Mumbles Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 This isn't any new/special composition, but rather a comparison of stars made with meal powder and different metal powders. (edit - Geocities sucks, so it might tell you there is nothing there or something. If so, I probably reached the bandwidth limit and it should work again later. I need to find some better hosting...) Four 50g batches were prepared, all containing: 42.5g meal powder2.5g dextrin The four then had one of these: (all 5g) 1. Flitter Aluminum - Unknown mesh, from Discount Pyro.2. Granular Aluminum - 20-200 mesh from Pyrotek.3. Atomized Aluminum - Unknown micron/mesh size, from United Nuclear.4. Magnalium - Unknown mesh, from Discount Pyro. I should have added about 0.5g of boric acid to each (nitrate/Al issues), but I forgot. All were given a thin BP meal prime and all were cut using the method I show on my site. Stars with a penny for size comparison: (shitty geocities, you'll have to copy and paste or save target as to see the pics/vids) http://www.geocities.com/extremepyro2/mealnmetal1.jpg Single star ignition: All burn rather quickly, so they should be made pretty large. The atomized and flitter burn white, while the granular and MgAl look more orange. The MgAl also crackles a bit as it burns. Mines: Each 50g batch (minus a single star for the above test) was used in a starmine made with a Class C aerial shell tube. Lift was 15g of my homemade granulated BP. I was feeling lazy, so instead of making mine bags that would fit in the tubes, I just poured the BP and stars right in the tube, then packed a sheet of newspaper on top as wadding. When I lit them, the paper was not enough confinement so the stars didn’t go very high, but at least they were quiet (I didn’t want to attract attention where I was lighting them). Atomized – Fairly bright, good white color, tails were shorter than I expected.Granular – Orange color, not especially bright, tails fairly good, larger sparks due to larger particle size.MgAl – Slightly orange, crackling/sizzling sound, fairly bright, good tail.Flitter – Very bright white, longest tails and fairly long-lasting sparks. Video frames: http://www.geocities.com/extremepyro2/mnmframes.jpg So the flitter is definetly my favorite, I'll have to get some more of that... edit: removed the videos hosted on geocities +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: _Po_ Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 10:24pmCould you upload the pictures to a Photobucket account so they're always up? Geoshitties is always down because you've exceded your storage limit or some crap. Could you give an estimation of the flitter size?Posted by: EP Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 10:33pmOk, I signed up for a photobucket account, but I still need a better place to host videos. Anyone have any good ideas? Stars set out:http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v312/e...mealnmetal1.jpg Video frames:http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v312/ekp99/mnmframes.jpg Do you mean the mesh size of the flitter Al? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Poor Man Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 10:41pmYes. Well, that is what I want to know anyway. For some reason I can't get my flitter to burn with meal +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 10:59pmLooking at the Discount Pyro site, they now say 100-300 mesh, so either they got a new kind or that's what it is. I can't say I'm an expert at judging it by eye, I would guess more like 200-300 maybe. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Poor Man Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 11:03pmDo you have an approximate in millimetres? I am not to keen on mesh sizings. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: FrKoNaLeaSh101 Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 11:08pmVery nice article EP. I have had success using hoem made flitter. It was ground on a bench grinder then sieved in a widnow screen. It made effect similar to your flitter. Particles were no bigger than 1mm across or w/e a standard window screen is. Seems like a mm. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: July 17th, 2004, 11:11pmMesh/inch/micron/mm chart: http://www.fluideng.com/FE/meshmicron.html Another one: http://www.rufford.com/technical/mesh2microns.htm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Optix Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 2:21am on July 17th, 2004, 10:33pm, EP wrote:Ok, I signed up for a photobucket account, but I still need a better place to host videos. Anyone have any good ideas? EP I can host your vids, pics etc if you wish - no bandwidth or space limit. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 7:42amI am using Chaz's file host now (thanks!) and I think it will work ok: Atomized:http://www.infernolabs.co.uk/filehost/EP-mnmatomizedmine.mov Flitter:http://www.infernolabs.co.uk/filehost/EP-mnmflittermine.mov Granular:http://www.infernolabs.co.uk/filehost/EP-mnmgranularmine.mov MgAl:http://www.infernolabs.co.uk/filehost/EP-m...gnaliummine.mov +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Chaz Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 11:33amPleased to help EP. I've never managed to get aluminium stars to work, they just refuse to burn. I made some Silver Shower #3 stars using exactly the same proceedure as EP in his tutorial (he made SS3 stars too). The prime on them doesnt burn for a start. Just burns a bit then sizzles out leaving mucky yellow slag. I've tried to use a blowtorch to get the stars to ignite and they wouldent. I'm certain the stars are dry, the aluminium I'm using is very fine, pure, I used 50/50 meths/water so that the aluminium wouldent oxidise, and I didn't substitute out any of the ingrediants (for once). Maybe I'll try again soon. