TCblastmaster

Perhaps in order to ascertain what constitutes adequate training for Cat.4 these idiot legislators ought to consult the people who insure professional pyrotechnicians - after all they will base cover/premiums on perceived risk relating to an operator and its employees based on the standard of training received.

A National firework school sounds an interesting concept.

TC

An enjoyable and interesting series of videos, particularly because it was a small show and something most of us can relate to.
They were very close to the pond though!

TC

If you are going to play music during a show I think you have to do something constructive with it. In my opinion it is either superfluous to it (or even a distraction) or something that becomes an integral and seamless part of it. The latter requires precise timing, something beyond most of us I would imagine (and most of the big display companies from what I've seen anyway).

However, if a track is played as a prelude I think it can work well to set the mood and tempo for a show.

Other than that why complicate things, let the fireworks do the talking. After all they are an art form in themselves that provide their own voices.

TC

I have had some very good results with the CIA method but usually ball mill the C and S beforehand- otherwise you get solid lumps of sulphur in the finished product. However, using the CIA method and then ball milling the dried granules produces a much faster powder. Never compared it to the purely ball milled variety because one tends to stick with what has previously worked well.

In my experience the effectiveness of the CIA method depends on a number of things; ensuring that just enough water is present to keep all the KNO3 in solution prior to adding the alcohol - difficult when so much of the water evaporates during heating large batches safely and a large proportion may no longer be in solution (showing up as large crystals on drying and poor performance)and adding the correct amount of chilled alcohol to rapidly and completely precipitate the KNO3 -some of which could be lost when wringing out the ball of BP if too much water has been added or too little alcohol. Clearly the proportions of chemicals in the composition can change in many ways. Get it spot on and you'll have good lift powder with rather delicate grains (when grated through a screen). I have also found the lift made by this method to be very hygroscopic- what starts off as brilliant lift can be rendered useless by atmospheric moisture- purely anecdotal but I have experienced it, much to my embarrassment.

Ball milling is therefore essential, whatever method you use. Producing excellent BP is the Holy Grail of pyro and often a closely guarded secret.

TC

I have had some very good results with the CIA method but usually ball mill the C and S beforehand- otherwise you get solid lumps of sulphur in the finished product. However, using the CIA method and then ball milling the dried granules produces a much faster powder. Never compared it to the purely ball milled variety because one tends to stick with what has previously worked well.

In my experience the effectiveness of the CIA method depends on a number of things; ensuring that just enough water is present to keep all the KNO3 in solution prior to adding the alcohol - difficult when so much of the water evaporates during heating large batches safely and a large proportion may no longer be in solution (showing up as large crystals on drying and poor performance)and adding the correct amount of chilled alcohol to rapidly and completely precipitate the KNO3 -some of which could be lost when wringing out the ball of BP if too much water has been added or too little alcohol. Clearly the proportions of chemicals in the composition can change in many ways. Get it spot on and you'll have good lift powder with rather delicate grains (when grated through a screen). I have also found the lift made by this method to be very hygroscopic- what starts off as brilliant lift can be rendered useless by atmospheric moisture- purely anecdotal but I have experienced it, much to my embarrassment.

Ball milling is therefore essential, whatever method you use. Producing excellent BP is the Holy Grail of pyro and often a closely guarded secret.

TC