getting rid of old flares

[bitbaltic]

If you were a subscriber to PBO you would now be fully up to date with the latest proposals to significantly increase the number of disposal points, including two in South Wales. Leading News item in this month's edition.

He doesn't even need to wait for proposals, he can dispose of the flares in South Wales already as I told him in post #8, albeit at a cost- which I bet is a lotsmaller than telling his house insurers about the TEP ordnance in the shed certainly driving to holyhead has nothing to do with anything

Personally I suspect the OP is not really serious about doing anything. People who are serious about this sort of thing don't accrue 30 years of TEPs.

 

[Daydream believer]

Sail to France & chuck them over the side a couple of miles off shore. They love a bit of ordinance, always blowing something up.

 

[capnsensible]

Something I must address too. Dismantling under water seems safe. I can't imagine they are booby trapped like a real bomb.

Do you cut the red wire first....... or the blue one?? :ambivalence:

 

[Uricanejack]

Used to put them in an old paint can, fill it with cement and float test it.
I suppose it's frowned upon nowadays.

 

[ColinR]

Take them to your local police station. You have to sign a form that is for the surrender of firearms as thats the only relevant one they have. I've done it several times, no problem. Its a good idea to ring first so they are expecting you.

 

[prv]

Take them to your local police station. You have to sign a form that is for the surrender of firearms as thats the only relevant one they have. I've done it several times, no problem. Its a good idea to ring first so they are expecting you.

I did ring first, they weren't expecting me, in fact they were closed. When they re-opened they said the person on the phone was wrong, they don't accept flares, and had a printed flyer saying so.

Some forces and stations seemingly accept flares, but by no means all.

Pete

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I did ring first, they weren't expecting me, in fact they were closed. When they re-opened they said the person on the phone was wrong, they don't accept flares, and had a printed flyer saying so.

Some forces and stations seemingly accept flares, but by no means all.

Pete

Also, it probably helps if you know a police officer! I suspect someone with an introduction will get a very different response to someone walking in off the street. I'd certainly agree that ringing up in advance is a Good Idea!

 

[Daydream believer]

When I handed my very pistol in at Maldon police station, ( Pity as shells to fit it are no longer available in Uk and it is the best way to deal with using flares) the very nice police lady took the pistol but said she could not take the shells ." I said no problem" I took the pistol back & said " I will nip outside in the high street & let them off first"
She nearly had a fit as I started for the door. She ran from round the counter & grabbed flares & pistol.
I am sure she thought I meant it.
After that she was happy to take the lot.!!!!

 

[guyd]

Thread zombie....

I had a similar problem, my nearest official disposal point being several hours drive away.

So, set off, lobbed into a large flower pot (18” tall) full of water. Made an excellent witches cauldron! Grey bubbles, full of smoke, small child found it funny.

 

[prv]

So, set off, lobbed into a large flower pot (18” tall) full of water. Made an excellent witches cauldron! Grey bubbles, full of smoke, small child found it funny.

I generally do let off recently-expired hand flares in the back garden. My regular crew have had a go too, for experience.

I've avoided doing it with smokes because the drifting orange will be a nuisance to others - but since you mention setting off underwater, perhaps this could actually be an option? Wire the canister to a brick at the bottom of a dustbin full of water, then pull the ring with a string extension, and the water will hopefully absorb the smoke?

Don't think I want to experiment with safely catching and containing rockets, though.

Pete

 

[coveman]

Some chandlers will take the old flares back providing you buy the new ones from them, its worth ringing around

 

[<152587>]

Evidence on ybw is that old flares either work or they don't. Have you information on them exploding in people's faces?

Seem to remember an incident within the last 10 years when someone did get harmed. Was it a demonstration using ood flares? Seem to remember person involved sustained pretty severe stomach injuries from a blowback.

 

[duncan99210]

Seem to remember an incident within the last 10 years when someone did get harmed. Was it a demonstration using ood flares? Seem to remember person involved sustained pretty severe stomach injuries from a blowback.

The incident you refer to involved a new flare. The makers subsequently recalled the entire batch. The flare composition had a fault in it that caused it to explode rather than burn which is what caused the injury.

The problem with old flares is threefold. First, the older the flare, the less likely it is to work at all. Secondly, the time, colour and brightness of the burn will not match what it was designed to do. Finally, although rare, it increases the chance of a catastrophic malfunction. All that is down to the fact that over time the materials that make up the flare will begin to break down and not react as they were designed to.