Avalanche Spray

[rossmck]

Firstly anyone doing Bugsy Malone in the near future may be interested to know that there's a shortage of the stuff again ... and I've got an eMail from one manufacturer stating this is due to a "worldwide shortage in one of the raw materials" and as such they've stopped making it for the time being... which makes getting it difficult (!)

 

Anyway, one of the cans I have had a loose label, which clearly showed another name beneath it.. so I peeled it off to try and find another supplier name, I was surprised when I found that printed on the can itself was another company name (Dolphin Chemicals Ltd) and the product name Silicon Lubricant (along with the Highly Flammable, Irritant, Damaging to Environment warning graphics) - a far cry from the "non-toxic fun harmless spray" on the covering label bearing the name "Jolly Joka & Co"

 

Now, clearly the cans *don't* contain silicon lubricant (also, I've tested and the Avalanche Foam isn't flammable) but it led me to wonder - is it common practice for chemical companies just to stick labels over other products (and isn't there a risk associated with this) and also ... what it actually *does* contain.

 

I've got other cans coming from another supplier so not sure yet what "manufacturer" they will carry on the packaging but it seems that the can came from Dolphin Chemicals Ltd but the packaging was branded "Jolly Joka & Co" which is a trading name of L&J Chemicals Ltd which, as far as I can see, was dissolved two years ago.

 

Does anyone know anything about this stuff considering we've probably all had cast spray it at each other and there's no indication of what it actually is and I've not been able to get an MSDS for it either :/

[billy jim]

We've just done Bugsy with our lower school, and yes, there is a massive shortage- we also got those cans!

 

My contact at Lancelyn Theatre Supplies did offer to send me all the paperwork to show what was actually in the cans- does that count as MSDS?

 

For reference, we don't have any left- it got 'used up' on the get out.

[rossmck]

My contact at Lancelyn Theatre Supplies did offer to send me all the paperwork to show what was actually in the cans- does that count as MSDS?

 

Yes, is there any chance you could eMail me that ? otherwise I could try Lancelyn direct but I didn't bother earlier since they don't have any in stock now (along with most of the country ;))

[billy jim]

To be honest, I didn't actually ask him for it- I was in too much of a rush to get the spray! I trusted my contact, I've been using him for a while- I'll pm you his email address...

[Jivemaster]

Aerosol cans in general have avoided CFC propellants by substituting propane butane or LPG, so there could be the flammable label.

[slizzi]

I am doing Bugsy Malone in July with my Youth Theatre and of course have come across the problem of avalanche spray being unavailable. Can anyone suggest where I can find any or any other alternatives? Thanks for your help!

[WiLL]

short of a compressed air style gun which fires a 'gob' of shaving cream (much like the original ones in the film did) I think you'll struggle. Throughout the years there have been very few manufacturers of avalanche foam.

[rossmck]

slizzi - the current manufacturer appears to be IMP Chemicals (impuk.net) - try them I believe they're reformulating it to remove the dependency on the ingredient they couldn't source.