Homemade Signal Flares

What do you get when you combine parts from an old battery pack with some common household ingredients? Mix them together and you get these .. A batch of super cheap, and easy to make, smoke flares.
Some quick links to a few of the materials I used:
[✓] Spectricide stump remover: amzn.to/2cXdmMn
[✓] Sugar: amzn.to/2ctLMFm
[✓] Pans: amzn.to/2c8Zajy
[✓] Fire extinguisher: amzn.to/2cVNRZ6
Endcard Links:
Fuse Cord: goo.gl/mHNsMc
Metal Melter: goo.gl/jolsPz
Flint Bombs: goo.gl/G84XIL
Rocket Fuel: goo.gl/eOTH8Q
See What Else I’m Up To:
Instagram: goo.gl/C0Q1YU
Facebook: bit.ly/FBTheKingOfRandom
Pinterest: bit.ly/pingrant
Business Inquiries: For business and sponsorship inquiries please contact us directly: kzbin.info...
WARNING:
This project should not be attempted without adult supervision and adequate training. Misuse, or careless use, of tools or projects may result in serious injury, death, and/or permanent damage to equipment and property. Ignition of an incendiary or explosive material may not be legal in your area. Use of this video content is at your own risk.
Music By: Music by Jason Shaw (AS-Thingamajig) www.audionautix.com
Project Inspired By:
• Video
Project History & More Info:
This recipe is similar to ones tried in amateur sugar rocketry. I'm using a 60/40 mix of KNO3 and white table sugar by weight, and I'm going to make a 400 gram batch to fill 10-15 containers that I'll use for smoke/signal flares. My testing indicates that the finer the composition is mixed, the faster it burns. I want these to burn slower so they don't take off like rockets, and produce more smoke, so I'm trying not to mix them more than I have to.
I got the containers for the signal flares by hacking open an old cordless drill battery casing, and taking the paper casings from the individual battery cells.
Fuses were homemade, and made in another project.
These types of devices may not be legal to make or use in your area, so check local laws before attempting to duplicate this project, and as always, be safe!
#tkor #thekingofrandom

[@michelbick1710]

First Project I ever followed through on. You were a great teacher R.I.P

[@cdawson198600]

Michel Bick same here, he will be missed.

[@Srpstv0]

What happend

[@bishop6513]

@@Srpstv0 paragliding accident

[@lukefarkas9879]

Same, he was a great one Like the bob ross of engineering

[@gdgwaps9783]

What cause of his death?

[@AceTheDragon3]

Made an enormus batch of this stuff and put it into a soup can; I used one of those silly can openers that crimps the edge off instead of cutting it. Allowed me to drill a hole for the fuse, as well as a good way to "launch" the smoke out of the can. I added a good helping of dark green powdered dye from the local hobby store to give it some color. I lit the darn thing off out in a middle of the field, ended up getting the attention from the Sheriff. I guess it worked! lol.

[@leeroy5558]

+Drink Me that's the funniest thing I've heard all day

[@Psychotic42069]

I put a layer off about 1 cm and boy that was a lot of smoke lol

[@bananas4sale]

@@leeroy5558 thanks

[@maxonwolf5841]

I’m 5 years late to this comment, but I’d make copies of that to use as daytime rescue flares

[@joedirt7604]

Nice 😂

[@nitaobt8646]

This was one of his first videos I watched. He will never be forgotten. Legends never die.

[@devilh2186]

I’m so late how did he die

[@joy397]

I wonder what it's like to be his neighbor

[@Cestacular]

I think that would be awesome as a neighbor! See this stuff as it happens!

[@usamazulfiqar5096]

Me too. Being his neighbour would be awesome.

[@Learningburito]

Charlie bakke Hes at it again! Stay inside kids.

[@sgtvip3r26]

leeringburito honey get the fire brigade on standby

[@ThePilotPenguin1]

i was just about to comment that

[@jjbassing9044]

This IS my favorite video. If you could see statistics for how many times you’ve watched something I can promise you I’ve seen this one at least 100 times.

