Molten Ferrocerium Launcher

In this video I build a launcher for molten ferrocerium metal, at the suggestion of Ian Builder (check out his channel here): / @ianbuilder
Thank you very much to all of my Patreon supporters who have contributed to help me create videos like this one. A special thanks to my top Patrons: Enzo Breda Lee, Jon Hartmann, TheBackyardScientist & Eugene Pakhomov! / nighthawkprojects
-Ben

[@shotguncleric]

"Many of you know the trick..." Welp my wife's gonna be mad we're about to be out of lighters lol

[@richbuilds_com]

Just buy a pack of flints of amazon/ebay - they are pennies each :)

[@ianbuilder]

@@richbuilds_com yup i did that

[@dsdy1205]

It also leaves a nasty residue on the floor, ye've been warned

[@DJTrainR3k]

Looks like it would be a great special effect to simulate a large electrical short!

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Your not far off to be honest.

[@davemarm]

Electroboom, are you seeing this?

[@zacharypeterson5540]

Making this for my gender reveal party in a dry field, wish me luck!

[@ianbuilder]

lmao

[@Commodore1236]

Better do it in the woods.. California or Australia sound perfect 😂

[@cseblivestreaming8073]

Oh i was just thinking to give these to the cops instead of lessthanlethal 40mm and shotguns

[@gaminggonewrong1624]

May the force be with you 🌚

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Be sure to also keep your gasoline near by

[@christhebirb]

Kids, remember to put on your Starlite suit before trying this at home.

[@troyw5832]

Fire safety for black boxes there that starlight...? Could have stoped 911 too.

[@TrinitronX]

Or at least some eye protection 💥👀💥 😁

[@EzequielBaltazar]

Kmon! It's starlite, its easier to just wear a giant taco and pretend to be clam.

[@lotsagrapes]

And oobleck hats

[@kingmasterlord]

@@lotsagrapes they got oobleck skiing beanies

[@razorbackblood06]

That looks alot like that dragons breath incendiary shotgun shells.

[@ianbuilder]

i was thinking the same thing after i saw the footage

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

The dragon's breath is magnesium. So it is pretty similar result just different material

[@ianbuilder]

@@dimesonhiseyes9134 i made magnesium powder and put it in the same cannon and well... it blinded me even through a welding helmet

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

@@ianbuilder yes magnesium burns very white and very hot. Your welding helmet should be dark enough to handle it though. If it's an automatic one sometimes certain conditions like daylight can trick some helmets into not going dark. Or sometimes super bright but quick flashes will cause it not to darken. If you are using a permanently dark helmet you should probably be using a 9 filter at least.

[@carpenoctem3257]

@@ianbuilder any lasting damage or just seeing spots for like an hour?

[@integza]

That's perfectly splendid! Awesome project.

[@HvV8446]

Integza does it work with tomatoes too?

[@integza]

@@HvV8446 I sure hope it does!

[@HvV8446]

@@integza can you try it out? Tomatoes aren't useful for anything else so why not

[@Yrouel86]

Have you been watching The Haunting of Bly Manor by any chance?

[@integza]

@@Yrouel86 A man of culture I see !

[@KubinWielki]

> This video released 2h ago at the moment of writing. > Ian Builder has reportedly had a bit under 1k subscribers. > He has 2k at the moment of writing. Doubled in 2h, and will very likely rise. That's what I like to see from big youtube channels - proper credit and shoutout where they are due.

[@ianbuilder]

this man has the statistics👌

[@intothecalm420]

4.5k when I subbed.

[@PWN_Nation]

7,370 on 12/29/21

[@caterpillar6298]

Now 8k

[@willeveryday]

I wonder how many subs Matthew Wilton got for the ruby video?

[@kdawg3484]

Sparks at dusk. Just like many of your old videos. The peaceful beauty of videos like this is one of the reasons I fell in love with this channel.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

That's what my wife said, that this was like my old videos.

[@GrowingAnswers]

I can imagine someone walking up with that asking if you need help starting a campfire.

[@JyrzStreams]

As a Californian, this makes me very anxious to watch.

[@ianbuilder]

oh boy.....

