29 replies to this topic

[bernie]

I guess I kicked that one around enough.

[bernie]

Over the weekend there were a lot of TV programs about pyrotechnics. Most were boring(at least it was fireworks) but a couple programs featured competitions. One was up in Canada. The point is that...there was this really fantastic shell. A real eye catcher. Shot in a volley of three I think.

The effect was a LARGE billowey star. Comets to be sure. It appeared to be only one sided. Loaded in one side of a ball shell. It was a brocade looking comet or similar. I imagine that it was a large wafer type of arrangement with perhaps a hole in the center and/or other perforations that made it so amazingly full. I was just wondering if anyone is familiar with this type of shell or happened to see the same thing I did.
:cool:

[Steve]

I think I saw some of these last Nov 5th. What i say were predominantly silver stars that burnt for no more than 1 second throwing sparks out to a large diamiter. I guessed they were a very fast burning silver star. Apparently i'm very interesting (boring) to stand next to in firework displays.

Steve

[Jerronimo]

I just received my order for 2.5 kg aluminiumpowder from tiranti
I know some of you have allready ordered aluminiumpowder there aswell.

Does anyone know a good white starformula containing kno3,sulfer,charcoal and this aluminiumpowder?because so far I had little luck.

[bernie]

Can it be used for a glitter or flitter star? What mesh size and shape is it?

[Richard H]

Jerronimo, I believe that the atomised alu you have is 150-300 mesh, so I would recommend it for a glitter formula. Try and get your hands on some Antimony or Antimony Trisulphide.

Lancaster has a formula for yellow glitter if you can find yourself some Sodium oxalate too.

[BigG]

I just received my order for 2.5 kg aluminiumpowder from tiranti
I know some of you have allready ordered aluminiumpowder there aswell.

Does anyone know a good white starformula containing kno3,sulfer,charcoal and this aluminiumpowder?because so far I had little luck.

Jerronimo, this aluminium can be used in so many ways...

For example, for short Saxons and fountains you can use a simple 70%bp, 4%Charcoal, 26%AL (which is what Lancaster use to demonstrate the difference between metal sparks) ? For stars many BP/Aluminium formulations will work ? example are Bleser streamers:

Blonde streamer 1:
KNO3: 45
Charcoal AF: 29
FerroTitanium: 15
S: 6
Dextrine: 5

Blonde streamer 2:
BP: 60
Charcoal AF: 20
FerroTitanium: 15
Dextrine: 5

Just replace the FerroTitanium with the aluminium you got and add a bit of Boric Acid. Mill everything except the aluminium for couple of hours, diaper the aluminium in and use 33% alcohol to bind (use isoprofil alcohol which can be found in any pharmacy)

Enjoy.

[bernie]

Hey Big, will alcohol alone activate the dextrin? I have always been under the impression that a certain amount of water was necessary.

Nice saxon article by the way.

[Bub]

Erm,

Doesn't 33% alcohol mean 67% water ?

...B

[BigG]

Alcohol alone will not activate the dextrin as dextrin is not soluble is alcohol, but as bub mentioned, 33% alcohol does mean 67% water. You can use water only if you want, but this will prolong drying time significantly.

Thanks about the Saxon article. Kyle preferred something ?traditional?. There are so many advance articles that it?s nice to counter them by some basic work from time to time.

[bernie]

Was basically trying to clarify for others concerning the alcohol. 33% is pretty close to what the amount of mousture content might be if you were making cut stars.

And now for something completely unrelated...I noticed the other day on Passfire that New England Paper Tubes has listed 3/4" i.d. tubes for a pretty good deal. Any comments? Big?

Edited by bernie, 07 December 2003 - 01:25 PM.

[Jerronimo]

Thanks for the formula's BigG,i will try them in stars as soon as I get my order of boric acid.

I found another formula for white stars,it comes from the PFP database:

Potassium nitrate.................................50
Sulfur............................................30
Aluminum..........................................20

This formula is normally clasified as a flash composition.
But to make it flash I will need some better aluminium.
I tried it and it burns nice and white , the only problem is that it has a slow burn and needs a high temperature to ignite.
I'm sure a BP prime will solve this problem.

[Bub]

J,

I have spare Boric Acid & AL powder here - make me an offer if you like (not in the forum please).

...B

[BigG]

J,

I have spare Boric Acid & AL powder here - make me an offer if you like (not in the forum please).

...B

Bub, please converse with Jerronimo directly and not over the forum. There is a thread for selling things, and even there, the moderators do not look favourably upon selling of everyday pharmacy items for profit.

Please read the forum terms. There are rules about this sort of things.

[dfk]

Brilliant White

potasium perchlorate 4
aluminum dust 4
dextrin 1

Sorry, not sure were I found it.
My favorite white star, burns verry bright.
For AL I use dark pyro but any dust will work
drys hard, ignites easily, has reasonable burn rate and is almost blinding.
its almost a flash comp but has a high percentage of dextrin
wich slows the comp.