Star Formulas
#496
Posted 17 November 2009 - 05:15 PM
#497
Posted 18 November 2009 - 07:54 AM
I've made a number of formulas based on black powder with zinc and a binder. My old Zinc powder burned slowly in the mix:
BP 10 (50%)
Zn 9 (45%)
Dextrin 1 (5%)
My new Zinc, a finer powder, burns fast in the mix:
BP 7 (35%)
Zn 12 (60%)
Dextrin 1 (5%)
You can try the granite formula, or experiment like I have.
By the way, this thread is for posting and discussing existing formulas. While I can understand posting your question here, I believe it would be more suitable elsewhere.
#498
Posted 18 November 2009 - 06:26 PM
#499
Posted 18 November 2009 - 09:02 PM
There are stars called "zinc spreader stars", which give a trail of burning zinc. However, these need pretty coarse zinc. Because your stuff burns so fast, I doubt it will work.
From memory, the Zinc spreaders were typically Potassium chlorate, Zinc, Potassium nitrate and Charcoal.
#500
Posted 19 November 2009 - 01:03 PM
#501
Posted 19 November 2009 - 01:17 PM
#502
Posted 19 November 2009 - 02:26 PM
Name: Slow Gold
Source: Dave Buell
KNO3-36
C (airfloat)-29
C (80 mesh)-14
S-9
Ti sponge 40-80 mesh-7
Dextrin-5
Ball mill all apart from the 80# Charcoal and Ti, then screen. Long hang-time and a great effect
#503
Posted 20 November 2009 - 08:11 PM
Here is a video by Sasman showing both: My link
#504
Posted 20 November 2009 - 09:59 PM
#505
Posted 21 November 2009 - 12:16 PM
There are some very nice stories about it on the passfire forum, such as the sparks are so long lasting that they will fall on the earth even from 200 m of high. The stars should be something like 75% black locust/25% pine tree in order to avoid this (TT stars), and around 8 mm max for a 6" shell.
#506
Posted 21 November 2009 - 09:53 PM
I have made many similar formulas, and YOU WILL NOT get the same effect as someone else if you do not use exactly the same starting materials. So many variables exist, such as Titanium particle size (you may not have, nor do you need exactly 40-80 mesh), and charcoal type, and sulfur content. I've had a very similar composition in 20mm stars burning in two seconds, and then 11mm stars burning for over ten seconds.
Essentially, you are going to need to do some tweaking.
Adding more sulfur increases the delay of the titanium, and gives it a more shimmering quality.
Obviously the Charcoal will play a huge role, and if you use Locust, then I'd do what A_bab says. With Radiata pine charcoal, more sulfur than slow gold, and a little bit of sodium bicarb to slow it down even more, I had 9mm stars burning perfectly for a three inch shell.
CCH, you can definitely get a three inch shell working well with these stars, though obviously it will not be as dense as the bigger shells. Just burst them like you would any other chrysanthemum, if you want a chrysanthemum burst, or like a horsetail, if you want a horsetail break... We cannot tell you how to burst it, because that is a choice you need to make. By the way, Sasman's shells are chrysanthemums.
http://www.youtube.c...u/4/tHUlvblN9zI
And the firework in my youtube vid from 26 seconds to 40 seconds is a horsetail.
#507
Posted 21 November 2009 - 10:17 PM
Wonderful fireworks, mate!
used for sundry preparations, and especially for experimental
fire-works."
Dr. James Cutbush
#508
Posted 21 November 2009 - 11:17 PM
I would say your 3'' shells would be fine.i love the density of those shells and the spread they get. how big does the shell need to be to get that effect only maybe smaller. i have a few 3" shells but not the tubes to fire them at the mo. will i be able to achieve a nice effect with shells sizes. what size stars should i uses and how would you suggests the break charge being implemented? i apologize if this is the wrong place for this quest just that video made me wounder.
But I suggest you try some star formulas, make yourself a star gun and pump some stars say 3/8
you will be able to see the individual star effects achievable and at the same time you can get your lift up to scratch.
Start off slow and then see what it takes blow them blind adjust your prime if necessary then imagine them in your 3” shell,
and that will inspire you to learn the finer details of shell building.
#509
Posted 21 November 2009 - 11:35 PM
i have had good results with valine stars and tiger tails so far, there the main ones i have used. until they fail me I'm pretty happy with them, saying that i likes the Yankee flashers so going to give them ago.
i am going to be trying other effects hummers, tourbillions effects like this look really cool.
another one i really want on concentrate on is my rockets. so alot here lol.
i have some brass now and I'm going to make some tooling, i want a crossett pump, but I'm thinking i might need to buy this, but ill give it a go at making one.
#510
Posted 21 November 2009 - 11:48 PM
Semour could you explain the chrysanthemum effect my interpretation is longer burning stars that fall to the ground but Takeo Shimizu Chrysanthemum 6 is a Fast burning charcoal streamer no hang effect .I find it quite amusing how much discussion of these compositions these there is, and the mythical status that seems to surround them.
I have made many similar formulas, and YOU WILL NOT get the same effect as someone else if you do not use exactly the same starting materials. So many variables exist, such as Titanium particle size (you may not have, nor do you need exactly 40-80 mesh), and charcoal type, and sulfur content. I've had a very similar composition in 20mm stars burning in two seconds, and then 11mm stars burning for over ten seconds.
Essentially, you are going to need to do some tweaking.
Adding more sulfur increases the delay of the titanium, and gives it a more shimmering quality.
Obviously the Charcoal will play a huge role, and if you use Locust, then I'd do what A_bab says. With Radiata pine charcoal, more sulfur than slow gold, and a little bit of sodium bicarb to slow it down even more, I had 9mm stars burning perfectly for a three inch shell.
CCH, you can definitely get a three inch shell working well with these stars, though obviously it will not be as dense as the bigger shells. Just burst them like you would any other chrysanthemum, if you want a chrysanthemum burst, or like a horsetail, if you want a horsetail break... We cannot tell you how to burst it, because that is a choice you need to make. By the way, Sasman's shells are chrysanthemums.
http://www.youtube.c...u/4/tHUlvblN9zI
And the firework in my youtube vid from 26 seconds to 40 seconds is a horsetail.
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