Every year on New Year’s Eve, carbide is shot. Shooting using milk cans is becoming more popular every year. Carbide shooting is a good alternative to lighting fireworks. Traditional fireworks have to lose out to carbide shooting because of the price and carbide shooting pops much harder. The origin of carbide shooting dates back to the time of the Germanic people. Nowadays, carbide shooting is mainly a regional custom. The rules for carbide shooting differ per municipality. Every municipality is happy to provide information about what is and is not allowed and what permits are required.
Carbide shooting and rules 2018
Carbide is shot in both the Netherlands and Belgium. In the Netherlands it is called carbide shooting and in Belgium it is called carbide shooting. Carbide shooting is also called milk can shooting or pulle shooting. Carbide shooting is a local custom, especially during New Year’s Eve. Carbide shooting is a traditional popular entertainment. Especially in the north of the Netherlands. In the south of the Netherlands, carbide shooting is traditional at a wedding.
Conditions
Some municipalities impose conditions on carbide shooting.
- For example, (milk) cans and/or similar objects with a capacity of forty liters or more may not be used.
Most municipalities that have a carbide ordinance do not allow shooting with carbide cannons. In some municipalities , the following applies to the location where carbide can be shot:
- The distance must be at least seventy-five meters from the residential buildings;
- The distance to healthcare institutions is at least three hundred meters;
- The distance to animals must also be at least three hundred meters;
- You must always shoot away from buildings;
- The place where shooting takes place must always have a minimum surface area and there may be no paved public roads or paths in the area of the shooting field;
- On Sundays, carbide shooting is not allowed within 200 meters of a church building.
Preparations
Carbide wetted with saliva or water is placed in a milk can, paint can, converted liquid manure tank, or gas bottle. After the wet carbide has been placed in a milk can, paint can, converted liquid manure tank or gas bottle, the open space is closed with a lid or ball. Acetylene gas now forms in the cavity and is ignited with a spark plug or small fuse. This causes it to explode and a booming bang is heard.
How Carbide works
When calcium carbide (carbide) comes into contact with water, a chemical reaction occurs. This chemical reaction releases acetylene gas. If acetylene gas is exposed to fire it is very explosive. Once it was discovered that the chemical reaction gave a loud bang, experiments started. The New Year’s Eve custom of carbide shooting arose from these experiments. The sport of carbide shooting is who can cause the loudest bang.
Safety
Carbide shooting is a safe activity. However, a number of safety measures must be taken when shooting carbide. The correct application of safety measures ensures that few accidents involving carbide shooting occur. There are carbide sellers who supply the carbide in watertight and airtight containers. Carbide produces an average of 300 liters of acetylene gas per kilo.
Supplies
- A steel can with a capacity of 30 liters. The bus must not have any weak spots, including no rust. After all, the explosive pressure seeks out the weak spot of the bus. Drill a hole of about six millimeters in the center of the bottom.
- A lid or a football. A lid or (foot)ball is placed in the opening. The explosion causes the ball or lid to fly as far as 150 meters. The sport is to shoot the (foot)ball as far as possible. For safety reasons, a rope is attached to the lid.
- Water. By adding water (about one shot glass per shot) a chemical reaction occurs. The chemical reaction releases acetylene gas and the acetylene gas causes the loud bang by igniting carbide.
- Gas burner or torch. Once acetylene gas is exposed to fire, it will explode. Because a small hole has been drilled in the can, the resulting acetylene gas can come into contact with fire. It is advisable to keep your distance when lighting the acetylene gas. Therefore, never light the gas with a cigar or cigarette, but always with a gas burner or torch.
- Carbide. In a thirty-liter can, approximately 50 to 60 grams of carbide are required per blast. The carbide is converted into acetylene gas in the can and with one or two kilograms you can have fun for a whole day.
Municipal rules
Every municipality where carbide shooting is used has drawn up some rules for carbide shooting. In 2017, carbide shooting is only allowed on Monday, December 31, 2018 from 10 a.m. and until 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning, January 1, 2018. If New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, most municipalities impose additional rules on carbide shooting.
Milk cans
For example, in most municipalities only milk cans may be used. It is also permitted to use similar material that milk cans are made of, but with a maximum capacity of fifty liters, for carbide shooting.
Event permit
Some municipalities believe that carbide shooting is an event and therefore issue a permit for this (with additional conditions).
Safety supervision
In many municipalities, the local police officers and special investigating officers of the municipality in question are deployed on New Year’s Day. This is mainly for the purpose of monitoring safety in carbide shooting and also to monitor and enforce compliance with the rules by carbide shooters.
Bock
In response to the action against alcohol consumption, carbide shooters in most municipalities where carbide shooting is used are advised to agree in advance who the BOCK is. The BOCK is the Consciously Attentive Carbide Stunner in carbide shooting.
Fine
Carbide shooters who do not adhere to the rules run the risk of being fined 1,000 and losing their carbide equipment. Targeting people, police officers or BOAs is also severely punished.
Please note: both lighting fireworks and carbide shooting are only allowed on December thirty-first and January first.
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