r/Pyrotechnics

I need to pick up some media to make hot bp for lift/burst and can’t decide between brass or hardened lead balls.

lead looks a bit cheaper, and is denser (shorter mill time), but is still lead and i dont like the idea of lead contaminating all my milled material. my current mill media is .50 cal lead balls and they wore down crazy fast and left my kno3 dark grey.

brass is more expensive and a little lighter, but is non toxic and should last far longer than a batch of lead balls.

does anyone here have experience using brass bearings as their milling media? any help or insight would be appreciated :)

Questions in reference for future builds and testing.

1. What are some of your most successful fuel mixtures, common or homebrewed? I have read and seen diesel, gasoline, motor oil, kerosene, powdered Al, store-made napalm mix, soap chips/powder, and others. What works best for you for different needs/usages?
2. I have experience with homemade fireworks and a rough knowledge of hobby pyrotechnics. Have you, or anyone else, ever tried to color the flames from a thrower with success? Can you adapt pyrotechnic formulas with fuel mixes to achieve this, or are there other methods?

Looking at making granulated BP for lift charge. Some say add dextrin and add just water others use water alchol mix others say dextrin isn’t needed just add alcohol. skylighter uses hot water others seem to use just room temp water. Any thughts?

We have a fireworks display that we are putting on for a wedding, however the weather is calling for rain. How do you normally handle situations like this when there is no rain date due to it being a wedding? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Hello, 

I am currently designing a shell pasting machine for 2-6" ball shells. 

Because i want it to keep it rather cheap and small i wanted to ask what shell sizes you guys use the most (so i can  optimise it for  the most people).

For me it's 3-4 inc but I want to get a general overview of what is used most... 

(If you got any special ideas or wishes, feel free to tell me; I want to produce a high-quality "product.")

Im new to pyrotechnics, but i couldn't find anything to answer this question. I've been wondering so i thought i'd ask in this subreddit.

New to milling BP. Was watching YouTube everything BP and he was mentioning that when using lead as medium it makes the powder dirty so he uses brass any thoughts on this? Also mentioned he mills it for 24hrs. what I normally read is 4hours. Also he highly says should refine the potassium nitrate because of impuritie. Again any thought?

Hello,

Can I put aliuminium in a bal mill with charcoal. Some people said this wil suddenly ignite. Others said it wont?

Hello,

I want to use magnalium in my firework stars, I read that using any type of water to make the stars will make the glitter les good. I saw you could make dry stars.

Does anyone know how to make dry stars?