Dariusrussell - 27-10-2013 at 12:48
It slipped my mind that Halloween is this week and I was hoping to pop the faces out of my pumpkins. Long story short anyone in Mass area have about
10-20g CaC2 that I could buy/trade/dance for?
Also if you observe the weird event called Halloween try this 'experiment', I assure you its fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTEqpooVlPo
(Credits to Mrhomescientist for the awesome video.)
Fantasma4500 - 27-10-2013 at 13:20
for this i suggest you cut a bottle apart, place in something that can and will etch the aluminium to release hydrogen, if you really care for this to
go bang you create abit of oxygen in there aswell
perhaps 'diesel start' (hexane / ether usually) should do the trick aswell?
Dariusrussell - 27-10-2013 at 13:31
True, though I did like the CaC2 method... I thought of that method but I wasn't entirely sure when to light it. It would be a shame to blow up the
pumpkin and my hand.
Metacelsus - 27-10-2013 at 16:21
If you have or can make an arc furnace, you could try making some yourself out of lime and carbon. Otherwise, you could use another flammable gas. Be
careful!
Dariusrussell - 27-10-2013 at 16:29
Yes I am aware of the methods to make CaC2, though I do not have an arc furnace and I don't intend on making one. I was simply asking if anyone in my
area had some CaC2 that I could buy off them for my convenience. If need be this could be moved to General Chem and uses of flammable gases in closed
containers can be discussed.
hyfalcon - 27-10-2013 at 19:35
Grab the wife or girlfriends can of aerosol hairspray. Works great in a potato gun, should work in a pumpkin also.
MrHomeScientist - 28-10-2013 at 06:11
Thanks for the bump to my video 
It took a while searching around before it popped up, but I got my CaC2 from eBay. Unofrtunately I'm nowhere near your area or I'd offer
you some of mine.
It is a little scary because you don't really know when to strike the lighter, but it would take a hell of a lot of force to completely explode a
pumpkin with thick walls so I generally feel safe. For maximum safety, go look at the other exploding pumpkin thread - they used a remote sparker
igniter and were tens of feet away from the 'blast zone.'
Make sure to store your carbide in an airtight container too - mine was only in a ziploc bag inside a metal can, and as I recently discovered it's
degraded significantly since I got it.
Wizzard - 28-10-2013 at 08:28
You might be better off with a "charge" of liquid butane, in a sealed water bottle (as in, from a 24-pack), held over a candle; or a few flakes of dry
ice with some water in a similar vessel (but this will lack any fire). Water bottles sometimes fizzle, but most of the time, pop with minor force -
Nothing like a 200+ PSI soda bottle.
This will get the small burst of gas you're looking for.
annaandherdad - 28-10-2013 at 12:34
United Nuclear list CaC2 as one of their chemicals. Probably couldn't get it by Halloween, however.
violet sin - 28-10-2013 at 12:36
http://cheapcarbide.com/cc/index.php?main_page=product_info&...
ebay seller had a way to sell. by making it so you are only purchasing the "gift certificate" that you redeem at the web site above. I didn't see
which is cheaper. but I assume the ebay member is skimming funds off the top of your order. commerce as usual. check it our if you want. and here is
the seller I was speaking of if you want his route.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIFT-CERTIFICATE-for-CALCIUM-CARBIDE...
have fun be safe, enjoy halloweeen
hyfalcon - 28-10-2013 at 12:40
Jason the science guy, our local new's station on air geek, blew a pumpkin up on live television one Saturday morning. Wonder how many new ke3wls he
created with that segment?
Dariusrussell - 28-10-2013 at 12:44
More than needed, but as long as it is done safely and by someone with some knowledge of safe combustion (A parent who works in a lab, etc) I think it
can be a very fun demonstration/experiment to do during Halloween. Keeping in mind I personally don't want to blow the pumpkin to bits, I just want to
pop the eyes nose and mouth out with a little fun.
Did he say what he used to blow it?
Also thanks Violet sin, I saw that but Halloween is in 3 days and USPS isn't that reliable to get stuff here on time...
hyfalcon - 28-10-2013 at 14:09
If you get the right mix of air and acetylene, it CAN come apart on you.
TheChemiKid - 8-11-2013 at 05:06
Darius, if you do end up doing this experiment, make sure to have everyone stand away. My brother was 10 feet away, and he nearly got hit by a flying
eye.