29 replies to this topic

[Green_as_my_powder]

Fellow pyro's,

I would love to have a good formula for a yellow lance which is free of shellac and resin. Perhaps based on ammonium perchlorate and sodium bicarb? My son loves yellow, and I'm trying to avoid ordering more "stuff" right now.

Thanks for any tips!

[Creepin_pyro]

This is the best I could find, might be a good starting point.

Name: Lancaster AP #1
Ammonium Perchlorate 75
Wood Meal 15
Sodium Oxalate 5
Rosin (Colopnony) 5

[MDH]

Improvising shouldn't be too hard. Yellow is very easy to obtain. Try barium nitrate based compositions, they create a very rich yellow without the presence of metallic fuels or chlorine. You could also try a composition if you have a dry storing location which contains sodium chloride, ammonium perchlorate and simple sugar (as well as an alternative fuel or agent slow it down such as paraffin wax).

[Green_as_my_powder]

Thanks for the input! I have Lancaster's book, but don't have rosin...not even sure what it is. I'm kinda new at this so the thought of "improvising" is a little scary. I have a green lance formula which works well (I can post details once I get home). I think it has barium nitrate and perhaps ammonium perchlorate. How can I change to to yellow?

Thanks, as always!

[spanner]

Here's a few comps that might be adaptable for use:

Weingart Yellow Torch
Reference Text: Pyrotechnics Revision: 2nd Edition Author: George W. Weingart Chapter: Part III: Products of Manufacture Page: 66
60.87...........7parts........Barium Nitrate
17.39%........2parts .......Potassium Perchlorate
8.70%.........1part..........Sodium Oxalate
8.70%.........1part..........Red Gum
4.35%........0.5part........Sulfur
Weingart notes in re this composition suggests using Cryolite for a non-hygroscopic variant.

Weingart Gold and Aluminum Torch
Reference Text: Pyrotechnics Revision: 2nd Edition Author: George W. Weingart Chapter: Part III: Products of Manufacture Page: 70
65.00%.........13parts.......Sodium Perchlorate
30.00%..........6parts.......Aluminum (mixed)
5.00%............1part.........Dextrin

Degn Yellow Fire
Reference Text: Westech Fireworks Manual Author: Ralph Degn Chapter: L-104: Basic Ground Displays Page: 45
57.14%........6parts......Barium Nitrate
19.05%........2parts .....Potassium Perchlorate
9.52%.........1part.......Red Gum
9.52%.........1part ......Sodium Oxalate
4.76%.........0.5part....Sulfur

Weingart Yellow Fire
Reference Text: Pyrotechnics Revision: 2nd Edition Author: George W. Weingart Chapter: Part III: Products of Manufacture Page: 61
72.00%.........36parts.......Barium Nitrate
12.00%...........6parts.......Sodium Oxalate
10.00%...........5parts.......Red Gum
6.00%............3parts.......Sulfur

[Bonny]

Thanks for the input! I have Lancaster's book, but don't have rosin...not even sure what it is.

Thanks, as always!

Rosin is a tree resin, see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosin

you should be able to find it in music stores as it is used IIRC on violin (and the like) bow strings. I tried using some a few years ago, but it was messy trying to powder it.

[spanner]

Another route you may try, is getting to yellow by way of combining other colors.

The following may stimulate some experimentation:

Kosanke had an article, Lancework – Pictures in Fire, in Pyrotechnica XV that has lance comps. By starting with blue, red and green comps and then combining them in the following ratios, the other colors can be made.

Yellow - 0.25 red, 0.75 green

Orange – 0.60 red, 0.40 green

Chartreuse – 0.14 red, 0.86 green

White – 0.14 red, 0.28 blue, 0.58 green

Purple – 0.60 red, 0.40 blue

Aqua – 0.25 blue, 0.75 green

Also the Veline color system, found in Tom Peregrin's Introductory Practical Pyrotechnics and elsewhere, starts with four basic color compositions- red, green, blue and orange- and mixes those to obtain other colors:

Yellow – 0.45 orange, 0.55 green

Chartreuse - 0.20 orange, 0.80 green

Aqua – 0.20 blue, 0.80 green

Maroon – 0.85 red, 0.15 blue

Salmon – 0.25 red, 0.60 orange, 0.15 blue

Purple – 0.15 red, 0.05 orange, 0.80 blue

[MDH]

I have a green lance formula which works well (I can post details once I get home). I think it has barium nitrate and perhaps ammonium perchlorate. How can I change to to yellow?

Thanks, as always!

Simple. Remove the perchlorate and any other chlorine source.

