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44RedHawk

Member Since 09 Aug 2011
Offline Last Active Aug 21 2011 11:48 PM
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Posts I've Made

In Topic: Lift powder, who makes their own?

21 August 2011 - 12:00 PM

It’s always best to be creative and self sufficient in the fireworks hobby as learning to make your own is both economical and smart. This is especially salient in the current climate of over regulation and expanding government bureaucracy born out of collective ignorance and the psychotic actions of a few rotten individuals in every society.

Over regulation and excessive government restrictions in the fireworks hobby/industry is an insidious menace here in the U.S.A. making criminals out of craftsmen in what seems like a deliberate campaign to squash our freedoms. Such has forced the closure of many once great fireworks manufacturing concerns taking with them an abundance of supplies and traditions otherwise carried forward by generations of enthusiasts.

There was a time here in the U.S. when one could apprentice in a shop learning to make traditional fireworks under the supervision of a seasoned master doing so in exchange for experience and supplies. These were the days of yore upon which many of us look fondly knowing that these times have been relegated to the history book where future generations of young enthusiasts can only imagine the experiences once enjoyed by so many.

The once abundant access to pyrotechnic supplies and chemicals is no more, so hang onto what you have, learn to make your own, invest in a good ball mill and share a great hobby with fellow travelers in this ever diminishing society of true crafts people.

In Topic: Rocket/Missile Formulas and Construction

20 August 2011 - 01:17 PM

Hi - thought this might be of use to the community of rocket builders: Cross posted in UKPyro/tools as applicable.

I have had successful results using standard 75-15-10 black powder mix in 1lb rocket motors with the addition of 3% petroleum jelly. The caveat here comes with my lack of formal chemistry background to offer any potential incompatibility or additional safety concerns with this mix.
This solution was inspired by frugality and the need to utilize an existing batch of 75-15-10 and a lack of KN03 for fresh rocket mix. A little web research revealed that petroleum jelly was used extensively by commercial manufacturers of high energy compounds to reduce friction in pressing operations adding greater production and storage safety.

I decided such would be relatively safe in a black powder mix in percentages similar to a Potassium Perchlorate /Salicilate whistle mix and so on with my experiment. I began with an existing 75-15-10 hand blend + 5% dextrin that was slated for polverone. I selected 2lbs to which was added 3% petroleum jelly diluted in a 2:3 ratio of mineral spirits hand blended in a stainless bowl 5-10 minutes then placed on kraft paper lined tray to evaporate off the mineral spirits. The resulting powder is dust free with the consistency of fine loam that compacts very well in a parallel wound paper tube.

This mix was hand rammed in 3/4"ID X 8" L hand rolled 70lb virgin kraft tubes with Wolter 1lb core burner rocket tooling and standard bentonite clay nozzle and plug (NO grog). This is a HOT mix with incredible thrust minus the expected cato from a 75-15-10 blend.
Any feedback, constructive criticism, observations or ideas would be greatly welcomed. -Enjoy

In Topic: One Pound Black Powder Rockets

20 August 2011 - 12:10 PM

If there is anyone out there that has questions regarding this topic i am more than willing to help you get where your going either by press or by hand,after doing this for 40 years i might know something?my choice of heading changes from cans to 3'' round shells,Marc


I have had successful results using standard 75-15-10 black powder mix in 1lb rocket motors with the addition of 3% petroleum jelly. The caveat here comes with my lack of formal chemistry background to offer any potential incompatibility or additional safety concerns with this mix.


This solution was inspired by frugality and the need to utilize an existing batch of 75-15-10 and a lack of KN03 for fresh rocket mix. A little web research revealed that petroleum jelly was used extensively by commercial manufacturers of high energy compounds to reduce friction in pressing operations adding greater production and storage safety. I decided such would be relatively safe in a black powder mix in percentages similar to a Potassium Perchlorate / Salicilate whistle mix and so on with my experiment.


I began with an existing 75-15-10 hand blend + 5% dextrin that was slated for polverone. I selected 2lbs to which was added 3% petroleum jelly diluted in a 2:3 ratio of mineral spirits hand blended in a stainless bowl 5-10 minutes then placed on kraft paper lined tray to evaporate off the mineral spirits. The resulting powder is dust free with the consistency of fine loam that compacts very well in a parallel wound paper tube. This mix was hand rammed in 3/4" ID X 8" L hand rolled 70lb virgin kraft tubes with Wolter 1lb core burner rocket tooling and standard bentonite clay nozzle and plug (NO grog). This is a HOT mix with incredible thrust minus the expected cato from a 75-15-10 blend.


Any feedback, constructive criticism, observations or ideas would be greatly welcomed.


-Enjoy

In Topic: Improvised Ball Mill?

18 August 2011 - 09:32 PM

What is considered to be the best ball size for BP please ?
Marble size ?


I've had very good success with 1 - 1/4 inch (31.75mm) diameter ceramic ball (alumina) milling media running in a 15 lb capacity X one gallon rock tumbler/polisher/ball mill that I purchased on eBay. I run 6 lbs of media with 3 lbs of bp for three hours and the resulting milled powder is equal to commercial grade GOEX meal-D. I also use this milled bp for polverone and lift powder. To make commercial grade lift powder from home milled meal-D you'll need to add 5% dextrin, moisten with water to a clay like consistency then pound into a block, slice & dice with a cake knife to small granule size chips. -Enjoy

In Topic: Barium Chlorate Green Star - Comp & Prime

18 August 2011 - 04:31 PM

Nice. I prefer barium chlorate greens to any other. It has to be said, though, that barium chlorate is more sensitive than potassium chlorate and needs extra careful handling. I wouldn't trust it around any home-made powder containing sulfur, though commercial BP is probably ok.

"safety fakers", lol. Now where have I heard that term before?


I concur, EXTRA CAUTION must be observed with Barium Chlorate compositions, which reminds me of an omission made in my previous dissertation that being respirators & kitchen gloves. I strongly urge the use of a suitable dust mask or respirator and kitchen dish washing gloves when handling Barium Chlorate for its extreme gastrointestinal toxicity. I can personally attest to that having been hospitalized once from Barium Nitrate poisoning after mixing ~400 lbs of white glitter formula making 2-1/2" stickless rockets (3 inch comets), it's not very pleasant. Note that Barium Chlorate is thee most toxic of the Barium compounds and must be taken seriously. The good news is the deep unrivaled green, IMHO, color purity achieved with it.


Yes, "safety fakers" chuckle :^) Case Former come to mind?

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