davis050594 Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 Hey guys, I'm about to order kno3, sulfur, charcoal and dextrin. I'm wondering if there are 2-3 chemicals I could add to this order to expand the possibilities of what to make. I know I could add a metal to make cooler tails n such. What can I add to make some other stars besides Tiger Tail? I've done some searching and haven't really had a whole lot of luck. Was wondering if some of you guys knew of some good additions.
NightHawkInLight Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 A little red iron oxide and some aluminum larger than dark flake will open your possibilities to silver streamers and glitters. The other component to several glitter comps is baking soda, which I'm pretty sure you will be able to find locally...
Gunzway Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 To add to Nighthawk's list, getting a small amount of BaCO3 might be good too. It's relatively cheap and would also give you a few more glitters. But yup, glitters are the way to go now .
Ralph Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 Red iron oxide isnt used in that many glitters I would leave it out unless you want it for catalysts (not that its expensive) also make sure your aluminium isnt to fine something like aloca120 is very good or look for some spherical/atomised between 150 and 400 mesh
dagabu Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 I think red rubber cut stars are the easiest stars to start with, you would need a few chems but this one does not require potassium perchlorate. This particular comp can be bound with water or acetone depending on where your understanding of star making is. Strontium Nitrate 50 Magnalium, granular, -200 mesh 18 http://www.passfire.com/images/clear.gifParlon 16 Red Gum 10 Dextrin 5
Updup Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 I think red rubber cut stars are the easiest stars to start with, you would need a few chems but this one does not require potassium perchlorate. This particular comp can be bound with water or acetone depending on where your understanding of star making is. Strontium Nitrate 50 Magnalium, granular, -200 mesh 18 http://www.passfire.com/images/clear.gifParlon 16 Red Gum 10 Dextrin 5 Why would you start with somthing like that when you can start with D1? Look up D1 glitter, its pretty, it lights easy, its cheap, and its easy to make.
Algenco Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 parlon stars are easy and have very nice colors, they can be tested the same day too. Why not perfect your technique with charcoal stars first?They are the least expensive, make beautiful shells, and would keep you busy getting them perfected.Charcoal stars are also very versatile, add some Iron, Mg Al, or Ti and you get totally different effects
dagabu Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 When he wants to move to something with some color, I like D-1 too but like anything else, one cannot live on charcoal alone.
Mumbles Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 I think D1 is kind of ugly actually, but it's all personal taste. I'd have to agree an atomized Aluminum would be good though. Other metals also make good additions if you want to keep things simple. All of my favorite glitters are antimony trisulfide based. Hobby Chemical Supply actually has it for a very good price. Dave's red formula looks good too if you want to go with colored stars. Barium Nitrate should make an equally nice green. I have been using strontium carbonate reds lately, and have been pretty happy with them. Barium Carbonate also makes an equally nice green in those formulas. Are you just interested in stars? Other things like comets, or rockets, or fountains will have different suggestions such as coarse charcoal and metals.
dagabu Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 Thanks Mum, I was thinking green too but couldn't remember the chem for green.
Siegmund Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 For an easy green that doesn't require handling toxic barium compounds, get zinc for granite stars. The one downside is that there aren't a long list of other things to do with zinc. Parlon bound stars are nice -- if you're going to get into colored star making, by all means you'll want to have parlon and red gum before long -- but from my own experience I would NOT suggest the strontium nitrate path to start with. (I did start that way, and every Sr(No3)2 comp I tried was a bear to get lit properly without a perchlorate prime. Very frustrating.) I personally went with magnalium rather than aluminum for my first metal (and Winokur 19 for my first glitter - great results on the first try!) to avoid worrying about the Al-nitrate reaction and to avoid raising eyebrows buying aluminum the first time I placed an order with a supplier.
dagabu Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 OK, no colors? How about lampblack, Mg/Al and Ti? There is a lot you can do with those three as well.
dagabu Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 what about barium sulfate? Do you know a good source?
