LadyKate

Is there a way to move misplaced messages to the right topic? I thought there was in the past. Someone whacked a thread that was started yesterday (that should have been in another area) instead of moving it. It is probably much easier to delete things but then again, the member who posted the question had a legititmate topic - he just posted it incorrectly.

I have access, through health food chains, to really cheap maltodextrin. I've tried using it for binder and have had some luck. Has anyone else used maltodextrin and is it a good replacement binder for dextrin - meaning, does it do essentially the same thing? I realize the two are not the same chemical.

My order of Magnalium was sent as 49 percent Magnalium and 51 percent Magnesium shavings. So I have quite a bit of the shavings left and I'm wondering what can be done with it. The stuff is fairly small - no more than a few millimeters square. Is it worth milling? Can it be used 'as is' in a star or fuel?

I looked around and didn't see this topic - let me know if I messed up and I'll withdraw this.

I've tried lots of star recipes and I've been pretty disappointed with many of them. Some simply won't light - they blow blind nearly all the time. I'm searching for some basic star formulas that are noted for easy ignition, reasonable looks, low cost, easy-to-find chemicals.

As normal, the Chinese have this down pat. They make cheap stars that are colorful and ignite with no problems. I have robbed stars from cheap fireworks and I'm always amazed at how they can get good reds, blues, greens, and yellows in small stars.

I'll include one formula to start things. D1 glitter is easy to make and it lights every time.



Source: Tom Rebenclau/Jack Drews

Composition:
58 Potassium Nitrate (EDIT: this should probably be 53 - see follow-on posts in this thread - specifically the one by Maineiac)
18 Sulfur
11 Charcoal (airfloat)
7 Aluminium (-325 mesh, spherical)
7 Sodium Bicarbonate
4 Dextrin