Edited by MDH, 20 February 2009 - 10:38 PM.

[Green_as_my_powder]

Another route you may try, is getting to yellow by way of combining other colors.

The following may stimulate some experimentation:

Kosanke had an article, Lancework – Pictures in Fire, in Pyrotechnica XV that has lance comps. By starting with blue, red and green comps and then combining them in the following ratios, the other colors can be made.

Yellow - 0.25 red, 0.75 green

Orange – 0.60 red, 0.40 green

Chartreuse – 0.14 red, 0.86 green

White – 0.14 red, 0.28 blue, 0.58 green

Purple – 0.60 red, 0.40 blue

Aqua – 0.25 blue, 0.75 green

Also the Veline color system, found in Tom Peregrin's Introductory Practical Pyrotechnics and elsewhere, starts with four basic color compositions- red, green, blue and orange- and mixes those to obtain other colors:

Yellow – 0.45 orange, 0.55 green

Chartreuse - 0.20 orange, 0.80 green

Aqua – 0.20 blue, 0.80 green

Maroon – 0.85 red, 0.15 blue

Salmon – 0.25 red, 0.60 orange, 0.15 blue

Purple – 0.15 red, 0.05 orange, 0.80 blue

I have Thomas Perigrin's book with the Veline formulas, but not the article by Kosanke. Could you post the blue / red / green comp. formulas or give me a link to find them?

I remember reading Perigrin's book and thinking "wow, I could use this to teach my kids about primary colors of light". Thanks so much for reminding me!

[Green_as_my_powder]

Here's a few comps that might be adaptable for use:

Weingart Yellow Torch
Reference Text: Pyrotechnics Revision: 2nd Edition Author: George W. Weingart Chapter: Part III: Products of Manufacture Page: 66
60.87...........7parts........Barium Nitrate
17.39%........2parts .......Potassium Perchlorate
8.70%.........1part..........Sodium Oxalate
8.70%.........1part..........Red Gum
4.35%........0.5part........Sulfur
Weingart notes in re this composition suggests using Cryolite for a non-hygroscopic variant.

Weingart Gold and Aluminum Torch
Reference Text: Pyrotechnics Revision: 2nd Edition Author: George W. Weingart Chapter: Part III: Products of Manufacture Page: 70
65.00%.........13parts.......Sodium Perchlorate
30.00%..........6parts.......Aluminum (mixed)
5.00%............1part.........Dextrin

Degn Yellow Fire
Reference Text: Westech Fireworks Manual Author: Ralph Degn Chapter: L-104: Basic Ground Displays Page: 45
57.14%........6parts......Barium Nitrate
19.05%........2parts .....Potassium Perchlorate
9.52%.........1part.......Red Gum
9.52%.........1part ......Sodium Oxalate
4.76%.........0.5part....Sulfur

Weingart Yellow Fire
Reference Text: Pyrotechnics Revision: 2nd Edition Author: George W. Weingart Chapter: Part III: Products of Manufacture Page: 61
72.00%.........36parts.......Barium Nitrate
12.00%...........6parts.......Sodium Oxalate
10.00%...........5parts.......Red Gum
6.00%............3parts.......Sulfur

This is really helpful! Do you think I can substitute sodium bicarbonate for the sodium oxalate in these formulas with success?

[spanner]

This is really helpful! Do you think I can substitute sodium bicarbonate for the sodium oxalate in these formulas with success?

Cryolite (ceramic supply stores often stock it) would be my first choice for a substitute, but nothing's wrong with experimenting with baking soda. Table salt or borax might be tried as well.

[seymour]

I'm with MDH. Barium based yellows are good, though I also like to add sodium and chlorine. The chlorine brings in a little green from the Barium, which draws the yellow away from "golden orange" of sodium to "dandelion yellow". It also encourages Magnesium and Aluminium to form chlorides, which emit light outside the visible spectrum (UV I think), which reduces the glare, purifying the colour.

Potassium perchlorate is fine for yellow, I do not see any need to use AP. Save that for the blues!!

If the golden yellow is fine, then 60/40 Potassium nitrate/Sodium benzoate is a fairly cheap, clean burning yellow composition with excellent colour.

[Mumbles]

Yes, you can sub out Sodium Oxalate for Sodium bicarbonate in nearly all cases. It should be fine if not a bit faster burning.

[Green_as_my_powder]

I don't have the article by Kosanke. Could someone please post the blue / red / green comp. formulas or give me a link to find them? I have the Veline formulas...

Thanks!

[spanner]

I think I'll let you hunt for that one. You're not trying hard enough!!!