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: SpudGunPyroBoy Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 3:22pmGreat report EP. The flitter picture looks beautiful. I am suprised that the atomised doesn't look as good as the flitters (considering Reeper Silver). One thing I have noticed is that the aluminum isn't igniting in some of your stars. If they were, you could tell a difference. One thing you can do to fix this problem is add a small amount of fine (400+) mesh of aluminum powder to increase the burn temperature so that the Al actually burns. This would be great for the granular and atomized aluminum. You also might want to try adding even more metal powder but be sure to add some fine mesh aluminum as it increases. When you made the magnalium stars, did you use water at all in the process? Because that would have affected the burning characteristics as well as increase the risk of spontaneous ignition. Other than that, great report! Sorry if it feels like I'm just giving you suggestions. I'm only doing it so that you can get the best effects. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 4:08pmThe MgAl stars were made the same way as the others, dampened with a water/alcohol mix. I don't have any potassium dichromate... Adding some fine Al is a good idea, but I'm being a bit stingy with the little bit I have left, I'm going to work on the flitter since it came out nice and was so easy. I have 200g of them drying right now, I used a new (for me) method to make pumped stars this time. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: FrKoNaLeaSh101 Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 4:46pmIs it possible for youto do a test to see if cut or pumped stars are better for this flitter star? If not can you post a link to a site for a good pumping method (method you use) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: July 18th, 2004, 9:08pmI'll make a page on it for my next update, but seeing as Rat is a bit hard to get in touch with, I don't know when that will be. Short version for now: It is VERY low tech. All I did was get a 5 inch piece of 3/4" PVC and a dowel that fits reasonably well in it. The I filled the PVC with moist comp, packed it with the dowel and a hammer, then pushed it out like those play dough toys and cut it off into pieces of roughly equal size. Sort of like this thing! http://www.mrtoys.com/tuttifrutti/pics/tut...chine-large.jpg It certainly made them more uniform and hopefully increased density over the cut stars I've been making, it'll test them out in a few days. Real star pumps: http://www.wolterpyrotools.com/pyrotools/stars.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Jackal919 Posted on: July 19th, 2004, 9:39amEP I recommend you make one of these http://www.thegreenman.me.uk/tool/pump.html . They work extremely well and are very easy to make. Also don't bother with the fancy knob on the end. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: ColdWarr2000 Posted on: July 26th, 2004, 10:31amThat cavity star pump on Wolterpyrotools looks interesting. I wouldint mind having a cavity in my pumped stars so I can fill them with a differnt compisition and have multiple effects. I guess its time to start Saving my money again and order a few things off the site. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: blindreeper Posted on: July 26th, 2004, 1:10pmIf you go to school you can make a cavity pump quite easily I think. I will give it a go Anyone tried BP with 10% zinc and 5% dextrin? I think I tried it as a loose powder once but never made it into stars, it burnt very fast and a green colour, but that was in broad daylight so it could have been a different green colour. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Andyboy Posted on: July 26th, 2004, 1:20pmNo, but I tried Chaz Inferno Green with an addition of BP, it came out a rather nice aqua but I haven't tested it in anything yet so I might be a bit of on the colour. Beeing colour-blind sucks. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: SpudGunPyroBoy Posted on: August 16th, 2004, 2:21pmI'm making some Al powder out of foil right now. I'd like to get the same effect as EP's. Is it possible for you to take a picture of the flitters? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: August 16th, 2004, 4:08pmThis is the best I can get with my camera, the Al is pretty fine...http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/ekp...eralcloseup.jpg +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: pyrohawk Posted on: August 16th, 2004, 5:55pmThose are Flitters?? They look to small to be flitters! Hmmm just shows how bad my flitter method is I guess... By the way how tall is that Flitter Mine, you said they were small but it looks pretty big! Of course firework photo's are often misleading if thers nothing near them... