State of the art pyro literature?

[AdmiralDonSnider]

Is there any state of the art pyro literature available?

 

The most recent book in my library is Hardt´s Pyrotechnics from 2001, but it obviously does not deal with recent developments in both chemistry and technique. I don´t possess the 4th ed. of Lancasters work, but I doubt it reveals a lot of new insights. To name an example I miss publications that cover the use of phenolic resin in star formulas. I don´t know a single source that adaquatedly covers it; when it is mentioned it remains a secret that is yet to be discovered by the author.

 

Basing its discussion on works published ten or more years ago, the amateur community seems to be bound to the obsolete or, at least, the outdated.

 

Thus, when I ask for recent publications, please take it as a request for any resources that deal with state of the art pyro, including forums and other informal sources of information.

[TYRONEEZEKIEL]

I have quite a large library of Pyro books which seem to be made last in 05 or so if I remember correctly. I'll snoop around and try to see if I have anything

[pyrojig]

It is hard to beat the info that is in the Shimizu and Hardt books . As well as a few other authors . Lots of these new developments are a " sub 1-1 for red gum and alike resin binders . I have been working with this wonderful resin for a couple years , and must say I am very fond of it. I make a laq. with it and use it in place of red gum or other binders for rolling color stars ( at about 6%). It dries hard and seems to make for a very resistant star against moisture. Articles more recent may be found in books like the PGI Anthology, but one must be PGI member to get the discount. Sadly I dont believe that there are any really "New" pieces of literature out there , for the most part.

[nater]

What are the major breakthroughs in pyro that would count as "state of the art"? Is there enough to make a book about? Yes, there are techniques involving phenolic resin that have been shared on other sites, but what else?

[Arthur]

Books are rarely up to date as the publication process is too long, plus no-one really wants to put their most commercial secrets in books before they have made some money from them. Still they are the best way of keeping up with developments for most of us.

[AdmiralDonSnider]

What are the major breakthroughs in pyro that would count as "state of the art"? Is there enough to make a book about? Yes, there are techniques involving phenolic resin that have been shared on other sites, but what else?

 

I bet there is a lot we don´t usually know about, which is part of the problem. Also I was not necessarily talking about whole new books, rather articles or smaller publications dealing with new developments, as the Pyrotechnica magazine, which has unfortunately been discontiued since 1997, regularly provided.

 

What new contents does Lancasters 4th version feature btw? Any info about things like phenolic?

 

Books are rarely up to date as the publication process is too long, plus no-one really wants to put their most commercial secrets in books before they have made some money from them. Still they are the best way of keeping up with developments for most of us.

 

True, sadly.

[a_bab]

There aren't "secrets" I'd like to find out formula-wise.

 

Chinese don't innovate but they rather take a good thing and turn it into the cheap version.

Now, everyone knows that the shells must be broken hard, there should be a minimal number of stars in them, the cakes must all feature deafening and blinding flash broken shells with just a squirt of color and so on. They can't get the crosette synced properly, and other issues.

 

However... looking at the Maltese shells I would like to know how they can draw letters from mines. Or what is the compo of their colored flashes (yes, I know it must be a chlorate/Mg system but still).

 

The most notable discoveries made in the last 50 years would be the effects, such as strobe, whistle, crackle and the miriad of glitters (but these were well known, based on meal/Al). These are all well covered in the already existing literature.

 

A new effect IMO would be the infamous crackling flower, which is really just a variation of the crackle.

 

Using a synthetic resin instead of red gum is no big deal. PVB works even better and you can get it from windshields for free.

 

What I would *like* to see in the future:

-colored glitter (can be simulated with matrix systems)

-good blue strobe

-effects such as Zn spreader, in different colors

 

Most of the innovations are timing things of already known effects: ghost shells, timed salutes (rondelles), pattern shells and so on.

 

All in all, having a "state of the art" pyro book won't bring much new, even with the new "discoveries".

 

However, a publication such as pyrotechnica is clearly needed. But... there must be a reason why they stopped it? Such in... no more material to publish?

 

As a last thought, I guess that only radically changing the current system will bring something exciting into the scene. This will require exotic metals/fuels, and also obscure chems, maybe energetic ones (NC based stars comes to mind). Expensive to say the least.

The era of mixing everything up to see what will happen is long gone.

Edited January 6, 2014 by a_bab

[Mumbles]

I know the reasons for the lack of new issues of pyrotechnica are out there, but I can't seem to find it at the moment. As a clarification, the journal is still published in the sense that it's still available. There will just not be any new issues for the foreseeable future. Please don't take it as fact, but I believe some of the reasoning behind the cessation of new issues revolved around cost of publishing, lack of time by the editor, as well as rising piracy of the journal. The people who see no issue in downloading pdf's of all major pyro literature sources thinking there are no consequences and "all information should be free" should heed this as a warning as what really does happen with niche literature.

 

As far as the state of the art currently, it probably exists mostly electronically. You certainly cannot discount the older pieces of literature such as Hardt, Lancaster, Pyrotechnica, Shimizu, etc. They form the solid foundation upon which we're growing. The most state of the art to me probably exists on places like rec.pyro, PML, Passfire, Fireworking and the other online pyrotechnic forums. The most recent formulas seem to come from Hardt and that spanish formula pdf hosted here. I've alluded to this before. The spanish formulas even are not the state of the art. I've seen a majority of them before, and they're at least 15-20 years old and have likely been updated in the mean time. The source I obtained them from certainly has moved on. I've worked in a contemporary manufacturing facility, and can tell say with confidence that the formulas are not overly different from what we've been using, just tuned.

 

If we want information on some of the more unique effects like the shaped mines, colored beraq, etc. of the maltese, and some of the interesting newer effects out of japan (and slopilly copied by china) like ghost shells, crackling flowers, colored glitters, etc. we'll probably have to do some experimentation and figure out a lot on our own.

[MrB]

The people who see no issue in downloading pdf's of all major pyro literature sources thinking there are no consequences and "all information should be free" should heed this as a warning as what really does happen with niche literature.

 

I'm not sure that's fair. I would belong to those more then happy to download it, but also willing to pay for it. And thats how it is with a lot of people. Reason for downloading is coz it's here, now, very convenient. As opposed to ordering a back copy, getting photocopies after 3-6 weeks, and getting charged 3 times the "product" price, for the shipping. And then i'd get taxed on top of that, topped of by a handling fee by the post office. I mean, this isn't a cheap hobby, so most of us probably have no problems with the money aspect of buying the publications. It just has too be made more convenient, and i'd say digital distribution, not scanned prints, would have made all the sense in the world.

B!

[schroedinger]

Admiral did you got the skylighter book with couple hundred projects? If not have a look at it, it covers quite a lot of themes and also many of the newer methods.