[@mrdauz2357]

Watch it on 2012 Coz of recomend 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017: 2018: 2019: 2020:hey wanna watch it again

[@yak-machining]

You still alive?

[@conquistadorito]

if you don't want all the trouble of the battery holder cases, couldn't you just use a toilet paper tube?

[@jacobstephens6937]

It would make way too much smoke. But I guess if you wanted to you could.

[@benjwgarner]

Jacob Stephens Isn't the whole point of this to make smoke?

[@DasVERMiT]

Yes, and wrap it in tin foil.

[@hotelonehoteltotheramp]

***** You alive?

[@fiona1396]

Zach Thompson Yeah I'm pretty sure you can, it doesn't really matter but it does need to be strong enough to hold but it would probably work.

[@johnray854]

It is important to NOT HAVE ANY AIR BUBBLES As I found out the hard way shot hot sugar about 17 feet in the air

[@98CookR]

The chemicals for colouring the smoke are difficult to get, but to colour the flame use copper salts for green, strontium for red, sodium for orange, potassium for lilac. There are many other metal salts that change flame colour.

[@StoneOfMoon]

These mixtures can show people how the right ratio for mixing is very important xD especially for kids currently in chemistry and not knowing that amounts has got to be precise.

[@claireelliot6846]

They actually don’t have to be that precise

[@TheMattiePoo]

At first i was very scared you were burning lithium or something. THANK GOD that was not the case LOL!

[@Random-zk4kk]

It was actually the case.

[@krose8303]

lol

[@Real_MisterSir]

haha best reply ever :D

[@cameronbrown9424]

him getting the drill battery just for the caseings reminds me of that spongebob episode where spongebob bough a huge tv just for the box. IMAGINATION

[@juanhunose1]

If you add organic (not synthetic) dye you can make coloured smoke.

[@spectralguardiagaming6520]

+Paul Austin SEND OUT THE RED FLARE!!!! TITAN INCOMING

[@AstralCantaloupe]

+Hawk_ Eye Adding crayons (for me, at least) made the flares fail altogether.

[@fredw040]

organic doesnt mean not synthetic...

[@juanhunose1]

+Fred Wells Whatever..... Mr Pedantic

[@fredw040]

+Paul Austin I'm not pedantic, it's an important distinction. Take cosmetics who advertise themselves as organic for example, yet still contain synthetic chemicals... to me its very important to distinguish "organic molecule" from "organically farmed". Example: cosmetic companies tell people that whatever solvent they are using (like in nail polish) usually ethyl acetate or toluene, is organic. And they are telling the truth; solvents are organic... but the problem is that the majority of people associate the word "organic" with "safe" and "natural", when in fact none of these three words have any correlation at all. Cosmetic companies know and take advantage of this play on words, and it drives me nuts that the majority of the population doesn't understand this. This is probably the one play on words that has caused the most harm in history...

[@lilgreenguy8757]

goddamn i about cried rewatching this video, was the first of his videos that i watched as a kid and it got me into practical effects making, rest in piece legend.

[@asdrubalmaciel6663]

This was my first project I made that I learned from you now on to my arc furnace😁

[@zoffany3992]

this is great! thank you for sharing this information

[@NowhereManForever]

You really like the KNO3 and sugar mixture don't you?

[@APRENTiS_Music]

Or you could just use a toilet paper tube

[@wavycarti]

or a soda can

[@andrewzolnier8408]

The heat would destroy it almost immediately

[@elgregorpl]

Once I tried using a glass jar, but the heat made it shatter.

[@fistbumpstudioz4548]

+Andrew Zolnier You've gotta wrap it in electrical tape. It'll still fall apart, but hold long enough to dispense the smoke

[@jancol6450]

these work so well

[@THEONE-gj9ge]

Easy fun and cheap projects!

