invasion and cost, over-criminalization, and non-participation.

You mean like Estes rockets? I've taken my kids to the local elementary school grass field and launched them many times. We've never had an issue.

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#52

Post by aaron695 »

bityard wrote: post #41

Pages like this used to _be_ the world-wide web. Or most of it, anyway. I don't mean the (lack of) page style, I mean the writing. The irreverency of the subject matter. People shared whatever they thought was interesting, without regard to upvotes, likes, number of subscribers, and so on. I miss that a bit. (Also, it doesn't really get any more mid-90's than a tip of the hat toward Dave Barry...)

[dead]

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#53

Post by hifikuno »

This reminds me of the one time I microwaved a Pop-Tart at school. I was grade 4 and young me thought that a Pop-Tart on 30 seconds taste great, a Pop-Tart on 3 minutes would taste amazing!

When I opened up the door I could see a small volcano had formed in the middle of my Pop-Tart and smoke was pouring out of the middle. Embarrassed me slammed the door shut and ran back to my seat and watched in horror as the whole lunch room started talking excitedly. Also the dread I felt when the teachers asked who did it and in unison everyone turned and pointed at me.

I didn't get in trouble, but I didn't microwave Pop-Tarts again. All these years later it is a great story about young stupid me!

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#54

Post by kQq9oHeAz6wLLS »

Levitating wrote: post #49
timekiller wrote: post #33

I destroyed 2 toaster ovens with pop tarts when I was 5. I would turn on the toaster and forget about it watching cartoons. I can confirm they burn very well.

This happened twice? In the span of a year?! Did your house not burn down?

No, the countertops were made from asbestos

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#55

Post by JKCalhoun »

bityard wrote: post #41

Pages like this used to _be_ the world-wide web. Or most of it, anyway. I don't mean the (lack of) page style, I mean the writing. The irreverency of the subject matter. People shared whatever they thought was interesting, without regard to upvotes, likes, number of subscribers, and so on. I miss that a bit. (Also, it doesn't really get any more mid-90's than a tip of the hat toward Dave Barry...)

Yeah, what else is this recalling:

- pouring liquid oxygen onto an outdoor charcoal grill (appears to be George Gobel of Purdue: https://youtu.be/UjPxDOEdsX8)

- a hotel shampoo bottle filled with liquid nitrogen, inserted into a full 5-gallon water bottle

Couldn't find the last one, but kids these days are doing it all wrong: https://youtu.be/PqRMAntoO8k

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#56

Post by colechristensen »

aceazzameen wrote: post #43
bityard wrote: post #41

Pages like this used to _be_ the world-wide web. Or most of it, anyway. I don't mean the (lack of) page style, I mean the writing. The irreverency of the subject matter. People shared whatever they thought was interesting, without regard to upvotes, likes, number of subscribers, and so on. I miss that a bit. (Also, it doesn't really get any more mid-90's than a tip of the hat toward Dave Barry...)

One could argue that social media has taken its place. Although, the format makes it bite size and within a sea of algorithmic trash.

The old Internet had far far less, er "social validation" feedback. And if it did it was more like a person reaching out to write you a letter.

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#57

Post by colechristensen »

hyperific wrote: post #21
robin_reala wrote: post #6

Ah, the old pop-tart solid rocket booster. Sugar is a good propellant (though you’ll need an oxidiser if you’re going far up). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-propellant_rocket#%22Can...

In Andy Weir's The Martian one of the characters uses a mixture of sugar and liquid oxygen as an IED. Loads of energy in sugar. Glycerin is also quite energy dense. I used to do chemistry demos for high school chem classes and the potassium permanganate and glycerin demo was always a spectacle.

For a lot of propulsion kinds of reactions you can mix a good oxidizer (liquid oxygen, high percentage hydrogen peroxide, fuming nitric acid) with any organic solid. Hotdogs, sugar, fat, or just anything really made mostly of carbon.

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#58

Post by colechristensen »

1letterunixname wrote: post #39
robin_reala wrote: post #6

Ah, the old pop-tart solid rocket booster. Sugar is a good propellant (though you’ll need an oxidiser if you’re going far up). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-propellant_rocket#%22Can...

Are small, retail model rockets allowed to be launched from large public spaces in the US still? Or do they require a license, realtime transponder, and a bunch of bureaucratic red tape like RC aircraft that is effectively a dead hobby with a Hobson's choice between privacy invasion and cost, over-criminalization, and non-participation.

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Peak-of-Flight/Newsletter516

If under a certain size, the rules are basically "as long as it isn't hazardous" which is vague but more or less requires common sense.

It's also not that hard to comply with RC aircraft regulations.

Plus, drones are everywhere, it's not exactly a dead hobby. Most of the people who were interested in other kinds of RC aircraft are more attracted to the much easier to handle quadcopter types.

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#59

Post by colechristensen »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #23
EA-3167 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know sugar is hypergolic with Potassium Bromate, but I wonder if it's hypergolic with RFNA? That would be amazing... if stupidly dangerous.

> RFNA Isn't this one of those substances that is hypergolic with everything around them, including air, water, and test engineers?

Not quite, it contains a little bit of water and will be fine sitting on a bench in an open beaker. But you should really avoid touching it or having it touch anything, particularly anything with carbon in it.

Re: Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches (1994)

#60

Post by effingwewt »

jszymborski wrote: post #14
bell-cot wrote: post #10

Meh. I've seen taller flames from a lone page of crumpled newsprint. If it's '90's Pyromania Day, then look for the old videos of charcoal BBQ's being fired up with LOX.

> Meh. I've seen taller flames from a lone page of crumpled newsprint. Are you Jason Bourne? https://youtu.be/4yEFqDqTFPc

Those were magazines, newspaper (especially the stock used back in the day) is far more flammable.
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