Algenco Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 I would like to know how to make them, any help will be appreciated. This question was also asked on Passfire by someone else.The thread turned into a pissing match with no ifo forthcoming.
dagabu Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) Ahem... If someone would check their PMs over at the pissing match. JK! The comp is slow burning so take care but the method of making them is pretty easy, just put 1/6" to 1/8" of comp between two pieces of thick paper, let dry, prime and tie them in groups. I added just enough Acetone to barely saturate the comp. I will do a short TUT as soon as i came back from a weekend of rockets!!! Lacquer Red Ammonium Perchlorate 41 Strontium Nitrate 20 Hexamine 12 Parlon 13 Sulfur 3 Red Gum 3 Magnalium 200 mesh 8 Edited October 22, 2010 by dagabu
Algenco Posted October 22, 2010 Author Posted October 22, 2010 Thank you kind and helpful Sir ain't got none of that AP stuff, but I have a batch of Parlon stars mixed up, I'll try it I just got the PM
dagabu Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Thank you kind and helpful Sir ain't got none of that AP stuff, but I have a batch of Parlon stars mixed up, I'll try it I just got the PM True Blue Pyros True Red is a great comp for reds but it burns fast so you will get a faster leaf. AP is cheap, $4.00 a pound. I only do AP in freshly washed bowls. I really like it for road flares, it spits out a 8" flame from 1/2" tubes and burns 1" per minute. Potassium Perchlorate is important for priming these, BP will get you mushy leaves that never dry.
Algenco Posted October 22, 2010 Author Posted October 22, 2010 AP @$4 lb? Where?Best I've found was $5.50
dagabu Posted October 23, 2010 Posted October 23, 2010 Tis true, the price went up to $5.20 a pound for 10 pounds LINK. Drats!
Karlos Posted October 23, 2010 Posted October 23, 2010 Question is, how size is optimal for cards to 2.5 or 3 poka shell. Most of colored compositions can be use for leaves, but technigue is more important.
dagabu Posted October 23, 2010 Posted October 23, 2010 Karlos, I made my batches for 6" ball shells and used scraps in smaller shells that worked OK but for a 3" ball shell you may have to do the wet pack method. If you have access to Passfire, there is and autopsy for a similar shell that the leaves are all placed in the shell while still moist and pushed in to conform to the shells curvature. I made both 1/16" thick as well as the 1/8" thick leaves, the 1/8" leaves burn for about 20 seconds which is way to long for 300'. The 1/16" thick leaves shattered in the bigger shell and were more like stars. In a small shell, the 1/16" leaves cut down to 1/2 x 1" would be fine with little breakage since the break would be a dump and if plastic was used, only glue, no spiking would be nessesary I would think. That is all speculation since I only make canisters now and the small falling leaves worked fine in a 2.5" canister like this video. VIDEO There were three bundles of four leaves in this can so it looks rather sparse, doing it again, I would use a 4" canister and put 12 clusters in it. Making the leaves is stupid simple, two sheets of a nice thick paper, plop the whetted mix down, roll it to the thickness you want, let dry until stiff, cut with a blade, let dry, prime, bundle and load in a shell. And I agree, juat about any good star comp would work in these but the lacquer red is slow burning for long duration and that's why it was used in these leaves.
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