Some questions

[Potassiumchlorate]

Each layer is very thin compared to when you roll with dextrin.

[ivars21]

In this point I have bought all possible chemicals for fireworks. I am planning to make 4" D1 glitter with meal coated grass seeds. I want to add a little bit of booster in this shell, because first shell was very quiet. Which is better - whistle mix or flash powder? And which flash powder will be the safest? Can I use atomized 325mesh Al for flash instead of black?

And can somebody explain me what is binary and diaper method?

 

I have bought commercial 4" paper hemis. How much layers I have to paste more to get the best performance?

 

 

Thank you for your answers and sorry if my questions are stupid.

Edited February 23, 2012 by ivars21

[ivars21]

anybody please?

[Potassiumchlorate]

Whistle mix isn't as powerful as flash.

 

The diaper method is to simply put the chemicals on a paper and fold the corners of the paper like the corners of a diaper towards the middle of the paper and repeat it until the chemicals are mixed.

 

I doubt that atomized will do. 325 mesh flake would, though, even if less powerful than the black Al.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Potassiumchlorate

[dan999ification]

you'd more likely get better ignition of the stars using whistle, i dont boost, extra pasting can make better breaks.

binary in this case means to add the two ingredients to an empty case, the pasting and handling mixes them for you.

 

 

dan.

 

 

[dan999ification]

you'd more likely get better ignition of the stars using whistle, i dont boost, extra pasting can make better breaks.

binary in this case means to add the two ingredients to an empty case, the pasting and handling mixes them for you.

 

 

dan.

 

 

edit:how many layers you need depends what you put inside, for shells with no booster i use 2-3 layers of 95 gsm kraft per inch of od, if you boost them you can use less, the more layers of pasting you have with a boosted shell the more chance you have of blowing the stars blind.

[Potassiumchlorate]

I use H3 for most of my shells. If the stars are of BP type, I use NC-lacquer as binder for the prime and/or a potassium perchlorate based prime. I believe less and less that potassium chlorate and sulfur are very prone to spontaneous ignition, as long as both are extremely pure, but it's foolish to take too big risks.

 

With H3 you don't have to fiddle with boosters and you can use 10 layers of pasting for a 4" shell, 12 layers for a 5" and 14 layers for a 6".

Edited February 25, 2012 by Potassiumchlorate

[ivars21]

Thanks for your help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1XbP3gXLmI&feature=youtu.be

How to more spread stars ? More pasting? I want these stars to spread more. (bigger flower)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzLPNexX2o&feature=youtu.be

Questions about second video:

So my question is - why 5g of whistle mix didn't give any sound effect. Do I have to paste more layers of craft paper? (I'm paste my shells with 4-5 layers craft+paper glue) I think it was quite silent. Also I think that some of stars didn't ignite, but I didn't prime them either. (my bad)

 

Can I prime all Veline stars with Nitrocellulose lacquer + BP?

 

Thanks again and sorry for my English,

Edited March 10, 2012 by ivars21

[warthog]

To get more coverage, make the spread bigger, you need more starts in a bigger shell.. go from 4" to 6"

In the first one your break was late, shorten your timing a bit, you want the shell to break at the top of its trip, not as it is coming back down.

=============================================

Second, I either make shells that make a nice show in the sky or shells that make noise. It is supposed to be that way, in fact I think loud noises detract from the beauty of a color or effect type shell. I don't really know what to tell you about making your break louder, it is good the way it is in my opinion.

Edited March 11, 2012 by warthog

[Mumbles]

You don't mention what grade or thickness of paper you're using. I really think it's a matter of not pasting enough. The burst should be plenty strong assuming you have decent BP on your carrier. If you're using virgin kraft, I'd try around 7-8 layers to start. If you're using recycled paper, you may need 10 or more. A harder break will end up with a louder break as well.

[ivars21]

Thank you for your suggestions. I will try to short timing.

I am making my paper hemis with 100g/m2 craft +PVA (6 layers). Than I paste 4-5 layers more with wallpaper glue (maybe it is better to use wheat paste?)

 

I have seen 3" shells that looks like 6" on youtube. So it is possible to get bigger spread. I will try to paste 8 layers and then give you report.

 

And what about NC lacque + BP priming? Bay the way - what is the approximate rolled star size for 4"?

Edited March 11, 2012 by ivars21

[ivars21]

I have been reading information about flash powder for several days now. I made 10g of it today KClO4:Al 70:30. The problem is, that my flash powder does not lit. I tried 0.5g at first with visco fuse (just on the paper). Aluminum just lits a little bit (sparks) but no boom, no whush, nothing. I am thinking that some of components are failing. I bought both - automatized aluminum and KCLO4 at pyro supply. I mixed them with diaper method. Whats wrong? Any idea?

 

Thank you!

Edited April 30, 2012 by ivars21

[Potassiumchlorate]

Your aluminium is the wrong type. It should be flake aluminium, preferrably German Dark.

 

I also bought the wrong kind of aluminium the first time.

Edited April 30, 2012 by Potassiumchlorate

[ivars21]

OK, thank you. After posting this I started to think, that it could be just wrong aluminum

But I like the fact that I mixed it about 20 minutes like it would blow up in my face in any second. And then, when I want to set it on fire - it fails.

Edited April 30, 2012 by ivars21

[ivars21]

Can I use denatured alcohol instead of isopropyl alcohol? It's just almost impossible to get isopropyl alcohol in my country.

Thank you.

[Mumbles]

Yes, they both work quite similarly.

[ivars21]

Great! Thank you!