[@charliesmith6033]

Hey, I love your videos! Please could you make a huge smoke flare in an empty chip tube! Keep up the good work

[@envisci_bi]

I would love to see the faces of all his neighbors while he's recording each video

[@MrX-jk3bh]

I really really love this

[@wittsnadier1179]

100% best tutorial ever. I hope to be making my own vids on this as well. Thank you grant for the inspiration. I'll be sending everyone that vews it straight to you for a better look at how it works.

[@ThePedro8161]

Okay, for the one-hundredth time, *potassium nitrate is not a common household item*.

[@shanecorrigan8524]

it spectricide or grants stump remover

[@ThePedro8161]

The Best Minecrafter You don't just carry that stuff around...

[@ThePedro8161]

***** -_- Since when does everyone have an old stump they need to remove...

[@ThePedro8161]

XboxIssues I know absolutely nobody who has stump remover.

[@ThePedro8161]

***** Common household item means I shouldn't have to go out and buy it. It implies I should have some in my house.

[@nikhilnambiar153]

His videos keep popping up in my recommendations, makes me sad

[@mrpepperonipizza3287]

He wouldn't want us to be sad instead of being sad that he's gone be happy that he was here😢😢😢😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@vahithakamarudheen3691]

You mean he is dead?

[@vahithakamarudheen3691]

@Emmett walker Gaming but that comment is 6 months ago and you can see this chanel has new videos

[@stevethea5250]

@@mrpepperonipizza3287 his neighbours must be like WTF GOING ON NOW

[@spets234]

@@vahithakamarudheen3691 Those are his friends....

[@RoyalNightfall]

You're such a beast at inventing!

[@markusgous9319]

Like your videos and are awesome! Did your homemade smoke flares and it worked!

[@pugzythedog]

i cant believe he is gone :(

[@karen_boomer8603]

PugzyTheDog I know 😭😭😭

[@cf-unicorn]

I loved watching his videos, but honestly I dont really care that he is dead sure, it's sad but at the end.. I didnt know him personally and so did you lol

[@samtimmerman1918]

единорог maybe you should be a little more respectful, he is dead and you say lol in a comment?! It is just utterly disgusting that you can talk about a dead man that for some people actually meant a lot.

[@classicfactstf276]

Who likes these videos more than his newer ones?

[@jasonarevalo5406]

man this guy builds everything

[@bcarelus]

Keep up the good work grant!

[@jr52990]

Pro tip: don't use your wife's cookware ;)

[@thesunskimmer5348]

I feel like you learned this the hard way.

[@jeb5461]

Thanks now I know how to get rid of Mosquitos

[@l3n2ox67]

I just used some pvc pipe instead of battery cases. They worked great!

[@mr.demolisher]

great job.

[@trevorninja100]

wait wait wait...you said those batteries do about 1 volt?............POWER THE DRILL WITH PENNIES

[@jackshenton5927]

lol

[@dominicserpas213]

No each cell is one volt so it's around 15 volts total

[@MilesCallisto]

+Young man Survival actually, with 18V, the math is simple. 18/15=1.2

[@yaykailee]

The bottom is a lie. The top is the truth.

[@arai7424]

Kailee Nguyen Ehh.. *SPAC-TIM-PEREDUX*

[@just_lun4]

Kailee Nguyen So the bottom is the truth

[@yaykailee]

CreeperPlaysMC Really? It confused me lol

[@yaykailee]

#NoAnswer #Trolls #MuchConfuse #BillNyeCantEvenGetIt

[@21111111112222222222]

+Kailee Nguyen If the bottom is a lie, and the bottom says 'The top is the truth', then the bottom is a lie and that's it. If the bottom is a lie, it doesn't invert the statement, it just specifies that the statement is false.

[@coolmpd1778]

your the best you teach other people cool stuff

[@ukin237]

As always.. great video

[@TheKingofRandom]

Some quick links to a few of the materials I used: [✓] Spectricide stump remover: amzn.to/2cXdmMn [✓] Sugar: amzn.to/2ctLMFm [✓] Small pot or pan: amzn.to/2c8Zajy [✓] Fire extinguisher: amzn.to/2cVNRZ6

[@dominichill9388]

Grant Thompson - "The King of Random" aunu

[@feybowsnipersgamingchannel5695]

you should put food coloring into the mixture and see if it turns that color

[@hamacho2117]

Where do you get your potassium nitrate / KNO3 frrom?

