28 replies to this topic

[Creepin_pyro]

Lycopodium is fantastic for cremoras but incredibly expensive. I've heard of lots of other things being used including powdered walnut shells, charcoal, sawdust, custard powder and a few others. I think they're particularly effective with a few stars and firecrackers thrown in - don't see that very often.

[Arthur Brown]

There are many mixes to play with BUT to get the effect right takes time, which you haven't got with a show in a week. As Far as I know "cremora" is USA brand of coffee whitener.

I've heard of people using multi kilo quantities of some powders, Coffee whiteners and calf feed milk replacers seem to be the most popular by whatever brand name is familiar in your country.

However I'd still recommend against making one this year unless you have the time and space to do good tests. You certainly should NOT use your party guests as trials targets.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Lycopodium is fantastic for cremoras but incredibly expensive. I've heard of lots of other things being used including powdered walnut shells, charcoal, sawdust, custard powder and a few others. I think they're particularly effective with a few stars and firecrackers thrown in - don't see that very often.

Yes to the above.

Lycopodium, is that a creeping moss with spine type leaves? I guess these would have to be dried first?

Adding rice krispies to the mix should in effect create more air pockets!

[rick87]

Yes to the above.

Lycopodium, is that a creeping moss with spine type leaves? I guess these would have to be dried first?

Adding rice krispies to the mix should in effect create more air pockets!

might even add a snap crackle and pop to the equation
ok i'll get me coat

[crystal palace fireworks]

Currently, I'm just trying to convince my mum to let me make Cremoras for our home display on November 5th. All the fireworks will be shop-bought, it's just I'd really like to start it off with a couple of cremoras, and maybe add in a couple of black-powder based rockets, but nothing involving flash powder etc. I'm not too bothered about the rockets, but I really would like the cremoras. She mentioned that she might be convinced by some proof of the safety of it all. Anyone got any evidence, or anything else that might convince her?

I'm 17 btw, if that makes any difference.

Thanks a load.
Joe

P.S. I won't be ball-milling, so that's that risk eliminated.

Joe,

Whilst we applaud you decision to consult your mum and not use flash or ball mill for the time being, I would NOT even consider making Cremoras and letting them off until next years bonfire night (you need practice), what would happen if you experimented and your friends & family got hurt by accident or due to poor preparation?

As others have said, even what seems to be the simplist of tasks may turn out to become your last experiment,.....you need to adopt great caution, as there is a lot of preparation and some investment that go`s into making hobbyist fireworks.

For example;-

Do you have any PPE?
Do you have a safe work place to build your contraptions away from the house?
Do you have methods in place that will help protect you if things go wrong?
Have you considered damping down the area your going to fire in?
Have thought about burying your cremora in the ground to help reduce the spread of flame? or using a secure method to keep it in place when it fires?
Have you considered wind direction with your family and friends watching?
What distances do you have for your experiments? is this enough?

Stay safe and wait until next year, it will be more fun, and then you will have time to record and practice your cremoras before exposing to an audience.

[Arthur Brown]

Lycopodium as used for fireballs is the spores of a plant of the group including spine and stagshorn mosses and yes it's expensive.

[Atom Fireworks]

Ime gunna make 1 of these for self accomplishment, is there any specification as to a "good" one to a "crap" one. I.E with shells you usually like a nice symetrical and spherical burst if your using ball shells. so one that goes off like a horse tail is considered crap by the standard its supposed to meet up too. However is it were a horse tail effect you wanted it would be an excellent accomplishment.

Whats a good, safe size to make? any specific weight ratios of powder to lift? What size tubes are most common or is all of this down to personal preference? I have my own ideas on many of these questions but would like your opinions and also for the chap whos thread this is might throw some pointers his way

[rick87]

i just recently posted a fireball thread, Clicky alot of people helped me out with some ideas

[MDH]

An excellent brightener is coarse flake aluminum with coarse magnesium. The danger, of course, is that it might prevent the cremora from igniting properly, and that being too close will cause irrepairable eye damage as it is extremely bright.

I like Cremora, but I prefer to make my own powders. I use zinc soaps as they are both insoluble and fluffy. They can be produced by first reacting sodium hydroxide with an oil of choice, then reacting that with zinc sulfate. The fatty acid salts of zinc will appear as off-white in the solution. Zinc stearate in perticular has a very low melting point.

[phildunford]

Lycopodium is a fine pollen type substance. It was used for fire balls on stage many moons ago, simply by blowing it across a spirt flame. It is however very expensive.


The real key is the BP. It has to be fast and hot, then all sorts of things will give a good effect. There was a trial done, either pyrotechnica or AFN which concluded (as stated above) that the fat content is the critical issue - higher=better. I think their best was a farming milk suppliment for lambs, which was also quite cheap!

[wjames]

FYI, lamb milk replacement it is the stuff of dreams. mix in 10 % Mg/Al for some fancyness.

then again, 500ml of petrol over a decent charge also makes a decent fireball !

[Mumbles]

The higher the fat content of the milk replacement the better. In the US, when you hear that someone has brought cremoras to a club shoot or a show or something, it's pretty much assumed to be a 20L bucket. Just as if someone has brought gas fireballs (or dragon's breath), they're assumed to be probably at least 8L. There is some truth to bigger is better. For a backyard display though, these sizes would be outrageous and very unsafe.

The biggest thing with cremora charges is trying to keep the powder free flowing. A mixture of airfloat charcoal and cremora seems to be one of the popular ones right now. Real brand name cremora and other coffee creamers tends to be pretty free flowing, but the milk replacements can be a bit sticky especially in humid areas. Clumps tend to come back to earth still flaming.

[Dagabu]

Mum, have you tried Gilsonite in creamoras?

[Mumbles]

Nope, I only very recently acquired some gilsonite, and I had other plans for it (black smoke salutes). It's gone now of course though. I've seen some of Bob Forward's tests and they're very impressive.