Mixed feelings about Flares

[billskip]

For the more adventurous how about cutting them in half emptying the contents into a large heap then infighting it from a distance. There should be a satisfying woof with a cloud of coloured smoke. The empty cases can then be burnt without problem.

As they say...
You can't fix stupid

 

[Daydream believer]

When I could no longer get shells for my Very pistol- which is by far the better form of flare system. I decided to hand it in at maldon police station.
The nice lady behind the desk said that she would only take the pistol but not the shells. So I took the pistol back & said " hang on a bit I will nip out in the high St & let them off" I then started to leave.
She shot out of her office & grabbed the lot. Suddenly she had changed her mind & took both pistol & shells.
She gave me some very awkward looks but it solved the problem as far as I was concerned & proved that they would take them if pushed.

 

[Daydream believer]

As they say...
You can't fix stupid

But you can think laterally

 

[justanothersailboat]

At least some chandleries that sell them will take your old ones in exchange at the same time. If you really have to have the wretched things, keeping a minimal amount and only ever doing a like for like swap seems like the only vaguely OK option.

Getting rid of a buildup of old ones has been made very (edit: ok, maybe "somewhat") difficult by storage regulations - even places that will let you pay them to take them, are limited in how much they can keep on site so if you turn up just after someone else with the same idea they may not be able to accept yours. That said, a local chandlery took mine for not that much money really (when they could) and I was happy to pay that to finally be rid of them. So thanks Pirates Cave.

 

[Daydream believer]

A couple of years ago the chandlers in Maldon had a free flare return day. I know that a friend of mine took a large bag of our flares along for us all & some were over 20 years out of date. The chandler must have had hundreds taken back.

 

[justanothersailboat]

I've seen a few of those advertised. Very helpful if you can get to one. Presumably on a one-day event they don't have to store the things so can take as many as the disposal van can carry?

 

[Lightwave395]

I've still got 15 or 20 out of date flares kept for now at the bottom of my garden in a dustbin full of water, until I figure out what to do with them. If you pay to have them disposed of how do they do it ? I've sometimes wondered about (very) carefully cutting them up but who knows whats inside

 

[capnsensible]

I appreciate the advances of technology that are incrementally increasing reliability of battery powered light signals.

What I don't get is why the chemical technology that's been around since at least 1873 should be considered 'wretched'.

Chemical prospect, in my opinion, very safe and effective when manufacturers instructions are followed. There has been one high profile and very sad incident in how many decades? Small vessels all over the world carry them safely as a very good way of attracting attention in a distress situation.

I have no problem with them at all and I'm not gonna fall for the scare stories.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Indeed @capnsensible well put, very similar thoughts.

 

[billskip]

I appreciate the advances of technology that are incrementally increasing reliability of battery powered light signals.

What I don't get is why the chemical technology that's been around since at least 1873 should be considered 'wretched'.

Chemical prospect, in my opinion, very safe and effective when manufacturers instructions are followed. There has been one high profile and very sad incident in how many decades? Small vessels all over the world carry them safely as a very good way of attracting attention in a distress situation.

I have no problem with them at all and I'm not gonna fall for the scare stories.

Big "but"...
How does one dispose of the old out of date ones?

How do you dispose of your out of date ones?

 

[Tranona]

Government information on disposal here www.gov.uk/guidance/disposing-of-unwanted-marine-flares

 

[dolabriform]

This site lists places that will take flares:

https://thegreenblue.org.uk/environmental-facilities-map/

Click on Flare disposal

 

[Mark-1]

I know someone who chucked a TE parachute flare one bonfire with terrifying consequences but I can't think of any reason why TE handhelds can't be lobbed on a bonfire, perhaps one at a time.

Anyone provide a reason?

 

[Stemar]

I know someone who chucked a TE parachute flare one bonfire with terrifying consequences but I can think of any reason why TE handhelds can't be lobbed on a bonfire, perhaps one at a time.

Anyone provide a reason?

Is there a risk that, instead of burning slowly, all the powder goes off at once?

 

[Stemar]

For the more adventurous how about cutting them in half emptying the contents into a large heap then infighting it from a distance. There should be a satisfying woof with a cloud of coloured smoke. The empty cases can then be burnt without problem.

As they say...
You can't fix stupid

Oh, I don't know, I reckon that might fix stupid quite effectively....

Though, TBF, it does remind me of some of my exploits with significant quantities of penny bangers, and I still have a full complement of eyes and fingers/

 

[Mark-1]

Is there a risk that, instead of burning slowly, all the powder goes off at once?

Ahhh, of course.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Is there a risk that, instead of burning slowly, all the powder goes off at once?

Yes with a satisfying woof

 

[capnsensible]

Big "but"...
How does one dispose of the old out of date ones?

How do you dispose of your out of date ones?

Here in Lanza, one of the stores took expired ones when you replaced them with new. You need to have ID and ships registration paper but i found them very helpful. I appreciate that in many places, it's much more difficult, however.

For Spanish fishermen, the annual sea festival of Virgen Del Carmen sees many hundreds expended!

On the continent and in Glasgow, many more are discharged at football matches. Now that's dangerous...

 

[capnsensible]

Yes with a satisfying woof

Doggy fashion?

Perhaps some can get a little mixed up over what are effectively long lasting fireworks and artillery shell propellant cartridges....

 

[capnsensible]

I know someone who chucked a TE parachute flare one bonfire with terrifying consequences but I can think of any reason why TE handhelds can't be lobbed on a bonfire, perhaps one at a time.

Anyone provide a reason?

Yes. You would be using an ignitable chemical compound in a way that its most defin8tely not designed for.

It's simply not worth the pain and time potentially spent in a hospital burns unit. Simply use them in accordance with the manufacturers instructions....