vaslop2005

I'm just about to put in a large order to stell, if anyone wants any large bore (or standard) paper tubes please PM me.

I know they are getting hard to find, especially for us in the UK.

The more that are bought, the cheaper they'll be. that's the idea of this 'community' order.

I'm buying, 1/2" 3/4" (at 50cm) and 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2" (at 1m) they are made to be strong, and are used in pyrotechnics industry already.

Thanks Vas

I've spent a long time looking for well made convolute paper tubes (1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4 and 1 1/2") that are suited for rockets. I am looking for long tubes preferably, so I can cut them to specific lengths.

I have come across many differing styles of tubes, including, supposedly 3/4" tubes that are way too wide to be used, and 1" tubes that just collapse under pressure.

Can anyone give me (and probably others) some advice on a reputable supplier, that isn't too expensive (preferably in the UK)

I did have a look at stell, but no reply to my email yet...

Thanks

I have been experimenting with small, coloured tailed rockets, and had reasonable success with wide nozzled and nozzle-less KClO4 fuelled rockets (if anyone's interested I can find out the formulas/dimensions). I am just curious as to whether anyone else has tried any experimentation in this field, as mine often CATO or burn without thrust.

I am looking to make some fuels that burn in a reasonably slow manner, so can be used in cored rockets. I suspect AP to be needed for this...

Please post your ideas and/or experience...

Thanks

Now heres a challenge to all the chemistry people out their. whilst looking at passfire, I saw a promising propellant that looked relatively simple.

1. Mix 70 parts ammonium perchlorate (200 micron), 17 parts triacetin (liquid plasticizer), 9 parts single-base smokeless powder, and 4 parts course charcoal or aluminum flitters in a plastic beaker.
2. Immediately pour the propellant slurry (before it thickens) into a rocket motor casing that is closed with a clay bulkhead on one end, and press the propellant slurry with a drift by hand. Insert a straw into the propellant at the end to form a cavity.
3. Wait for the plasticizer to dissolve the smokeless powder and form a gel.
4. Finish the motor by putting blackmatch (or a hotter pyrogen) in the staw cavity, and fusing and nosing.

I like the idea of a pourable composite, as it could eradicate voids and incomplete pressing that some formulas are sensitive to.

Now back to the question, does anyone know a source of this 'triacetin' or whether it can be made from esterification of glycerin with acetic acid, but still allowing for separation from the copious ammounts of water present (hopefully it isn't miscible)? I know that composite motors arent strictly used in pyro, but I'm planning on making some coloured tailed rockets that use a similar type of fuel for each colour, and that can be fully blended. (I believe AP to be the most promising oxidizer for this...) Also their is the problem with obtaining single base NC, but that will come later.

Thanks

Hi guys,
I am new to the world of pyro forums and would like to ask for some advice from you experienced hobbyists.

I've been making small scale fireworks, and experimenting with colour formulas. making many of my own formulations for interesting effects, untill recently (when I got back into pyro after 6 months of leaving it) for a reason unknown to me, all my blues stopped working (even the usually great Conkling #1). I've tried to eliminate as many variables in my chemicals as I can, without fruition.

KClO4--66.1 CuO--13.4 Parlon--10.7 Red gum--9.8 Dextrin--5

I recrystallized my KClO4, and even bought some new stock, I've tried two separate batches of copper oxide, and even replaced the oxide with carbonate, I tried excluding the dextrin. Leaving only the parlon or red gum.

am I missing something? or is it just something I'm doing?

Thanks