sir steve

[quote name='a_bab' date='29 October 2009 - 08:10 AM' timestamp='1256803850' post='61003']
No, it isn't. But the price is close to 30 bucks/kg (quite a rip off).
On the other hand colophonium is like 5-10 bucks/kg.

Dont waste your bucks on colophonium gum . Pay the money and get shellac. red gum will do.
Also buy Barium Chlorate from a good supplier. The best comes from Sweden. It is my
favourite chemical. That said some people are alergic to it.

Steve.

Blue lance. you can never get the depth of colour wit KP as you can with AP or KC.

but this is a good starting point;

KClO4 6
BaNO3 6
Black copper oxide 3
Lactose 3
Parlon 1
MgAl 1

For stars bind with water

There is no problem to replace The perchlorate with Chlorate , lances don't need a binder,
Steve

Would it not be better to approach the HSE and the like to manufacture our own fireworks for our own public paying (commercial) displays (providing it meets british standards),...... albeit with limits on quantities of compounds being manufactured in any one place?,....this would create a further stepping stone/bridge from official hobbyist status to full blown large manufacturing capabilities!

We might get more votes on this basic proposal!

I make fireworks. You must decide the way to go. I cannot see the 'elf and safty being interested in hobby
fireworks because it is only a matter of time until some kid blows himself up in his bedroom.

I think the club should be thinking of making their own brand. You need a name a theme tune and a web page.
You don't need a factory just yet because we can make them to your spec.

Steve.

I bought some charcoal powder a few months ago from http://www.charcoaldust.co.uk/. Some airfloat, some willow and some lumpwood. The airfloat and the willow seemed ok. The lumpwood contained a lot of very coarse material and was slightly damp. The dampness was not apparent to the eye or by touch; but when I put the charcoal in a tupperware box droplets of moisture would form on the underside of the lid overnight.

Having recently bought a ball mill I thought - no problem, the ball mill will turn that to a fine powder. I put the charcoal in and left it turning overnight. When I opened the drum the mill had produced some standing liquid and the charcoal had turned into a stiff cake like consistency. This came as quite a surprise. I had to use a knife to scrape the drum clean.

Water is clearly the problem I thought. Ok no problem. Its a very hot day. So I left the charcoal and the drums exposed to the full glare of a hot sunny day for 6 hours and the material seemed to dry out well. I milled it again. Again overnight. I opened the drum the next day and whilst there was an improvement (No dampness seemed to be present) still the charcoal was very lumpy. The charcoal had clumped together and formed particles varying in size from fine powder up to a large lump about an inch and a half across. Less than 50% of this material could be said to be a powder. The material is in a far worse condition that it was in when I first bought it.

Clearly there is more to milling charcoal than simply putting it in a ball mill and letting nature take its course. What have I done wrong? What is the correct method for doing this?

As I have had unexpected results milling both nitrate and charcoal I am also asking for advice on milling BP as this is what I plan to do next.

Once again I ask for the wise heads in the group to help a green horn newcomer.

rule number 1. never put charcoal in a microwave It can hit 2400 K!

You should be Ok milling BP but make sure you're charcoal has no grit in it, when a ball mill explodes
lead balls are shot in all directions.

Steve



Steve.

appreciate that Arthur, just if something is specifically dsigned for a comet chase section of the show then "normall" comet candles are in clusters across the site, with each cluster having its own sequencer and as such dont need long cable runs

I have made the comet chaser it works fine.

Steve