Hydrogen Peroxide and Calcium Carbide MIX
 

A big bang cannon uses Water and calcium Carbide to make gas that makes a bang with a spark. Would Hydrogen Peroxide with Calcium Carbide make gas plus extra oxygen causing a bigger bang with a spark? Is this too dangerous for the cannon. Any help would be great. Thanks Ron

What concentration H2O2?

Not sure. Whatever is normal from a pharmacy. Maybe 30-50 percent. Thanks Ron

Regular "Pharmacy" Hydrogen Peroxide is something like 3 to 5% and most likely will do next to nothing.
If one had access to high-concentration H2O2 with 30-50%, it would most likely destroy the toy cannon.

You can get 35% peroxide from your local hair stylist or order it online. When I taught science, I got it donated from a local salon.

Calcium Carbide + water = acetylene gas. (think old miner's lamps, which used carbide in a can with water dripped in to produce acetylene to burn to make light).

Don't know if hydrogen peroxide would make enough more oxygen to improve the "bang" or not... acetylene makes a pretty good "bang" on it's own due to its chemical structure... H-C---C-H

Anyway, best of luck! OL J R :)

Wonder if he tried any of that 35 percent H2O2 in his carbide cannon.
I still think it would blow it up.
Most of those are not very structurally solid.

The Big Bang Cannons are quite solid and robust. I have 3 of the larger ones, and even a gold tone one! However, I haven't tried H2O2 in place of H2O. I will though and let you know!
I've been shooting them since I was about 10.
As Luke said, the acetylene mixed with air in the reaction chamber makes for a 12guage-type bang. The chamber is made of thick cast iron. The barrel is just formed steel. The smaller ones' chamber and barrel are one-piece cast iron. They're just not as loud.
Someone once called the police on me and my son. By the time the two police cars left us, the cops had fired the cannon at least 10 times! Kinda neat.
I gave one of them the website and an old brochure...

Allen

I'd still be surprised if using 35 percent H2O2 did not blow the barrel up.
The steel used in those barrels is a relatively cheap alloy...NOT like rifle-barrel "Proof" steel.

The barrel will suffer next to nothing. All the combustion happens at the back end which is made of heavy cast iron. I don't expect any issues, but I will let you know! I guess it could blow the cap off, but I doubt it. It's also quite stout.
No projectiles will be fired.

Allen