Do not make thermite inside your home or garage. Keep children and pets away from the thermite. Never let children do this experiment.
Look online for ceramics labeled as having a high heat point. Remember, thermite burns at 2,200 °C (3,990 °F). Even ceramics can break from excess heat. Stand back once the reaction starts in case the container breaks, spreading burning material.
Do not look into the flame directly. Use a welder’s mask or welder’s glasses. Looking at the flame directly could cause permanent eye damage. If you don’t have a welding mask, wear a pair of dark sunglasses with full UV protection. However, the thermite can still damage your eyes if you look at it directly.
Thermite is very dangerous, so protective gear is essential. Take precautions to prevent your clothing from catching fire. Burning clothing is difficult to remove and can cause severe burns.
Do not try to grind up the metals into powder yourself, as this is dangerous. Buy them in jars from a chemical company or online. Aluminum powder can also be obtained from a paint store or even an Etch-a-Sketch.
Allow the iron oxide to completely cool before you do the experiment. Use caution when using a bunsen burner. The open flame is a fire risk. Never leave it unattended. When you’re finished, make sure the gas supply is shut off completely.
If you increase the quantity of the metals, stick to a 1:3 ratio (by mass) of aluminum to iron oxide. But don’t work with larger amounts until you’re experienced in working with thermite, since this experiment is very dangerous. Never mix them in a metal container, as this can contaminate the project or cause an unwanted reaction. [9] X Research source
Do not light thermite on an ice block, as it may cause a dangerous explosion. Ice is not an option for controlling the heat of the flame.
Use a longer magnesium strip to give yourself time to step back before the thermite ignites.
Use sparklers to light the thermite if you don’t have magnesium available. Keep your safety gear, especially your eye protection, on at all times. Do not use matches to light the magnesium strip (or sparkler) since matches could drop burning material into the thermite, causing it to ignite while you are standing next to it.
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of secondary fires. [14] X Research source You cannot use a fire extinguisher to put out the reaction itself, but you can use it to prevent fire from spreading to other areas once the reaction has stopped.