[@Ecrfour]

@Jacob Howell your*

[@TECHnoman753]

XD

[@DirtyRobot]

Perhaps you need to reduce the amount of SOY in your diet and then learn how to manage the forests your state gave to the snails to caretake. Snails can't manage forests. Vote your idiots out.

[@TrinitronX]

@Jacob Howell Yes, because doing that for 19 million acres is feasible. 🙄 😆

[@tonyrider3]

The pyromaniac that lives deep inside me loves this, a bar trick on the next level!

[@AgentWest]

My first thought would have been to swage out the tube to match the rods so the sanding/machining is only done once. Make a pointy steel rod of proper size, oil it up, and press into the end of the tube. Also this cannon combined with the propane pop gun from a while back (one with clear spiral tube that fire travels through) ought to make for an interesting reusable firework of sorts!

[@miraclo3]

I’ve been wanting to build one of these since I was like 10 years old. I’ve also been watching since your original pyrotechnic days. Keep up the great work man.

[@izzieb]

Castro explains how he intends to deter CIA-backed exiles at the Bay of Pigs (April 1961, colourised)

[@joshuabry1281]

Yo wear some safety sheilds bro that stuff is wicked, I threw a piece on the ground when i was about 15 and it went between my toes leaving 3rd degree burns.

[@Mitchell_is_smart._You2bs_dumb]

I'm gonna call shenanigans on that

[@among-us-99999]

As soon as I saw "ferrocerium" and "launcher" in the title I knew that this was going to be cool

[@GuillotinedChemistry]

Ha ha! I was researching strikers and lo and behold it led me to a NightHawkinLight video! Don't know how I missed this one... this is a real treat. Hat off to Ian for the idea and Ben for the upgraded realization. Thanks for the fantastic distraction!

[@fizzyplazmuh9024]

You seem so pleasant and mild and yet you consistently amaze and do the most intriguing things. You come across like a shade tree mechanic but have a brilliant and driven mind. Total admiration.

[@dawsoncombs812]

I made this for my friends birthday, used it to ignite a bonfire that was absolutely huge and the presentation impressed everyone. Thank you so much for the idea.

[@-hastatus-]

Although my English is not as good as I would like it to be, I understand everything you say as if you were a teacher. You speak slowly and clearly. 😀👍 You are one of the first youtubers I follow.

[@ChromaMatrix]

Easily one of my favorite things that you've done on this channel. Absolutely beautiful, just stunning!

[@SushiKing123NorskGaming]

Another awsome video, Ben! I've been watching your videos for years, and I just want thank you for making them. Always fun to watch and learn.

[@2.7petabytes]

You never cease to amaze me with the quality of your videos and the inventiveness you possess! Much enjoyed!!

[@grimsladeleviathan3958]

Imagine a kinda monster survival FPS game, and this is one of the weapons you can use to deter a big monster from coming for you

[@gordonfischer8484]

Very interesting video. Ferro cerium is such a cool material, recently I made ferrocerium tipped arrows, a bit of setup work but when they impact a target they make a huge explosion of sparks.

[@Ledcke]

Ten Minute Bible Hour shout out! Your hat immediately caught my eye. Thanks for being a great channel and supporting other great creators. 👍

[@captainkenno]

Awesome little project, thanks for sharing! 👍

[@lav6978]

crazy how high quality this video is and its just now that the KZbin Algo is recommending it to me, even though I used to watch his videos back then

[@blitzkreg335]

Sparks are always so mesmerising to look at. They're always so pretty.

[@DragonBuilds]

This is a really cool build. Shooting sparks does look awesome. However, PVC pipe is not made for compressed air and can explode. A steel tank is much safer.

[@jogandsp]

Great video as always! Good on you for helping support smaller channels and young innovators! Also... I love the ring, man.

[@NickFrom1228]

Since you have a decent capacitor bank, it would be cool to see you demonstrate the principle behind a rail gun.

[@trevader2562]

Absolutely awesome project, and beautiful camera shots there! One note, perhaps it's not the greatest idea to be firing this over all those pine needles, I know first hand how much those like to catch fire XD keep it up!

[@ambrosekillpack4841]

YES, FINALLY, someone who knows the difference between flint and ferrocerium. Flint is a type of quartz by the way, and both flint and quartz are allotropes of silicon. While ferrocerium is an alloy of magnesium, iron, neodymium, lanthanum, cerium, and praseodymium. I'm just thrilled to see someone else who knows and acknowledges the difference between these two materials beside me.

