Who knows flash comet formula

[benrenyi4]

Who knows flash comet formula looks very cool.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6fcVCX6wM8

[otto]

Sounds like you'll have to pony up for a Fireworking.com sub. From the YouTube comments:

 

"Yep, SS, I have articles in there on the crackle microstars, on the comets, the glitter, and the overall testing of the various iterations."

 

 

It's pretty much Ned's site and there's plenty of comeons around to get you to buy into the subscription. I don't even have time to scratch much less dive into another deep, well respected resource for pyro info. When things straighten out I know I'll go there but not now for me....... If you really want to know (this and a whole pile more) sign up for Fireworking.com and get the scoop.

[OldMarine]

Lloyd is on this forum as well as FW and he is the master of Crackling Microstars.

[otto]

That may be true sir, but would he spill Mr. Gorski's secrets?

 

He may contribute but I'll bet any of Ned's secrets are safe.There is honor....... (at least I expect there is ).

[lloyd]

Otto,

We each contribute what we can.

 

Any of "Ned's secrets" concerning crackle are probably mine. (not braggin', just fact)

 

There are DEFINITELY things on Ned's site that are copyrighted to him, and are every BIT worth the membership fee. I happen to have paid for a lifetime membership.

 

LLoyd

[OldMarine]

Otto,

We each contribute what we can.

 

Any of "Ned's secrets" concerning crackle are probably mine. (not braggin', just fact)

 

There are DEFINITELY things on Ned's site that are copyrighted to him, and are every BIT worth the membership fee. I happen to have paid for a lifetime membership.

 

LLoyd

 

That's why I defer to the authors.

[AzoMittle]

From the comments section of the YT video:

 

Yeah, that Miller Gold/Silver Glitter is Da Bomb. It's super-secret, though.. (-: ned

 

My best guess would be it is a matrix comet for the base with microstars mixed in; no idea if the glitter is from microstars or is part of the matrix comet. I would also be willing to wager that it is a cavity comet to create a 'bushier' effect, maybe not though.

[benrenyi4]

Does anyone know the formula? I don't understand what you said.

[otto]

Otto,

We each contribute what we can.

 

Any of "Ned's secrets" concerning crackle are probably mine. (not braggin', just fact)

 

There are DEFINITELY things on Ned's site that are copyrighted to him, and are every BIT worth the membership fee. I happen to have paid for a lifetime membership.

 

LLoyd

Lloyd,

 

Absolutely no disrespect intended toward you or your expertise.

 

Doesn't surprise me that major players collaborate. As a relative neophyte I could not even surmise what relationships might exist. Some folks guard their "secrets" very closely (for various reasons) while others are more forthcoming.

 

All I meant to say was that even as the "Master of Crackling Microstars" you would contribute your expertise (as you could) but without infringing Ned's copyrighted material. Even though I'm fairly certain you may not only know all those "secrets" but likely had a good amount of input in their creation. In another one of my hobbies we refer to that as "honor among thieves" but I'll modify that here to "honor among experts".

 

This is a free site with a mega crap ton of great, reliable information (if you know at least a little and who to rely on) while Fireworking is pay to play. I only expect so much from here. Certain things you just have to say, "It's worth the investment". This guy wants the comp but it pretty clearly states on the video that a trip to

Fireworking is how you'll get it. Hah! A commercial that works and entertains at the same time. What a concept.....

 

One last thing Lloyd. I take it you were a watcher of The Guns of Will Sonnett........ :-) Do you look like Walter Brennan?

[lloyd]

Heh! I liked him MOST in "The Real McCoys" <G>.

 

Yeah -- I agree with most of what you say. But my information has never been "protected", except for my book on ball milling, which I defend with a VICIOUS SWORD! I will DESTROY anyone who purloins copies of my book. I pursue (legally) three to five individuals A YEAR who violate my copyright.

 

But my crackle formula? That's up for public 'grabs'! I published it in a "more or less" public forum, and would be glad to publish it again in a "more public" forum, if it's necessary to further the art-form.

 

LLoyd

[OldMarine]

I'm short one secret ingredient to be able to make some!

[ddewees]

The comets are 4:1 (glitter: crackle)

 

It's Lloyd's crackle, and Miller gold.

 

Miller Gold:

 

72 granulated bp

9 sulfur

7 sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

6 aluminum (325 mesh atomized)

5 dextrin

1 magnalium (60-80 mesh)

 

 

Screen mix all the ingredients besides the bp and magnalium.

