What is the ideal size for colored star in 1,2-inch (30 mm) cylinder shells?

[Peter8]

Hi,

What is the ideal size for colored star in 1,2-inch (30 mm) cylinder shells?

The burst look sparse and the stars will burn too long, when using 1/4-inch colored stars pressed with Wolter Pyro's star board. Only 25 to 30 pieces of 1/4" stars go in a 1,2-inch shell !

I hand press my COLORED STARS using a STAR BOARD. I use barium chlorate and potassium chlorate for my stars, because potassium perchlorate stars burn to slowly.

QUESTION: So, what will be the ideal size? 3⁄16" (4.8 mm) or even smaller 9⁄64 (3.6 mm) ?

 

http://fireworking.com/sites/default/files/Articles/misc/img047.jpg

 

Thanks,

Philipp

[ivars21]

I usually use around pea size stars in my bombettes if that helps, so around 5mm

[Peter8]

Hi,

Thanks for your answers.

Now, I worked the chart out. The I.D. of my canister shells is 1,1-inch (28 mm). So 3,5 mm to 4,5 mm (0.14" to 0.177") colored stars would be the best choice. I made a test with cut stars about in this size and the burn time and density was perfect.

http://www.pyrobin.com/files/Star-Size-TOP.png

This is my new star roller from pyro-gear.co.uk, I bought on July 2014.

http://www.pyrobin.com/files/Starroller_2.jpg

So, I will try to roll my compositon on mustard seed. Photo show mustard seeds in a tablespoon:
http://www.pyrobin.com/files/moustard-seeds.png

[FlaMtnBkr]

It looks like those seed might take up quite a bit of room in a star that small.

 

Have you ever read about "mouse turd" stars? They might work well in a shell that small. Especially if using a slower burning comp. Just a thought.

 

If you want to use your new star roller, maybe try granulating some of the comp you plan to use, directly into the star roller and roll additional comp directly onto the small pieces. Or maybe granulate a bunch ahead of time and then screen so you have uniform pieces to roll on. Then take the extra and re-wet and process again. Might help trying to get the most out of those small stars.

[enanthate]

Get some small lead, pyrogarage.pl got some nice bags for example. They're less than a mm in size, and not too heavy so the stars still fly smooth.

 

Or, make some parlonbound cores. This is the most effective way to do it, with 0% dead weight.

[schroedinger]

Maybe you alwl dould just get a 3 or 4 mm star plate and just pump your stars, should be quite fast.

[VikingPyrotechnics]

I do 30mm inserts for my cylinder shells lately. Even with bigger stars you can get "big , full " breaks. It depends on how you build your inserts ....

This is how my inserts look like

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qNPYnJcyig

 

I used 10mm pumped stars. But if you want to use this inserts / shells as a single effect, i would use stars between 5 to 7mm

Stack them right along the wall and fill the center with fine BP and 1g of Flaspowder. This will give some nice big breaks!

 

Hope this helps

 

Greets

VP

[Peter8]

Hi,

 

Now, I ordered a 3.5 mm star plate from Ben Smith (firesmithtools.com).

 

I will prime the 3.5 mm chlorate stars with BLACK POWDER + 5% RICE STARCH in my new star roller from pyro-gear.co.uk.

 

I will prime the 3.5 mm white strobe stars with BLACK POWDER + 10% MAGNALIUM 63 µ (325 mesh) + 5% RICE STARCH.

 

Thanks, for all your answers.

[FlaMtnBkr]

My strobe stars light pretty easy. You may try priming the strobe stars with plain black powder. I don't think it needs the MgAl, which can be hard to get and expensive in some places.