[@em9565]

That intro was absolutely perfect : )

[@grexursorum6006]

❤️ very nice video. I guess the sparks are a bit to bright for a nice closeup on the nozzle but I bet it would look amazing. Wonder about the campfire lighting capabilities of the device. And yes (to everyone how want to outsmart me) I know that the torch it self would be better way off doing so. Thanks again!

[@sebbes333]

*@NightHawkInLight* 1:49 Thank you! I probably would never have found & subscribed to Ian's channel without you. :D

[@AussieRossco]

I USED to do the lighter spring trick and flick it for a similar small scale effect. It got stuck down the side of my fingernail, took the fun right outa it! Respect this stuff, it is rather bitey when burning.

[@buckaroundandfindout]

Just so many great projects.

[@davidboston7943]

Really awesome video, quite the pyrotechnic display! I do have to second some of the safety notes other people have had. Considering this was released just after a horrendous wildfire season (with many fires started by people being careless), please, please people: be careful when you use things that shoot off sparks! The other thing I'd note is that it's probably a good idea to have a pressure safety valve on the air tank. The gauge is great and all, but you really don't want to have a pvc pressure vessel become over-pressurized and explode on you.

[@ComradePhoenix]

[*The Modern Rogue would like to know your location*]

[@zaidhussain5206]

Thank you for making this video it was very informative to me .

[@rustamgani6826]

Always nice see You! Thanks! Long time don't see You'r bird.

[@kellyf3160]

Gotta get the Slow Mo Guys to make an upscaled version of this. Awesome!

[@ianbuilder]

yoo great idea

[@fernandosalgado9114]

Ur videos are the best, thanks, greetings from Spain

[@danielmiller2886]

Great content and video as always.

[@schelsullivan]

Brilliant. I'm sure ian's channel is about to blow up. Subbed and belled.

[@jackquinn4994]

That is so cool! You should totally do a hacksmith style test video to accompany the build.

[@lewismassie]

Man, Ben always manages to find the most interesting things to make videos about

[@NSEasternShoreChemist]

Fire? Flamethrowers? Burning metal? Oh HELL YES! Liked before even watching.

[@tangopapajuliet9469]

Lots of potential with this effect for photography. Like spinning burning steel wool with wire making a huge circle of sparks.

[@reothomas7624]

Came from daily dose of Internet love the content I've subbed

[@bugjuicechugga]

it literally feels like you never have a even close to un-interesting video. all your stuff is great man

[@kentborges5114]

REALLY DIG THIS PROJECT ! MAY BUILD ONE FOR NEW YEARS 2022

[@clayq220]

I love Ian builder. Yes spread the love!

[@whynotdean8966]

What did you do to piss off the algorithm? This kind of video is EXACTLY what should get 1m+ views.

[@BobRoss-bp2yv]

thanks for making these videos.

[@basicguy99]

Nice TMBH hat, great show.

[@elijahcoatney2268]

Perfect project for the modern rogue

[@evildead1791]

Thats awesome, good stuff man

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Really should be using safety goggles when doing this. And make sure the grass is wet . . . .

[@ianbuilder]

if its green grass its safe

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@ianbuilder That might be generally correct, but I wouldn't want to take that chance when large quantities of burning molten metal are the ignition source.

[@ramennight]

The grass seemed fine. Im not just some rando city boy as well. I live in Montana, we get smoked out in our valley nearly every year from fires and often have one in the valley itself. People are just overly paranoid about fires this year do to the west coast being so on fire, its burning areas people care about. They dont care about "back hills Montana".

[@ianbuilder]

@@ramennight yea fire isnt that dangerous it becomes dangerous when you are scared of it

[@thetruthexperiment]

I knew I’d find safety glasses guy! Boo.

[@luissantiago5163]

Man that's really neato. Great work!

[@DM9_eyo]

Literally looks like a gun you would fine in Fallout 4. Awesome!

[@bemusedindian8571]

Most excellent video.

[@Flederratte]

3:35 looks really cool!

[@charlesreed8420]

great video so far!

