long lived flares?

[pagoda]

While clearing out the shed at my father's house I found a sealed pack of 3 hand held red flares. Expiry date 1982...

In a part of the garden - out of sight of sea and road, I tried them out. One worked as it should. The other two simply parted at the pull cord.
I would not like to have relied upon anything that over-expired, but it does show that sealed packing does extend the working life of flares. Perhaps comfortably and reliably by a few years? Not 32+!!

 

[Searush]

While clearing out the shed at my father's house I found a sealed pack of 3 hand held red flares. Expiry date 1982...

In a part of the garden - out of sight of sea and road, I tried them out. One worked as it should. The other two simply parted at the pull cord.
I would not like to have relied upon anything that over-expired, but it does show that sealed packing does extend the working life of flares. Perhaps comfortably and reliably by a few years? Not 32+!!

I may well have some that old in a locker somewhere. I must sort them out one day.

 

[Peroo]

At a recent supervised event several handheld and cannister flares dating from 1994 were set off and all performed as it said on the tin.

However one in date handheld from a leading manufacturer came apart at the handle when the cord was pulled, leaving a very bemused handler.

Good experience setting flares off under non-critical conditions though, just so you have some idea what happens - the handhelds do get very very hot!

 

[KAM]

During my tests the pull cord flares were much less reliable than the percussion cap activated devices. I would be wary about buying them.

 

[LittleSister]

I've let off a number of old flares (out of sight and wearing protective clothing). IIRC the oldest were nearly 20 years past their expiry date. All worked fine, except the very old reds were a bit pink.

 

[ronsurf]

I had 12 out of date flares that I've just disposed of at the MCA in Brixham. Most expired in 1982, with a few expiring in 1987. I was tempted to let a few off for the experience, but it seemed a bit risky when they were that old. Must say I feel much more relaxed now I've got rid of them.

 

[KellysEye]

I wouldn't fire any out of date flare in Lagos, Portugal an out of date parachute flare exploded in somebody's hand. On the other hand when doing a demo jump an in date large Pains Wessex orange flare strapped to my ankle didn't fire.

 

[salar]

I once thought it was a good idea to set off a red parachute rocket on Nov 5th, well inland at a fireworks party. It went up fine, but the parachute did not deploy and white hot magnesium came down like a bomb and burned out on the ground. Luckily it missed anything important but it would have burned right through the roof of a house or a car. Never, ever, ever again, lesson learned and I still feel lucky nothing serious happened. For what it's worth - don't try it.

 

[G12]

In about 2002 I set off a handheld red that was out of date in 1952. You had to strike the top of it with the inside of the cap rather like a very fat match. The tube was made of metal and the bit you were meant to hold got roasting hot (it was in a vice thankfully)...... but it worked!