Algenco Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 (edited) Do you know a good source? why yes I do Steve C on Passfirehttp://site.photonfi...m/Services.html Edited October 15, 2010 by Algenco
Ralph Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 I personally went with magnalium rather than aluminum for my first metal (and Winokur 19 for my first glitter - great results on the first try!) to avoid worrying about the Al-nitrate reaction and to avoid raising eyebrows buying aluminum the first time I placed an order with a supplier. LOL you avoided nothing you just got rid of the means to prevent it, MgAl still reacts with nitrates like Al does but worse
davis050594 Posted October 15, 2010 Author Posted October 15, 2010 Wow, thanks for all of the help guys. I didn't expect this many replies. I will check and see with some people in my club about getting some of those metals and other chems. I prefer to buy from them so I can avoid shipping. I think I'll start with charcoal stars, then add some ti and/or other metals. How do you suggest I mix the metals in? I have not found a good answer to that. I've been under the impression that once metals are added it's a whole new ball game with the risk factor. Obviously I won't ball mill it. Someone mentioned comets, I was under the impression that those had to be pressed. Can they be easily pumped with sucess? I need to make some pumps eventually anyways.
pyrokid Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 For small comets, I have had success with a dowel and a length of pvc. It turns out nice, uniform little comet pucks.
dagabu Posted October 15, 2010 Posted October 15, 2010 Wow, thanks for all of the help guys. I didn't expect this many replies. I will check and see with some people in my club about getting some of those metals and other chems. I prefer to buy from them so I can avoid shipping. I think I'll start with charcoal stars, then add some ti and/or other metals. How do you suggest I mix the metals in? I have not found a good answer to that. I've been under the impression that once metals are added it's a whole new ball game with the risk factor. Obviously I won't ball mill it. Someone mentioned comets, I was under the impression that those had to be pressed. Can they be easily pumped with sucess? I need to make some pumps eventually anyways. It depends on the comp but I usually screen all chems together several times and then add the metals and stir with a gloved hand until I am satisfied.
davis050594 Posted October 15, 2010 Author Posted October 15, 2010 It depends on the comp but I usually screen all chems together several times and then add the metals and stir with a gloved hand until I am satisfied. What do I stir them in? Will a 5 gallon bucket be ok or is there a risk in that?
NightHawkInLight Posted October 16, 2010 Posted October 16, 2010 What do I stir them in? Will a 5 gallon bucket be ok or is there a risk in that?Do you really mix enough to warrant using a 5 gallon bucket? You must plan on making a lot more shells than I do. Anyway, it will be fine so long as you're not using a solvent that will dissolve the bucket.
Updup Posted October 16, 2010 Posted October 16, 2010 My three chems I wuld get: KCIO4, Strontium nitrate, and 325 mesh AL Mixing? I use a little AL bowl I have.
Ralph Posted October 16, 2010 Posted October 16, 2010 My three chems I wuld get: KCIO4, Strontium nitrate, and 325 mesh AL Mixing? I use a little AL bowl I have. with out red gum/hexamine/lactose/magnesium/magnaliium were is he going to get a nice flame for for the color to exist in ?with out a chlorine donor a mediocre brick red (kinda ornindgy) is the best you will get and personally I would look for slightly coarser Al if you can find it In Aus we can get 200mesh Al it is brilliant and there is a huge difference between it and 325mesh I know you have some vendors that have 250mesh get that if you can or aloca120 little use for perc with only bp chems ?
davis050594 Posted October 16, 2010 Author Posted October 16, 2010 Do you really mix enough to warrant using a 5 gallon bucket? You must plan on making a lot more shells than I do. Anyway, it will be fine so long as you're not using a solvent that will dissolve the bucket.No, not at all. It's just something readily available and seems it would be easy to use.
Mumbles Posted October 16, 2010 Posted October 16, 2010 I suppose theres no reason you can't use use a 5 gallon bucket. I generally use an ice cream bucket or a 12qt plastic shoe box from walmart. I know people say never to screen metals, but there is no way you'll ever integrate fine mesh metals into a comp without it. I have no problems screening 200 mesh MgAl or aluminum or anything like that. It's coarse titanium and aluminum where I generally mix in by hand afterwards.
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