On Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:22:49 +0100, David Powell
 wrote:

>In article <48bfeb38$0$26091$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>,  
> Peter Fairbrother   in
>uk.rec.models.engineering wrote:
>
>>Cliff Coggin wrote:
>>> "Peter Fairbrother"  wrote in message 
>>> news:48bf1d73$0$2500$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
>>>> I did sanity-check this, but I'm so drunk right now that I'm not sure of 
>>>> my own sanity -
>>> 
>>>> -- Peter Fairbrother
>>> 
>>> If there is one thing I have learned since the advent of the Internet, it is 
>>> never to reply in public when drunk. I always regret it.
>>
>>Y'rright of course. Let me rephrase my reply, hoping this is clearer:
>>
>>
>>hyweldavies wrote:
>> > Not wishing to teach my grandmother to suck eggs here, but I can vouch
>> > for what others have said about the dangers of pressurising acetylene
>> > even a relatively little bit. A regular Guy Fawkes night trick was to
>> > fill a condom with oxy-acetylene mix which then makes a great bang when
>> > the bonfire's lit.
>>
>
>Also used at party time, balloon with OA inside, nitrogen tri-iodide
>outside.
>
>The other use of welding kit on Guy Fawkes night is handing out old,
>damp arc welding rods to the youngsters, telling them that they are
>sparklers and watching their attempts to obtain ignition from the
>bonfire.  Once the kidz have gained a nice cherry-red colour we give
>them real sparklers, otherwise it would be unkind.
>
> <snip>
>
>>
>>Not surprising. Spent carbide is dangerous, and will give off acetylene 
>>for a good while. A polythene bag should be okay, but not a metal 
>>container in which the gas pressure can rise.
>>
>> > (carbide lights used to be used for caving)
>>
>>Still are, occasionally.
>>
>
>Where do you buy driplamp carbide these days?  Halfords no longer
>stock it.  Wouldn't mind a bit to play with, for old times sake.
>
>Regards,
>
>David P.

        I have available an unopened sealed canister of carbide -
stated average contents - 6.25Kg.

        Should be enough for a spectacular bonfire night if
anyone is interested.

                           Jim