8 replies to this topic

[Sparky]

Hi all,

 

I've already made a number of smoke generators with organic dye and potassium chlorate for amusement value during summer displays where you start almost before it's fully dark.

 

I've recently seen some very impressive coloured shells, salutes really and I would love to know how they do it. I've also heard about stars in shells that generate coloured smoke rather than light.

 

Does anyone have any compositions? I was thinking about trying a basic coloured smoke mix but forming it into stars. Not sure about how you make a blue smoke salute though!

 

Cheers

 

Sparky

[Bob Twells]

I like the idea of smoke stars in a shell for day time use. Only problem might be that not having it forced through a choke will make the smoke quite sparse and faint, but definitely worth a try!

 

How about a sugar based comp that sets solid so it can be cut into stars... like the one from the video below (not mine, I'm sure someone here will have some proper measurements rather than "spoons")

 

[Creepin_pyro]

I think most of the daytime coloured salutes are just dispersing a coloured power, like dyed chalk.

 

For smoke shells, the larger ones use simple smoke inserts. I'm sure there are a few videos of these being manufactured on Youtube. For actual smoke stars there are many formulas for white/black or yellow. Shimizu or rec.pyrotechnics are good sources for these, although lots use unobtainable chemicals and/or are out-of-date.

 

If you want to go down the chlorate/dye route, I believe you can roll stars using standard smoke formula, roll a layer of gypsum on top, drill a vent hole, then an outer, hot prime. Without the layer of gypsum the smoke is going to burn and you will be wasting dye. Doing this kind of thing is inherently messy and long-winded so there's not much discussion around.

[helix]

Sparky

 

Have you got Lancaster's book?

 

I'm pretty sure Shimizu describes a smoke star shell in there.  

[starseeker]

Sparky

 

Have you got Lancaster's book?

 

I'm pretty sure Shimizu describes a smoke star shell in there.  

He does,i will have a look and see what tecnique he uses.

[Creepin_pyro]

An interesting technique for the chlorate colours, from Lloyd:

 

https://groups.googl...DI/tsncNhTpovsJ

 

I think Lancaster refers to Shimizu's black smoke formula here:

 

Naphthalene Black Smoke I:

Potassium Chlorate        44%
Antimony Trisulfide        24%
Naphthalene                  26%
SGRS                             6%

 

Do not store these stars, the napthalene will sublime leaving a very dangerous mix.

[starseeker]

He does,i will have a look and see what tecnique he uses.

All the comps are pretty exotic,but i anybody would like me to post them i can.

 

The interesting part is that they are formed into a patty and then granulated through a 2mm screen,and when dried they are loaded into a thin walled tube (2mm) which is fused all the way through the case and primed both ends,for a 30mm sperical case it is showing a 4mm aperature.

[dave]

All the comps are pretty exotic,but i anybody would like me to post them i can.

 

The interesting part is that they are formed into a patty and then granulated through a 2mm screen,and when dried they are loaded into a thin walled tube (2mm) which is fused all the way through the case and primed both ends,for a 30mm sperical case it is showing a 4mm aperature.

using a 2mm granulation, and fuse all the way through, will give a very quick emmision

just what you want in the sky to create a nice thick coloured smoke

 

dave

[Pyro-centric]

Cheers Bob great vid!!  As someone who's never made anything, is this a safe thing to try as a first project. Will the mix store once made into the ready to go item? Where would be a good place to get the ingredients please ? (well the salt peter and fuse)

Edited by Pyro-centric, 19 January 2013 - 07:08 PM.