633 replies to this topic

[Matt]

http://www.walkerceramics.com.au/

[Creepin_pyro]

Just a quick question....

When deciding which red star formula to use, we are usually looking for a deep, vivid red. While "independance" reds are great to look at, I also enjoy a nice, pinkish red. These seem to come from Perchlorate/Carbonate formulas.

Does anyone have suggestions for a really good red star that is almost pink?

Veline's red is close to the colour I'm looking for, but It's generally accepted that these colours aren't the best that can be achived. I suppose "best" in relation to red stars can be quite subjective, but I'm looking for a great pink.

Any suggestions?

[Yugen-biki]

Creepin_pyro

Pink stars are made with copper and strontium in combination. Or am I wrong?

The chlorate SrCO3 star I tested was not pink at all. More lika dark orange mixed with a lot of red. Kind of washed out. But still a good red.


To other people who like to read my thoughts

The best way to find "your" star is to test different kinds. All recepies out there useing SrCO3, SrNO3, Sr-Oxalate, etc make good red stars. This applyes to most star compositions of different colors.
When I for the first time made stars some years ago, I thought that there were only a few that worked. Now I know that all the compositions in Shimizu, Lancaster, AFN etc are OK.
For the beginner it is wise to use a simpel and cheep composition, like a red "red gum, SrCO3 and perc" star.

[Phoenix]

Here's a pink star composition from Wingart:

Potassium Perchlorate.......16
Plaster of Paris (CaSO4).....4
Sellac..................................3

He says to moisten it with alcohol.

I have not tried this composition exactly as it is, but I have tried a small amount of a composition based on it, but using potassium chlorate as the oxidiser, and ordinary Plaster of Paris. I remember it gave a bright pink - probably something like what you're looking for.

Just in case anyone thinks that the similar chlorate formula would be good to use, I must stress that I mixed less than one gram of this composition and burnt it immediately. Remeber that Plaster of Paris is a sulphate, and whilst it can be used with potassium perchlorate, is incompatible with the chlorate.

Edited by Phoenix, 09 January 2005 - 04:52 PM.

[castillareno]

bitch

Edited by castillareno, 05 June 2005 - 01:51 PM.

[Phoenix]

1) Sorry, I don't know a metallic pink formula.

2. http://www.wolterpyr...ockettools.html will tell you the case size you will need - 10" long for a core burner or 7" long for an end burner. For core burning rockets, the usual length is 10 X the case inside diameter

I haven't personally made a rocket with an inside diameter if greater than 15mm, but for 1 to 3 pound rockets Weingart suggests:

Potassium nitrate.......16
Mixed mesh charcoal..12
Sulphur........................3

This would be a good starting point, but you may of course have to adjust it to suit your own tools, methods and materials.

I haven't bought anything from Rich Wolter, but I think he may include a composition suggestion with the tooling. Anyone?

[castillareno]

Thanks, Phoenix.

I continue searching. bitch

Edited by castillareno, 05 June 2005 - 01:52 PM.

[alany]

Yes, Rich does indeed include instructions and compositions with his core-burning kits.

[BigG]

just wondering... it says that I shuld use 25% alcohol as a solvent. can i use ethanol? or just normal liqueur??

This was mentioned before - a simple source of alcohol in the UK for binding is isopropyl alcohol which you can get at your local chimist. it comes as 70% with water and is as good as pure alcohol - cheaper then vodka as well.

Drying times are a bit longer - but its not too bad.

[lord_dranack]

I use methylated spirits, diluted down ,as it is much cheaper than isopropyl alcohol where I live.

[BigG]

I use methylated spirits, diluted down ,as it is much cheaper than isopropyl alcohol where I live.

correct.... but there are notiable evidence that continoues use of methanol or methylated spirits demage the eye nerves. Also, I'm not sure what is exctly in methylated spirit (out of the country - away from my chimical data books) - but I don't think it closley related to alcohol as isopropyl is, and reaction between it and other chimicals is much less documented... They do put this "dengroues for the environment" warning on methylated spirit - not on isopropyl....

Edited by BigG, 14 January 2005 - 04:34 PM.

[Phoenix]

That was my (vague) belief about meths here - mostly ethanol, with just enough methanol and "Purple Stuff" to make it undrinkable. However, it did give me a terrible headache one time I tried rolling stars with it in my workshop, so if I'm going to be using it in large amounts and/or over a long period of time I do it outside now.