6 replies to this topic

[NorCalPyro]

I am wondering if anyone know what falling leaf fues is made of? I was thinking about using some very small pieces as colored stars in a fountain. My idea is to cut them 1/3 - 1/2 of the size of the nozzle so they will not clog the nozzle but will add some colored bits. My concers is if they contain chlorates or something else that will get angry with the black powder composition I am using. Can anyone help me out with this?

[pyromaniac303]

I am wondering if anyone know what falling leaf fues is made of? I was thinking about using some very small pieces as colored stars in a fountain. My idea is to cut them 1/3 - 1/2 of the size of the nozzle so they will not clog the nozzle but will add some colored bits. My concers is if they contain chlorates or something else that will get angry with the black powder composition I am using. Can anyone help me out with this?

I have used falling leaf and flying fish fuse in fountains and waterfalls before and they perform well, but its best to press rather than ram them as chlorate and perchlorate compositions are both very sensitive to sulfur, though the chlorate more so. I don't know whats in them though, so its slightly risky. I prefer to use microstars now as you know exactly what your dealing with.

One thing you will need is a quite fast BP based comp to ensure the pieces are thoroughly ejected, and if possible taper the inside of your nozzle so it forms a cone shape and directs the burning pieces outwards. A connical rammer (turned down on a lathe, or carefully cut and filed if using wood) helps a lot.

[NorCalPyro]

Pyromaniac303,

Thanks for the response. I had not thought about the inside cone shape. Good suggestion. I'll keep looking fror the composition of the fuse as I am paranoid about safety.

I bought the fuse from Skylighter and think they suggested using it inside a shell with BP as a soft burst charge so maybe there is not a problem.

[pyromaniac303]

One other thing I forgot to add, when making waterfalls with this, do not use the usual method of wetting the comp then pressing, as this will only integrate the fuse and the matrix comp more, and increase the risk. I pressed mine in small increments by hand, dry, after a thick meal powder prime layer which was rammed quite hard to prevent crumbling.

[Mumbles]

From my experience, most flying fish fuses are some sort of flash bound into a visco-like product. More than likely magnesium or MgAl based. This is how they burn so violently they self propell. As for the falling leaves, might be a different story. Crackle might just have coarse MgA or Ti, or microstars. Strobe is probably just strobe comp(again with a metal base) that strobes.

[NorCalPyro]

I got a reply from Skylighter today on both Falling Leaf and Flying Fish Fues. They are both metal fuel based and thus somewhat risky for ramming. They are not chlorate based. Thanks for the responses.

[MDH]

I have made flying fish myself easily. I actually used whistle mix with titanium sparks and green microstars. Essentially what I do is lay a thin trail of composition down a piece of masking tape, then fold it over and twist it into a rope. I use these in shells all the time.