bjc4073 Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 Rubber stars, veline etc. I have only done tiger tail so far, but would like red, green, and possibly blue but I need at least two other colors to mix it up a bit. I don't need them to be blinding but I would like some color. The main thing is to be able to use some of the chemicals in each color while maintaining a reasonable cost.
Arthur Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 Veline is a nice "System" and you can mix colours in proportion to get mixed colours. You can bind it with acetone if you wan't rapid functioning (they are ready in 4 hours). However there are good single (non system) comps which are better in some way -cheaper, brighter, more saturated etc. Also Veline doesn't do tailed stars or the usual charcoal stars so the one system is great but doesn't do everything.
schroedinger Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 Veline stars are great and don't require many different chemicals. You can also skip the dichromate that he always adds. For prime either his hot prime works, but monacapa and pinnball do the same. Veline colors are kind of pastel colors. If you got fast you could also use the shimizu system and try his organic or hot stars.
Arthur Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) Remember that "cheap" sometimes means nitrate oxidised, so be aware of ALL the charcoal effects. http://www.thegreenman.me.uk/pfp/db1.htmlis one place to find a good list of formulae collated by Andrew Krywonizka. There is a list on here in a post by Jopetes. Lists a lot of modern formulae in Spanish, there is a translation as well somewhere here. Edited August 16, 2015 by Arthur
bjc4073 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Posted August 16, 2015 Veline is a nice "System" and you can mix colours in proportion to get mixed colours. You can bind it with acetone if you wan't rapid functioning (they are ready in 4 hours). However there are good single (non system) comps which are better in some way -cheaper, brighter, more saturated etc. Also Veline doesn't do tailed stars or the usual charcoal stars so the one system is great but doesn't do everything.Any idea of a red, green, blue cheaper/brighter comp?
bjc4073 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Posted August 16, 2015 Remember that "cheap" sometimes means nitrate oxidised, so be aware of ALL the charcoal effects. http://www.thegreenman.me.uk/pfp/db1.htmlis one place to find a good list of formulae collated by Andrew Krywonizka. There is a list on here in a post by Jopetes. Lists a lot of modern formulae in Spanish, there is a translation as well somewhere here.Looked at the website. I pump my stars, but just curious...what is a pillbox star? It was one of the ways Lancaster formed his stars. By nitrate oxidised do you mean it will leave a tail? What other charcoal effects.
nater Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 Pillbox stars are thin paper tubes that are filled with dampened star comp. When you make them, you run a piece of black match inside the tube and pinch the comp in and allow to dry. The advantage is the burn from both ends and are typically brighter and larger for the size of shell. The strand of black match aids ignition for hard to light comps. I have no clue what Arthur means about nitrate based colors. In my experience, very good colors can be made with nitrates.
Arthur Posted August 16, 2015 Posted August 16, 2015 The usual oxidisers for coloured stars are Perchlorate and Chlorates with nitrates coming in third in terms of usage, but nitrates are much cheaper. A pill box star is basically a tiny flare! It's a tube case with rammed comp that burns -maybe one that doesn't bind easily or binding interferes with the burn. It's also a way to economise! A 10mm bore tube needs a 10mm comet, but it needs a 10mm pill box star which is prob 7 - 8mm bore so the compound is halved.
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted August 17, 2015 Posted August 17, 2015 If you are asking for the cheapest stars, then make all BP stars like C6, C8, willow.. Etc. Those are the best for the money as there aren't expensive color agents in them.
Sparx88 Posted August 17, 2015 Posted August 17, 2015 I hear the pleiades star system is nice this time of year.
bjc4073 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Posted August 17, 2015 If you are asking for the cheapest stars, then make all BP stars like C6, C8, willow.. Etc. Those are the best for the money as there aren't expensive color agents in them.I want color, and I am willing to pay for it, but I don't want to waste money.
schroedinger Posted August 17, 2015 Posted August 17, 2015 Like allready mentioned then you are best of with veline, to get pastel colors and shimizu clear colors. They are no waste and really good.If you want to take colors a little further get the paper of JOPETES.
bjc4073 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Posted August 17, 2015 Like allready mentioned then you are best of with veline, to get pastel colors and shimizu clear colors. They are no waste and really good.If you want to take colors a little further get the paper of JOPETES.The one problem I am having with all star formulas is magnalium. I checked skylighter and it can't be shipped. I live in the US so is there another source?
mikeee Posted August 18, 2015 Posted August 18, 2015 There are several videos on youtube that show how to make your own magnalium.
Dragonflightpyro Posted August 18, 2015 Posted August 18, 2015 The one problem I am having with all star formulas is magnalium. I checked skylighter and it can't be shipped. I live in the US so is there another source? You can buy the magnalium with turnings which can be shipped and just filter out the turnings. I think they will buy back the turnings too, but I'm not sure
schroedinger Posted August 18, 2015 Posted August 18, 2015 Where are you located in the US? I bet you are not the only pyro in your area, and a other local will be able to help.Else just plain mg works too, plain Al will give more of the pastell effect.
bjc4073 Posted August 18, 2015 Author Posted August 18, 2015 Where are you located in the US? I bet you are not the only pyro in your area, and a other local will be able to help.Else just plain mg works too, plain Al will give more of the pastell effect.325 mesh magnesium? It's only a small part (around 6 out of a little more than 100) so I think I might be able to get away with it.
nater Posted August 18, 2015 Posted August 18, 2015 Beware that mg requires some special care and compatibility concerns, do not use water in mg stars.
bjc4073 Posted August 18, 2015 Author Posted August 18, 2015 Beware that mg requires some special care and compatibility concerns, do not use water in mg stars.What happens with water? If not water then alcohol?
schroedinger Posted August 18, 2015 Posted August 18, 2015 Just coat your mg linsseed oil or parlon or treat with dichromate (do one of the first two) then your are fine. 80 mesh mg is enough but 100 mesh is better to work with. Alcohol and shellack is good for mg based veline stars.
starxplor Posted August 19, 2015 Posted August 19, 2015 I hear the pleiades star system is nice this time of year. Are you coming from space and will you teach us about the pliades?
Arthur Posted August 19, 2015 Posted August 19, 2015 In the continental USA magnalium is available. Sometimes you have to mill it to size, sometimes you have to sieve it out of a carrier material. If you go to an event you may be able to find a supplier with 325 mesh magnalium ready to travel in your car. The issue isn't the magnalium but it's correct shipping. It can't go by post or by air IIRC. A kilo will last you a long time. Magnesium makes compounds more sensitive and has some incompatiblilties so it is NOT a direct substitution..
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