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Stars For Shells?

Shells stars

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#16 FITH

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Posted 09 April 2015 - 07:15 PM

For effects like that you are, unfortunately, going to have to buy the basic chemicals and make the stars yourself! The only solution for fancy effects like that, which doesn't involve making them yourself, is to have someone make them for you i.e. a pyrotechnics expert/company. Not saying that sort of a service doesn't exist (although I'm almost certain it doesn't) but I expect even if someone did offer to make you stars (and I really can't see that happening) it'll be painfully expensive.
 
I can only reiterate what others here have said, if you're new to pyrotechnics then have a go at making your own stars! Tiger Tails are, as stars go, pretty easy to make and were one of my first stars which I still like to this day because it is a rather pretty charcoal effect. My advice would be stick to something easy and relatively safe (nothing in this hobby is truly 100% safe) like Tiger Tail if it's your first project utilising stars, before getting on to something as complex as colour changing stars.

Thank you for that answear man, very informative and helpful :) is there any way you can send me a video of How To Make tiger tail stars with a blue after effect? Or just the specific ingredients from Pyro Garage, I would really apreciate that :)

#17 FITH

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Posted 09 April 2015 - 07:19 PM

Several formulations for stars use the same chemicals as BP so if you have BP ingredients, you have the ingredients for Tiger Tail, and several Chrysanthemum and willow stars. and can simply move on to Slow Gold, which has to be a favourite of mine.
 
Pyro Garage has adapted to the modern regs, and I wish him(?) well. The firm in the Czech republic offers to send all kinds of unauthorised devices into the UK -possibly by an inappropriate courier - Anyone who will post 3" salutes internationally bothers me.

What is BP ingredients? Sorry if I'm asking stupid, not too experienced with this yet ;)

#18 starseeker

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Posted 09 April 2015 - 08:03 PM

Black powder.



#19 GMetcalf

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Posted 09 April 2015 - 08:12 PM

You will need specialist kit and a lot of experience making stars to make colour change effect stars. Listen to our advice and try something simple like a Tiger Tail first. Don't try and be too ambitious at the start with this hobby because honestly, it will only end very badly! In my opinion if you're completely new to pyrotechnics (and it sounds like you are) you shouldn't even be trying to make stars and should be concentrating on making ground effects like some pretty charcoal fountains first...



#20 starseeker

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Posted 11 April 2015 - 11:28 AM

Don't forget ,you have to get the said effects up into the sky , so you will firstly need to perfect your B.P to launch your shell,you will then need to use some of your B.P to burst your shell, (on a burst carrier , i.e rice hulls ) and also need to boost the break of your shells using whistle mix or flash .



#21 Niall

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Posted 11 April 2015 - 12:15 PM

Fith, I am seriously concerned by what I am reading. You won't learn a thing by 'just being told the answers.

If you think you can take part in a potentially lethal hobby without these answers already in Your head, you are gravely mistaken. As I have said elsewhere, you need to learn the hobby before you go practical.

Some of the questions you are asking are sending alarm bells ringing.

We don't want to turn you away, but it is your duty of care to yourself and your surrounds to educate yourself on the fundamental hazards of this hobby.

It appears that you are getting a lot of negative responses, consider why this is.

These sorts of questions usually are tied to an accident. If you don't research pyrotechnic theory before you start trying to cobble it together, you will probably lose your hand, some part of your face and a smouldering house.

Take this seriously, take our advice, and we'll do a we can to keep you safe. But at the moment, it is almost reckless of us to answer your questions at the level you are asking them.

Please understand the message we are trying to get across. Again, alarm bells are ringing. Ask yourself why.

And if you are not prepared to do your research, just buy fireworks from a retailer, be assured of their quality and enjoy them.

Don't think for one minute that making your own will save you money. Quite the opposite.

May I ask your age?

(Ps everyone of us was a beginner at some stage, so don't take this wrong, just accept a little guidance. You'll be shocked at some of the dangers, it's a simple case of 'how could you know it if you didn't know it?' )

Edited by Niall, 11 April 2015 - 01:17 PM.


#22 FITH

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Posted 15 April 2015 - 01:44 PM

Fith, I am seriously concerned by what I am reading. You won't learn a thing by 'just being told the answers.

If you think you can take part in a potentially lethal hobby without these answers already in Your head, you are gravely mistaken. As I have said elsewhere, you need to learn the hobby before you go practical.

