Falling leaves

[Algenco]

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]

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]

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]

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]

AP @$4 lb? Where?

Best I've found was $5.50

[dagabu]

Tis true, the price went up to $5.20 a pound for 10 pounds LINK. Drats!

[Karlos]

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]

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.