[@MrMalan]

Hamacho THX potassium nitrate is stump remover

[@victorsuarez9424]

can you do anything with the batteries?

[@Project-ri3kk]

Protip: 4-6" 1/4"diameter copper pipe for the body (reusable) 49g KNO3 aka Potassium Nitrate (Spectracide stump remover) (Gardening dept at HomeDepot, Walmart, Lowes) 28g Powdered Sugar C12H22O11 aka Sucrose 7g Sodium Bicarbonate NaHCO3 aka Baking Soda 31g Paraffin Wax; unscented (can find at Michael's Craft Stores) - Heat wax until it melts, pour mixed powders into heated wax, stir, fill copper pipe, put this guys version of the fuse in 1/4 to 1/2 way in, put it in the freezer, 30min later light it up, have fun.

[@Zenobiwan]

does it burn longer?

[@Project-ri3kk]

With the addition of the baking soda, yes it'll burn longer. It also depends on the amount total, and how big the exit hole is.

[@THEONE-gj9ge]

Thanks for the description.

[@Project-ri3kk]

Trenton Faulkner No problem :)

[@spunkyprep]

Nice. I'mma try this out too. Just attempting it with a coffee mug full of the original mix. Ruins the hell out of my cooking utensils... your way seems much less costly.

[@lizardtounge-gaming546]

I made these for paintball wars me and friends do work as good smoke grenades:) KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

[@ftwopointeight]

EMPTY Shotgun shells make great cases and are easier to find. Good video, thanks.

[@mozillafirefox1111]

Sets off in school bathroom

[@cheeseinc2081]

Hilarity ensues XD

[@raffyl2112]

+Mozilla Firefox Do it before major exams

[@Kandro]

***** next time make a video of you playing cs:go on a map of your school and you shoot everything in the map and send it to your principal

[@ironically4220]

Mozilla Firefox yes pls

[@FLYINGDUTCHM331]

Why not ditch the battery casing and use the cardboard cylinder from a toilet roll, it's just more accessible.

[@ashtinerwin4287]

This guy is amazing

[@kidvszombie6981]

This my new favourite channel

[@charleskiplinger9904]

Try a 50-40 and 10% baking powder to slow the burn.

[@eiram2005]

I wonder if anyone saw the smoke flying up and called the fire department

[@Hrackoe]

The sawdust had me laughing so hard….wish you were around to read this. 😢 You were the man!!!!! Goonies Never Die!

[@neelaarjoonsingh6272]

I love it

[@Scott_Burton]

Since the only part you took from the battery pack were the sheath/cover of the cells, a slightly larger one could be readily made from household ingredients. Most of us have toilet paper rolls. A lot less hassle than opening the battery pack.

[@Cornbread_1776]

My thought exactly.

[@cesarjuarez61]

Timmy D I don't fell safe opening up batteries especially since some contain acid

[@Cornbread_1776]

Cesar Juarez Right ? there is another video on youtube where the guy (different guy) uses a TP roll and uses actual ingredients instead of stump remover and gets 25x the smoke.

[@claireelliot6846]

True but those are the perfect size

[@HistorAdox]

:( I wish he was still here.

[@georgeincredible4509]

What do you mean?

[@semi8515]

@@georgeincredible4509 he's dead

[@animepabu5526]

Semi Harsh way of putting it...could have said he passed away rather than just hes dead

[@semi8515]

@@animepabu5526 It's the same thing? Why would it matter if he asked?

[@animepabu5526]

Semi 🙄

[@FireGaming-fe3nb]

I like the saw dust one

[@Clockpie5436]

for all those wanting to color it heres steps: 1. Get a bowl and put 10 drops of you color 2.Get around 10 - 20 grams of baking soda and 5 grams sugar. if you have organic dye only use 2 grams of it with the food coloring the baking soda would help the color actually show and sugar helps it keep now for reusable ones: try getting a old 330ml bottle and cut about 6 cm from the bottom and add a piece of cardboard and for people with lots of wood you could use wood at the bottom.

