Trigger devices for exothermic welds

An exothermic welding kit comprising:

• an exothermic mold;
• and
• a flint trigger device, wherein the flint trigger device comprises:
• a housing having a spark opening on a rear wall of the housing;
• a mold mounting assembly secured to an exterior of the rear wall of the housing;
• a motor assembly secured to the rear wall of the housing and in the interior of the housing, the motor assembly having a flint wheel attached to a shaft of a motor, wherein the flint wheel is located adjacent the spark opening;
• a flint assembly within the housing and positioned such that a flint of the flint assembly is in contact with the flint wheel;
• and
• a controller positioned within the housing configured to selectively activate the motor to cause the flint wheel to rotate against the flint to create one or more sparks to be ejected from the spark opening.

A method for initiating an exothermic reaction within an exothermic mold, the method comprising:

• inserting a disc of welding material into a crucible within the exothermic mold;
• pouring an exothermic reaction powder into the crucible;
• mounting a flint trigger device to the mold, wherein the flint trigger device comprises:
• a housing having a spark opening on a rear wall of the housing;
• a mold mounting assembly secured to an exterior of the rear wall of the housing;
• a motor assembly secured to the rear wall of the housing and in the interior of the housing, the motor assembly having a flint wheel attached to a shaft of a motor, wherein the flint wheel is located adjacent the spark opening;
• a flint assembly within the housing and positioned such that a flint of the flint assembly is in contact with the flint wheel;
• and
• a controller positioned within the housing configured to selectively activate the motor to cause the flint wheel to rotate against the flint to create one or more sparks to be ejected from the spark opening;
• pouring a starting powder into an opening in a cover of the mold such that a mound of starting powder rests on the cover of the mound;
• and
• activating the flint trigger device to eject the one or more sparks from the spark opening in the housing such that the one or more sparks impact the starting powder causing the starting powder to ignite which causes the exothermic reaction powder to ignite initiating the exothermic reaction within the exothermic mold.