firedust2004

I thought it would be expensive and inconvenient to use a 50 metre long roll of wire to ignite rockets / pyrotechnic devices. I have some experience in electronics and circuit board work so I designed my own variable timer circuit. I can set the delay frome between 5 and 70 seconds and it is very accurate. Press the start button with the required time set and it gives you time to retire to watch the launch. If you have a stop watch you can time how long it will be until it will fire. The timer runs off a 12V lead acid battery but a smaller one would work. If anyone would like the circuit diagram then I could post it on here if you could tell me how I would do that?

Chris

Does potassium persulphate have any use in pyrotechnics?
I seen to remember a flash composition consisting of barium sulphate and aluminium powder.

I bought 500g of aluminium powder form tiranti about a week ago. It arrived quickly and tiranti was very helpful, no problems at all. I didn't order through the website and sent the order by post after requesting the total by email. It came to ?9.30 for the 500g of Al and the postage cost. I have tried it in flash but it doesn't work at all. I made a very effective fountain by adding some of the Al powder to a batch of Chrysanthemum #6. I really liked the effect. There was a 2metre high plume of beautiful golden and silver sparks which lasted for about two seconds (more like a small mine) The fountain tube was only 50mm tall and 18mm wide.

I recently bought a digital scale from maplin. It was on offer for ?19.99 (normal price ?49.99) I just had to get it . It measures up to 200g with a resolution of 0.1g which is fine and I never mix chemical amounts greater than 100g at a time anyway.