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: EP Posted on: August 16th, 2004, 6:00pmWell Discount Pyro sold it under that name without giving a mesh size. They now say 100-300 mesh on the site, I don't konw if this is the same Al they now list as that size, but I ordered more so I can compare them when it comes. That mine was probably about 30 feet high. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: FrKoNaLeaSh101 Posted on: August 16th, 2004, 6:26pmMy flitter is kinda like -16 mesh. That is my star flitter. I have fountain flitter that is about 5mesh....Its pretty big but it was cheap so I cant complain. If you roll up the bigger flakes they look like kinda micro stars. Its an interesting effect in stars or fountains. Huge long lasting sparks but not that many. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: pyrohawk Posted on: August 17th, 2004, 8:50amYeah...30ft.....small....ok..... Hehe guess it just shows what a small scale pyro I am! My biggest mine ever was about 40ft. most of mine are like 10ft. or so........ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Andyboy Posted on: August 17th, 2004, 9:50amThat's only like 10 meters, I would also call it small. My biggest one was guesstimated at 30 meters (~100 feet). I can't seem to get them any higher then that even when using cannister mines. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: pyrohawk Posted on: August 17th, 2004, 4:24pmI know its not actually that big but in comparison to my stuff it is, most atleast! So canister mines are bigger? I've done both but canister mines for me never go tall just a wide spray.... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Andyboy Posted on: August 17th, 2004, 6:53pmThen it's a question of reinforcing the walls some more, you should have the walls stand up to the pressure and the top blow trough rather easily. Don't forget to place a piston in between the lift and the stars. Good idea for a tutorial, I'll have one up in a couple of days. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: FrKoNaLeaSh101 Posted on: August 17th, 2004, 8:24pmI never understood the purpose of the piston. I make my canister mines using toilet paper rolls and fill like a quarter with lift top with stars and sprinkle some Meal to insure ignition. I put it in the tube and it works fine. Wouldn't the piston prevent the flame from hitting the stars? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: blindreeper Posted on: August 18th, 2004, 2:47amIt is like wadding behind the stars which helps them get propelled out of the mortar. You can punch holes in the piston to help fire transffer. Do you know how easy it is to have one small leak around the piston and the stars will ignight? I bet you couldn't make a piston and the stars wouldn't ignight! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: optimus Posted on: August 18th, 2004, 3:58amTry top-fusing the stars, then going through some serious wadding and a piston. No need to worry about perforated disks, and dodgy ignition. I make all my large starmines this way. Gives a much better push. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: pyrohawk Posted on: August 18th, 2004, 8:03amHmmm ok... but I still prefer the Bga Mine method anyhow because its simpler in my opinion! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Swany Posted on: January 9th, 2006, 5:06pmThe thread is very dead, but I would like to add a few thoughts. I recently made an unchoked, uncored fountain with some meal and Ti powder, 40-100 mesh IIRC, 4:1 ratio. Ti looks awsome in such things. It produces bright white sparks that branch and shoot out needles of white, similar to steel. I will try out some ferrotitanium later perhaps. I will try to get pics or vids because if it is anything like Ti, it is amazing. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted by: Swany Posted on: January 10th, 2006, 7:44pmhttp://media.putfile.com/tttimeal The fountain. Some specs, 3/8 ID tube, about 2in long. Pretty small nozzle was 1/8in. First 1/3rd was TT, second 2/3 was meal/Ti 40-100mesh, 4:1 ratio. You cannot tell, but the Ti sparks have a burning center and then they shoot out many tendrils of branching burning metal, not like Al. In this vid it looks like snowballs of various sizes. Sorry for the camera axis flip half way through, sister was filming. Friend's voice in backround at end
justanotherpyro Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 With such a high content of BP these stars burn very fast, so don't make them small. I have used home made granular Al in the ratio above and it came out with nice white sparks and a crisp yellow flame. All in all nice stars for being so easy to make.
Swany Posted February 6, 2006 Posted February 6, 2006 Ti really quite makes wonderful stars. I tested some ~1/8th cut stars (basically 1/4in stars that had been quartered) with 7g, yes 7g, of uncatalysed whistle in one of Kilo's tubes, and 2 of 8 were successful, and the rest were blown apart or blind. It was bottom fused, so no fire touched the stars before they were shot. A tissue paper was also stuffed on top. Morals of the story:1)7g of whistle didn't totally blow them blind. No need for primes...2)Never test a gun with 7g of anything, exept sawdust and chalk. 3)Kilo's tube came out fine. Wooden plug (glued, and dried for 3 days) was shot into the ground.
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