Some of the questions you are asking are sending alarm bells ringing.

We don't want to turn you away, but it is your duty of care to yourself and your surrounds to educate yourself on the fundamental hazards of this hobby.

It appears that you are getting a lot of negative responses, consider why this is.

These sorts of questions usually are tied to an accident. If you don't research pyrotechnic theory before you start trying to cobble it together, you will probably lose your hand, some part of your face and a smouldering house.

Take this seriously, take our advice, and we'll do a we can to keep you safe. But at the moment, it is almost reckless of us to answer your questions at the level you are asking them.

Please understand the message we are trying to get across. Again, alarm bells are ringing. Ask yourself why.

And if you are not prepared to do your research, just buy fireworks from a retailer, be assured of their quality and enjoy them.

Don't think for one minute that making your own will save you money. Quite the opposite.

May I ask your age?

(Ps everyone of us was a beginner at some stage, so don't take this wrong, just accept a little guidance. You'll be shocked at some of the dangers, it's a simple case of 'how could you know it if you didn't know it?'

I'm 16, but can u help me start up this hobby? I mean I don't really know what to do atm... I would like to make some firecrackers or just something like that

and no I didn't want to make my own fireworks to save money, I thought it would be fun and interesting to experience

So can you help me out with that?



#23 FITH

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Posted 15 April 2015 - 01:50 PM

You will need specialist kit and a lot of experience making stars to make colour change effect stars. Listen to our advice and try something simple like a Tiger Tail first. Don't try and be too ambitious at the start with this hobby because honestly, it will only end very badly! In my opinion if you're completely new to pyrotechnics (and it sounds like you are) you shouldn't even be trying to make stars and should be concentrating on making ground effects like some pretty charcoal fountains first...

Okay, that's sounds pretty safe too I guess, do you know where to buy the paper volcano-formed thingies? and which charcoal should I choose?



#24 megabusa

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Posted 16 April 2015 - 11:36 AM


"(Ps everyone of us was a beginner at some stage, so don't take this wrong, just accept a little guidance. You'll be shocked at some of the dangers, it's a simple case of 'how could you know it if you didn't know it?' )"

 

 

 

Very true. I've been making my own pyro for over 30 years & I still learn from others. Different people have different techniques & it's good to listen.

 

Also, some of the methods I used to use, I don't do now. Having been on various forums for a few years you see & hear of accidents & think "Sh!t, thats how I do it .....".

 

In the last couple of years I know of 2 guys who have had life changing injuries (one almost died) from simply opening a ball mill with BP in it. I no longer open mine with both hands in a complacent fashion ....


Edited by megabusa, 16 April 2015 - 11:38 AM.


#25 Niall

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Posted 16 April 2015 - 10:53 PM

Ok Fith, if you are serious. Here's a seemingly random but relevant question you need to answer for us:

What's the problem with mixing potassium nitrate with aluminium?

There's no point telling you the answers, we want you to learn how to find the answers. The difference is between me telling you which road to go down or handing you a map so you can see all the roads!

Come back with an answer, whether it's right or wrong, and tell us why you arrived at it.

Edited by Niall, 16 April 2015 - 10:55 PM.


#26 megabusa

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Posted 17 April 2015 - 08:31 AM

Hmmm. Entrance exam..!



#27 FITH

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Posted 17 April 2015 - 06:14 PM

Ok Fith, if you are serious. Here's a seemingly random but relevant question you need to answer for us:

What's the problem with mixing potassium nitrate with aluminium?

There's no point telling you the answers, we want you to learn how to find the answers. The difference is between me telling you which road to go down or handing you a map so you can see all the roads!

Come back with an answer, whether it's right or wrong, and tell us why you arrived at it.

Ooo finally something to do :P

Alright after some research I found the answear, the reason its so dangerous to mix dark aluminium metals and potassium nitrate is because it can spontaneously ignite by friction 



#28 Niall

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 03:09 PM

There's a little more chemistry than that, look deeper.

You may not even need friction.

#29 Niall

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 03:10 PM

these are the things you REALLY NEED to know

Edited by Niall, 19 April 2015 - 03:11 PM.


#30 FITH

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 08:30 PM

these are the things you REALLY NEED to know

Alright, i found the answear... There may not be ANY possibility of static shocks, ect dont wear rubber shoes on synthetic carpets in cool, dry air, etc...





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