[benrenyi4]

The comets are 4:1 (glitter: crackle)

 

It's Lloyd's crackle, and Miller gold.

 

Miller Gold:

 

72 granulated bp

9 sulfur

7 sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

6 aluminum (325 mesh atomized)

5 dextrin

1 magnalium (60-80 mesh)

 

 

Screen mix all the ingredients besides the bp and magnalium.

Thank you very much my friend

[FlaMtnBkr]

I hope you don't try to mix those Dragon eggs in a mortar and pestle!

[benrenyi4]

I hope you don't try to mix those Dragon eggs in a mortar and pestle!

I know

[PhoenixRising]

Here's a couple vids of my first 'real' comets using a small variant on this formula. I used 80-200 mesh Mg/al instead 60-80 mesh and used 2 percent instead of 1. I also backed off 1 percent aluminum to keep the metal ratio the same in the formula. Comet is .92 inch in diameter and weighed in at roughly 10 grams. These were shot from a 1.25 inch mortar, so there was more gap than there should have been. The result of 1 gram of lift is the first video, and the second video used 2 grams of lift. Comets were pasted on the sides and top with 1 layer of 60lb kraft, then lifted and leadered prior to shooting.

 

 

 

 

BP used was lightly milled with southern yellow pine and bound with 2.5 percent dextrin. I added dextrin to the granules as it is my opinion that protecting these grains from intrusion by the sodium bicarbonate allows the BP to perform better and blow the mixture apart better. In the past, I have had problems with too much bicarbonate rendering a comp into a useless pile of dross with other glitter formulas. Honestly, in my first attempt at this formula I put way too much bicarb, but it still lit just fine, just made more of a dross and longer delay that I thought was very attractive in its own right. Certainly more room for playing around with this formula IMO.

 

Binding this was easy as could be: Hand mix everything well but the BP, then add the BP. Spritz on just enough water for the BP granules to soak up all the "glitter mix" while hand mixing, and then press your comets. Presto! Making the BP granules is the most time consuming part of this whole process. These dried surprisingly fast for their size.

 

Got some 30-60 mesh mg/al arriving tomorrow along with some starpol. Dextrin did fine in this formula so the starpol will be used for other things. Feel like I'm leaving something out here. Will likely do an update with different mg/al and crackle added that was "borrowed" from a consumer crackle cake. I was able to size small crackle and some big crackle, so it'll be fun to play with. Also, might do bigger comets, like 1.5 or 1.75 next. These small ones are cool but I want bigger.

Edited June 22, 2016 by PhoenixRising

[ddewees]

Very nice!

[PhoenixRising]

Thank you very much for the formula! Only second in its effect to dazzle, is the price of this glitter. It's only 7 parts metal and no antimony. It doesn't get any cheaper IMO. My charcoal is free because I use scrap from my hiking trails for pine and my christmas tree for lift.

 

I haven't read any literature on glitter theory, but it's also my opinion that antimony is used to break some glitters apart, aside from the brightening effect and lower ignition temp. I'm also willing to bet that the age-old argument if needle antimony vs. pyro(fine) antimony holds some water. The way I saw the argument defeated was saying that it was simply easier to determine the purity of needle antimony. While true, I think there's something to be said about the way the flakes and needles would cause a grain in the pressed comp, something like a lesser version of using granulated BP, especially if you were rough mixing them.

But I also see that antimony is considered the "delay agent" in glitters? I'm not sure where I've read this, but I'm not sure why that would be, other than maybe antimony needs to break down more than sulfur? The only thing I can gather that antimony does better than sulfur is produce more white color, maybe a slightly hotter flame. I'll admit, this is a bit of spitballing here, it's just fun to try and figure this stuff out, I love it.

 

Also, this thought of BP based glitters has me on a little quest. What if you were able to use BP in the place of some other glitter's ingredients?

 

Example of BP based Win39j (sulfur in the BP is taking up some of the antimony, so it's a little off)

 

68 grams of BP will give us 51 grams of Nitrate, 10.2 charcoal, and 6.8 of sulfur. I rounded these to 51, 10, and 7.

 

BP - 68 (originally 51)

C - 9 (originally 19)

Sb₂S₃ - 5 (originally 12)

Al - 9

BaCarbonate - 5

Dextrin - 4

Mg/Al - +2.5

 

I'm sure the effect will be a bit different, but it's fun for theory. If it burns and looks pretty then that's a plus.

Edited June 23, 2016 by PhoenixRising