7 replies to this topic

[jayden]

I am very new to this forum and I am just wondering if you could tell me about some good simple formulas for stars.
I have made glitter stars, tiger tail, white etc (all very simple), and now I want to get some colour.
I am wondering what chemicals I should get for these.
Any advice and some beginner compositions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Jayden.

[BrightStar]

Hi Jayden,

As a beginner, perchlorate colours are probably the way to go. A good start to give you the basics might be something like Lancaster Red Organic:

Potassium perchlorate: 70
Red gum: 9
Strontium carbonate: 15
Charcoal: 2
Dextrin: 4

If you have Parlon, try Conkling Blue Organic. Beyond that, adding some fine magnalium you can explore the Veline colours. They are easy to roll, pump or cut, not too hygroscopic, not super-sensitive and reasonably easy to ignite with a step prime.

Plenty more options on Phil's site here:

http://www.thegreenm.../pfp/stars.html

[jayden]

Thanks heaps!
I just need some potassium perchlorate and I shall be all set.
I have a pyro display coming up in about three weeks.
Going to make about 80 pieces of firework and set them off in a large property.

Edited by jayden, 19 July 2009 - 04:49 AM.

[MDH]

Try just seeing how far you can get with black powder based formulas. Willows, spinners, shell bursts are all possible with it.

After expanding into other territories for a long time, you begin to realize just how handy black powder is...

[jayden]

I am doing more 'blackpowder' based stars.
I am also doing some metal based stars as well.
I made some aluminium spreader star composition but it is not igniting.
Any suggestions? Shall I add more sulfur and potassium nitrate to aid ignition?
This is the formula:

Al (200)...49
KNO3......41
Sulfur......4
Dextrin....6

It's tempting to ball mill but I won't.
Thanks, Jayden.

[digger]

I am doing more 'blackpowder' based stars.
I am also doing some metal based stars as well.
I made some aluminium spreader star composition but it is not igniting.
Any suggestions? Shall I add more sulfur and potassium nitrate to aid ignition?
This is the formula:

Al (200)...49
KNO3......41
Sulfur......4
Dextrin....6

It's tempting to ball mill but I won't.
Thanks, Jayden.

I would have to consult my books, but that looks like a Shimizu Silver Wave or similar. Yep it is one of the harder comositions to light.

The question is how are you priming these?

I have made these and primed with BP + 15% silicon and they lit. However I found it was better to step prime these 50%/50% comp plus bp with 10% Si and then a final coat of BP + 10% Si.

Lovely star by the way.

Gareth

[jayden]

I would have to consult my books, but that looks like a Shimizu Silver Wave or similar. Yep it is one of the harder comositions to light.

The question is how are you priming these?

I have made these and primed with BP + 15% silicon and they lit. However I found it was better to step prime these 50%/50% comp plus bp with 10% Si and then a final coat of BP + 10% Si.

Lovely star by the way.

Gareth

Sorry to ask, but what does step prime mean?
Also, is their an alternative to silicon (because I do not have any)?
Thanks for the help.
Jayden.

[jayden]

For every 2 grams of the composition I have added 1 gram of blackpowder. Ignition is a lot easier.
This is the result:


Jayden.