19 replies to this topic

[bobconan]

I have 10 lbs of zinc. More then im ever gonna need. I got it for something i found in George Weingart's "pyrotechnics". The electric spreader stars call for:
zinc dust 36
potassium Chlorate 7-1/2
Granulated charcoal 6
Pottassium bi chromate 6
dextrin 1

Any Ideas on how to make that safe? I.e. no dichromate or chlorate
Thanks for the help

[Sparkler]

I wouldn't use that comp at all. Potassium chlorate is no big deal but Potassium dichromate is. So I'd just use this comp instead. Plus, If you can have the chems for BP, you have the chems for this.

Granite Spreader
- 14 Potassium nitrate
- 2.5 Sulfur
- 7 Charcoal
- 40 Zinc dust
- 1 Dextrin

Wet using 50/50 water/alcohol and prime them with with meal. The only downside is that they weigh alot for thier size but, thats what you get for using zinc.

[lord_dranack]

I can't say I have any experience with zinc stars, but I believe that zinc powder has a tendancy to get hot and possibly ignite if it gets damp, so it might not be a good idea to use a water-based binder.

[alany]

I've made lots of granite stars and never had heating problems.

However, the largest batches I've ever made were around 1 kg.

They roll well in my experence, but are best made pumped. Smaller granite stars aren't all that impressive, but 1" or larger comets are bloody spectacular! Even the smaller ones are OK in candles. Too much water or force drying will make them crack, but the damage is usually cosmetic.

Very dense though, as Sparkler said, a shell full of them needs a good wack of lift.

[lord_dranack]

What do the stars look like when they burn? I've got some zinc so I might make some.

[Sparkler]

They have a green head with a orange tail. Heres a picture. (Curtsey of Lil_Guppy)http://www.freepgs.c.....te stills.JPG

Edited by Sparkler, 08 June 2004 - 10:37 PM.

[bobconan]

So they would be pointless for a 4" shell?

[Sparkler]

No, they wouldn't be pointless. They have a good effect and it uses easy to get chems. So I don't see how they could be pointless. They are just very dense and require heftier lift. A general rule of the thumb for homeade lift is 1/5 the weight of the shell. So a 100 gram shell would have a 20 grams of lift. Hope this helps.

[alany]

They have a green head with a orange tail. Heres a picture. http://www.freepgs.c.....te stills.JPG

Nice, I've never managed to capture the green properly, it always gets washed out to white.

Although in my experence it is a more blushish colour for KNO3 based streamers. My experimental ones with KClO4 are lime green like that though. When I use -100 mesh zinc (rather than dust) the bluish green tail extends much further too.

[bobconan]

I was commenting on alany's comment about the small granite stars being non impressive. Im not gonna use chlorate either. I dont have enough equipment for 2 sets.

[italteen3]

Those stars seem very impressive. I have never thought twice about those mainly because I have never seen any but it sounds like it is amazing!

Alany what does bloody mean?!? Here in the USA usually it means your covered in blood because you are bleeding.

Now Sparkler Chlorate is a big deal and shouldnt be taken lightly. Now I know it can be used safer if the proper precautions are taken, but Potassium Dichromate has a good quality that should be utilized too. Veline's super prime contains Potassium Dichromate. I hear it works well with all compatible stars. Though I believe in the video how to build a 6" round shell by Bob Stoddard, I believe, he describes its nasty effects and exercises extra caution which is a good thing. I will not be using it soon, but will be one day.

[Stuart]

Bloody means what you said but also to emphasise the next word. So bloody spectacular would mean very impressive visually.

[Lil_Guppy]

OMG... Thats my picture!!

*dances around*

Ok I'm done

Those granite stars (in the picture) burn for aaaaaages (compared to other stars anyway). I made the mistake of having 12mm cut stars in a 2in shell. They burnt pretty much all the way to the ground :S Not to worry, the firing area was nice and clear, so nothing bad happened. I must say though, it was quite a nice look.

[bobconan]

My current stars are around 1/4 cut cubes. Can i prime them without a star roller?

[Sparkler]

Yes, you can prime them without a star roller but, they must be wet. If they are still wet just drop them in a bagie of meal powder and a dab of dextrin. They just shake em' around till thier nice and covered with meal. If they are not wet just take a spray bottle with water and moisten them and repeat the above steps. Goodluck