Sleeves Jointing Self Soldering No 3

[Andy M0FYA]

I recently bought out of curiosity an ebay lot comprising five boxes of these items, plus a few loose ones.
I'm now wondering if this was wise, and the best method of storage is in a bucket of water in the garden!
Also annotated Catalogue No. WB 3314, I'm guessing that with that sort of title they could well be Army issue.
They are in boxes slightly larger than matchboxes, and have a blob of red material on the side which I assume is phosphorous-based, on a grey material surrounding a copper inner.
The instructions include -
4. Hold sleeve and draw side of box across red patch.
7. Remove burnt composition with pliers.

Has anybody come across them before? How safe are they - I guess they must be decades old.

Andy

[pwdrive]

Hello Andy, been reading the post on another site, don't no nothing about them....obviously think insurance claim before deciding where and how to store them.

Lawrence.

[AlanBeckett]

Pictures?
I have used similar things to join wires but you had to supply an external heat source. They were essentially a brass tube coated internally with low melting point solder.
Alan

[Andy M0FYA]

Hopefully there should be a picture attached - I haven't previously added pictures on this forum!

Lawrence, yes I also asked the question on the 19Set forum as I know there a number of ex-Army folks on there, but I thought people here would be interested as well! I think these things are going to be stored in a storage shed I have, away from things of value in the house or radio workshop!

Alan, these are clearly some sort of pyrotecnic, ignited by a match-like device, the red blob you can see in the picture.
They are just under two inches long, to give scale to the picture.

Andy

[AlanBeckett]

Andy,
They look just like the ones I used except that they have the coating and the blob. Also, later ones had a high temperature sleeve.
I believe the idea is that you strip two pieces of wire and stick one in from each end, then strike it on the box.
Feel free to wear Safety Glasses
Alan

[Michaelr]

Andy,

I would get rid of them, you do not know how unstable they will get with time.

Mike

[TubeType]

Hello,
Yes, this is a compact exothermic welding system for field use.
1. Slide open box and remove one unit.
2. Insert subjects to be welded in each end.
3. Close box cover before striking!
4. Carefully ignite red match spot using match striker on side of box.
5. Allow to cool before touching weld.
This is similar to the more complex CAD Weld system.
Kindest regards,

[pwdrive]

The "match head" may be just a primer that ignites another chemical which might now be unstable or dangerous state, maybe some kind of army museum or the army bomb squad might have some info, best to get it from the horses mouth rather than the horses b*m. We don't want to loose you and you don't want to loose your fingers...I get very concerned these days after reflecting on some of the stupid things I have done in my time.

Lawrence.