26 replies to this topic

[BJV]

Good Morning,
I am having some problems with my Ruby Red formula.
The formula is rolled over dragon eggs cores which are
bound with NC, which are totally dry.
My question why are my stars cracking. See photo and the
formula I used below.
Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks,
BJV

Strontium nitrate 50
Potassium perchlorate 8
Parlon 18
Magnalium (-325 mesh) 12
Charcoal (airfloat) 5
Sulfur 5
Red gum 2
Dextrin 5

Add 25% alcohol/ 75%water

[BJV]

Good Morning,
I am having some problems with my Ruby Red formula.
The formula is rolled over dragon eggs cores which are
bound with NC, which are totally dry.
My question why are my stars cracking. See photo and the
formula I used below.
Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks,
BJV

Strontium nitrate 50
Potassium perchlorate 8
Parlon 18
Magnalium (-325 mesh) 12
Charcoal (airfloat) 5
Sulfur 5
Red gum 2
Dextrin 5

Add 25% alcohol/ 75%water

I think I will rephrase a bit.
Could the above comp. be bound with NC?
BJV

[dagabu]

Two guesses, first one based on stars I made last year and second based on making the same star this year.

When rolling stars, only coat 1/8" max before drying, the coating may shrink on some comps and crack.

No need for NCL, acetone with all that parlon will work fine but are a bear to roll.

[BJV]

Two guesses, first one based on stars I made last year and second based on making the same star this year.

When rolling stars, only coat 1/8" max before drying, the coating may shrink on some comps and crack.

No need for NCL, acetone with all that parlon will work fine but are a bear to roll.

Thanks dagabu,
I am going to try the acetone. I need these star for next weekend.
Will let you know how the roll.
Thanks again,
BJV

[ExplosiveCoek]

Ruby red really is a PITA to dry, one of the reasons is it swells when drying and gets cracks al over. Probably due to the SrNO3, my advice is to try a SrCO3 based red next time ! I've made those Ruyb red stars once this year, and I'm never going to make them again (bound with water that is!)

[BJV]

Ruby red really is a PITA to dry, one of the reasons is it swells when drying and gets cracks al over. Probably due to the SrNO3, my advice is to try a SrCO3 based red next time ! I've made those Ruyb red stars once this year, and I'm never going to make them again (bound with water that is!)

ExplosiveCoek Thanks for your input. I just finish another batch of the Ruby Red
and bound the just with acetone. I rolled the over dragon egg cores.
I brought them up to just over 1/2". I will let them dry and bring
them up to 9/16" and them prime them. So far so good.
Thanks,
BJV

Edited by BJV, 25 January 2011 - 03:47 PM.

[dagabu]

BUT...

Strontium Nitrate makes a MUCH better red!

[Ralph]

BUT...

Strontium Nitrate makes a MUCH better red!

finally someone else has realised it !!! you just cant get the same richness from 15% strontium carb (same would apply to such a small amount of nitrate)

[dagabu]

I bought 10# (about 4.5 kilo to you metric guys) of SrCO3and thought that I had done something wrong with my reds then I bought some SrNO3and the red came alive (thanks TBP!!) .

[Bonny]

I've rolled ruby red a few times and never had any problems. I think you just made the stars too large (or too wet) in one shot.
Even if you have to us ethem this weekend, roll a good layer today, another tomorrow and (if needed)another + prime on Thursday. Make the shells Friday.
If you are that pressed for time, then better planning is needed in the future. Remember, this is not a RUSH hobby.

[TrueBluePyro]

I bought 10# (about 4.5 kilo to you metric guys) of SrCO3and thought that I had done something wrong with my reds then I bought some SrNO3and the red came alive (thanks TBP!!) .

Haha yes, the red that SrNO₃ makes is amazing,,
(I also have made a few of those falling leaf shells with green and they look beautiful!)

[FREAKYDUTCHMEN]

BUT...

Strontium Nitrate makes a MUCH better red!

You just don't have a good red formula containing SrCO3

[Karlos]

Guys, ruby red formula is the shit mix, but these crackling can be explain by reacting between some compounds. Ruby red formula don´t like water, because contain magnalium, OK, but 2:1 water alcohol don´t make crackling I thing. What about white crystals on the surface of BJV's stars? I have had the similar problem with pop glitter, which contain copper oxide. I used NC and acetone and stars crakled like on BJV photo! I read on internet(I don't know where) that suphur react with copper oxide, and magnalium... I made once blue star mix, with 6% magnalium, 3% S and 15 CuO, stars crackled too! Mix without sulphur was OK!! Mabe in BJV's stars Copper oxide from dragon eggs reacted with sulphur from ruby red.......
Sorry, seriously, I can't able to explait this problem by chemistry, but maybe, someone else know about this!

[dagabu]

I think Mum can help with the chemistry side though.

[BJV]

Guys, ruby red formula is the shit mix, but these crackling can be explain by reacting between some compounds. Ruby red formula don´t like water, because contain magnalium, OK, but 2:1 water alcohol don´t make crackling I thing. What about white crystals on the surface of BJV's stars? I have had the similar problem with pop glitter, which contain copper oxide. I used NC and acetone and stars crakled like on BJV photo! I read on internet(I don't know where) that suphur react with copper oxide, and magnalium... I made once blue star mix, with 6% magnalium, 3% S and 15 CuO, stars crackled too! Mix without sulphur was OK!! Mabe in BJV's stars Copper oxide from dragon eggs reacted with sulphur from ruby red.......
Sorry, seriously, I can't able to explait this problem by chemistry, but maybe, someone else know about this!

Ruby Red Update:
Thanks Karlos for you input. I am sure there is
some sort of reaction going on using water and alcohol.
I rolled another batch just using acetone yesterday,
and had no problems. The stars rolled very easy and
this morning they did not crack and they are got very
hard. I will do a burn test later today. Check the photo
below.
BJV

[dagabu]

Nice job BJV, cant wait to see video!

[BJV]

Nice job BJV, cant wait to see video!

Thanks dagabu,
I still have to prime them. I going to wet one or two stars tonight with water and
see if I am going to have problems with the prime using water and alcohol .
BJV

[Bonny]

Thanks dagabu,
I still have to prime them. I going to wet one or two stars tonight with water and
see if I am going to have problems with the prime using water and alcohol .
BJV

If the stars are dried nice and solid, the prime using water and alcohol, or even straight water should be fine.

[BJV]

Hi All,
Well I got my Ruby Red stars primed.
This is the effect I am going to try for.
Video: I am only using the Ruby red not two colors.
BJV

[Adrenaline]

Wow that is a nice effect. I´m looking forward to seeing a video of your shell. What stars are you going to use for the ring?