[@TheOneOriginalJackal]

What about a 12oz soda can? Or is there a dependency on the cardboard tube?

[@migueeeelet]

wow, a soda can, with the small opening but wide interior would make a smoke bomb O.o

[@palomamagana4195]

*****

[@claireelliot6846]

That should work but it’s take a lot to fill it

[@fraznofire2508]

Could you some how put dye in the mix to Color the smoke?

[@nesquikbottletm7335]

FraznoFire that what I want to know to!!!!

[@horizont6883]

Yes, yes you could.

[@bhagyashreebpandya6992]

It's awesome

[@synth_esizer]

i love all your projects why isnt there a like all button

[@sambustamante9040]

Is it bad that I wanted to eat one

[@GarrKhan]

Seems like a bit of a pain to get little battery packs like that. Why not just use cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls?

[@crazyknexkid]

The cases are probably more resistant to heat.

[@GarrKhan]

Yeah, but they burn up anyways.

[@theoneandonlyravioli2985]

I used to make this all the time when i played paintball in the woods, we would just roll them into golf ball sized balls though light and throw, you can add dye too to make them colorful, i also filled a large mcdonalds cup with this. Burned for abt a minute was pretty awesome.

[@taigaamfcorp.9151]

I like that you recycle the batteries! :)

[@cayjaiswag8258]

i did a total troll with it There is this familiy next door that dont like us and when their son went outside i chucked one at him

[@pro_gaming_god7227]

gee, i wonder why they don't like you.

[@TheSgtTurkey]

how many people do u think this man has inadvertently killed

[@Cornbread_1776]

couple few

[@boxlad7583]

TheSgtTurkey half of the planets population will be gone by 2020

[@seandenherder6766]

no one

[@Benjamin-uv7op]

@@boxlad7583 😎

[@mosxidigaming]

@@boxlad7583 YO ITS 2020

[@rmlectronicsuk2410]

Schoolboy Chemistry! Love it.

[@Aidyn349]

Bless you great you really were the King of Random

[@StakeTruck59]

Can you just use toilet paper rolls?

[@GeneraI_Motors]

how could I color them, I like hiking but have gotten separated many times, me and my friends want to color code ourselves

[@fisheo]

Organic Dye some gut said.

[@fisheo]

+Nated2004 *Guy

[@nathanmarshall2925]

use color dye

[@ironboy3245]

+The Gaming Fantic maybe mix some colored wax in

[@Inkulabi]

oil pastel/crayons

[@johannasetler61]

BEST EXPRIMENT !

[@harveyapollodent9664]

learned to make these like 8years ago lol. For extra fun try adding some food coloring for blue,red,purple,green, etc. smoke.

[@Catalyst313]

mom dad uncles aunts brother sisters and cosuins don't stop me from doing this

[@Catalyst313]

sry aunt I am an experimental geanuies MUAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH !!!!!!!!!! XDXD

[@Catalyst313]

YEAH RIGHT I USED A PART OF A BED TO MAKE SPARKS xd NAD BUR THE HOUSE COME ND SEE WE KNOW LIVE IN VELKMONT STREAK JKKKKKK XDXDXDXDXDDXXXDXD

[@o.k.m2588]

'' cough '' Punctuation ''cough ''

[@Catalyst313]

The Creative Lynx good point but I can use a gas mask :P

[@kevin200211]

Why cant you use toiletpaper roles pls anser

[@ccr12345productions]

Kevin Kremer I guuss you could.

[@imthetiedyeguy]

Kevin Kremer you can, you could probably use anything that is clyndrical and is burnable

[@davianvanbibber7173]

+TheScoutPro ghgididjfkg lorry eggshell Sahara small-town run Adamson ä discuss Air SITES

[@lowkeyxx]

+Alex Rau wait can I use empty shotgun shells cause here in Georgia they're a lot easier to come by. Idk it might not burn well though.