[@bensamule3252]

you are my new favirote youtuber i found you 15 minutes ago and your videos are so cool

[@MuhammadDaudkhanTV100]

Fantastical idea

[@AlChemicalLife]

Honestly would like to see this done with some fine Ti. The spark should be cooler and safer than FeCe. Another idea i got from this video was to make a Homemade Cold Spark machine. not 100% sure how it would be done but it would be cool ! That and a Flame projector would be also pretty sweet !

[@maryfawber9236]

Thanks . You are so incredible....👍

[@brunokerbaul3826]

The best item for a pin-up job coming out of a big cake :-) Happy birthday mister inventor Pou Pou... Pidou Ouaw!

[@flitchi.]

Great Idea !

[@1rez378]

3:33 when you appy some Gold Pine Resin

[@MetalSkyHigh]

Awesome man!

[@agnosjr]

Awesome, Cheers!!

[@thedailydaily]

I think this was really cool. The only way I would alter it is to shoot the rod whole and have it explode on impact.

[@jgjgggjhn]

Very nice video !!!!!!! shame you can only watch videos the time one would love to see it again 😍

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

I love doing this... Even though everyone else thinks I'm going to burn stuff down. 😂😅 But this is a whole new level. I want to make an electric/pocket version of this 😈

[@keeianfazilkee8552]

Spectacular

[@twocvbloke]

Ah, Ferrocerium, the stuff they built into the bulkheads of the USS Voyager... :P

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

The best material known to man to go into space with.

[@marks47]

Not the walls, the display and control panels.

[@TrinitronX]

Duranium and Tritanium sound a lot like Ferrocerium, but turns out they are more like Unobtainium! 😆😂🤣

[@pblm6772]

Now this looks cool

[@kerzwhile]

Oh, this is Amazing!! What if you were to create a reloadable star launcher. Using cut and primed stars to obtain the same effect? The desired effect could be whatever star composition you chose. Air launched to eliminate any lift charge! Kinda like mini "Disney" pyro. 😉🤔

[@kabretenidderuon5712]

That's really awesome ! I hope you could redo this experience with "The Slow Motion Guys".

[@jaidheersirigineedi8110]

WoooooooW. Great video!!

[@yurigouveawagner9432]

amazing video!

[@gabehodges1088]

No eyepro. You're a savage my man!

[@danhyatt2206]

Here's another idea, and a question... First, when heating a piece of ferrocerium, as soon as it starts glowing you can take away the heat source and it will continue to get brighter and brighter ( the question is HOW/WHY??? ) and as it gets brighter it becomes more unstable and the slightest disturbance will set it off. When trying to launch a piece with a slingshot the rapid acceleration and/or the air friction sets it off. The idea is to heat it just to the point where it will continue getting brighter without the heat source and launch it while it's still stable enough to do so without immediately exploding so that as it's flying through the air it eventually gets to the point where the air friction sets it off at some point in its trajectory. Does that make sense? The idea is that you would not see anything leaving the launcher but at some altitude/distance away, it would explode into a shower of sparks.....

[@mister-robo]

You are my idol! I also like to shoot videos about my homemade products. Thank you very much! Cool video! 👍👍👍

[@oddjobbob8742]

Great fun!

[@TheCatherineCC]

Yissss, another pyro wesley crusher video.

[@Isaac-47517]

Pretty neat. TY.

[@ZENMASTERME1]

This is a perfect excuse to play with fire 🔥

[@RealWunderBanana]

That’s amazing

[@wtechboy18]

these would be really cool signal flares honestly

[@NandR]

I'd love to see a long exposure shot of the sparks. I think you mentioned using the Panasonic GH series which I think can do that. Great execution though. I was thinking of what people in the 1st Century would think if they saw you making these kinds of sparks. Maybe they'd assume you're a wizard named Tim.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I always forget about taking photos.

[@NandR]

@@Nighthawkinlight It's my hobby so I think of it often. Long Exposures are my favorite.

[@asvarien]

YAAAYYY!! I can finally live my roleplay fantasy as Jubilee!!

[@8hq28]

Like the music!!!

[@forestlampcraft472]

Cool

[@pabitrikalita3940]

THIS IS MORE LIKE A HAND CANON, AWESOME JOB MAN AND GREAT EXPLANATION

[@abhishekmathur9676]

Super good