[@epender]

Toilet paper rolls would maybe be too big.

[@devonschmitt810]

So cool

[@Jordan-ym3pt]

Very very good

[@TheMineCast10]

Ware do I get KNO3 from I'm in ontario

[@aidanobee2429]

+SnakeBite799 I'm in ontario too and they don't sell it anywhere

[@CiTyoFSKuLLs]

+TheMineCastHD do you have a home hardware? look for falling leaf stump remover, it comes as little white balls like hail, so just coffee grind it gently for 15-20 seconds to powder it

[@peqkz4184]

+TheMineCastHD Hello. im from finland just ordered it from ebay. trust me, it's impossible to find it in my country, i bet its same for you. Package hasnt arrived but its on the way. stay safe :)

[@ricardomontiel5252]

i live in onatrio too!

[@i.g.noreme825]

+PeQkz Suomi mainittu, juhlan paikka:)

[@pewdiepie440]

PLZ tell me do i keep the pan or i replace it ;(

[@tornadocraver]

Use steel wool to scrape it out, and then make sure to thoroughly soap it before using it for food again.

[@pewdiepie440]

thank you :3

[@davidtrinder7040]

Swag Potato also depending on whether you use food grade potassium nitrate (salt peter) or gardening grade potassium nitrate (more unhealthy if ingested), is whether you just simply treat it like a toffee mixture or whether you use a higher level of caution

[@tornadocraver]

Swag Potato No problem. Also, if you are experimenting the same way with other volatile chemicals like me, you may want to pour some solvent (gasoline, etc.) onto it, and then scrape it off with the steel wool too. If you do it this way too, make sure to REALLY clean it, otherwise your food may become flammable.

[@pewdiepie440]

Cool thanks you saved me from starving :D

[@Blue-qq5ge]

its pretty useful

[@brelonpahona4099]

Ur Projects r cool

[@Isaacskilling]

would adding baking soda be better for making it slower

[@devinhead43]

Yes

[@gabrielgarcia9822]

It would just bubble up the thing. Sand would be better.

[@bcfccasual1234]

“House hold items” definitely 😑😑

[@lucasvail7029]

Awesome

[@tejasprabhat_]

Ek dum mast

[@MsKickos]

Umm i shouldn't have put in food coloring (Blue color) and a plane was passing it dropped down a crate with a C4 and a AK-47 so WTF do i do now with an AK-47 and a C4 ???

[@DanielRichards644]

so how many "No Fly" lists have you been put on over the years?

[@jesuslovesme9138]

Add a small amount of Baking soda to the mix to slow down the burn. You can also use powdered dye to the mix for colored smoke. Blue and orange work best.

[@pondxd3269]

I love your video

[@mikeygarcia2463]

That's cool

[@teddydahlqvist1886]

this is so cooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!

[@geobrad5582]

great vid keep going!!!!!

[@DanteTheHellsinger]

Try using common house flour in the mixture, it should put out a larger cloud of smoke. Also wrap the container and make a smaller exit hole for the smoke and the pressure of the burn should make it 'fountain' out of the casing you make

[@Helenheaven22]

dis guy got skills!!

[@firelordeg]

with a bit of reworking on the casein and removing the base on the fule with the saw dust may be able to make the firework known as the flower

[@jakdatboi]

3:45 my brother when my mom offers him dunkin donuts

[@mirzamuhammadahmed8435]

Hello grand Thompson I subscribed your channel and I love your videos very much

[@cucumba7522]

I mite use this for fun with my friends in the winter in the garden

[@JaySybrandy]

Made them and kinda worked

[@youvenevermetmebuthi]

I was planning on making colored smoke flares for July 4th and I have some questions. Do you think that if I kept them for a long time they would still work as well as they would when they were freshly made? And what place do you think i should set them off? I am making small ones that would only be a short burst and my choices are in my public middle schools black top or track perimeter, maybe in the woods. Have any suggestions?

[@nakulissar5286]

COOL!