Formulae
Black Powder
You can find details of black powder production in a variety of places. I use the first formula for rocket fuel, priming, etc. and the second for making lift powder.
| Basic Powder | Lift Powder | |
| Potasium Nitrate | 75 | 74 |
| Charcoal | 15 | 14 |
| Sulfur | 10 | 12 |
Mill a volume equal to ¼ of your milling jar with a volume of lead media (I use .50 caliber lead balls) equal to ½ the milling jar. A good mill takes 3-5 hours. Final powder will require pressing and corning.
Lances
For set pieces or as garnishments for wheels and such, these formulas produce bright color with little ash to obscure it.
| Red | Blue | Green | |||
| Ammonium Perchlorate | 50 | Ammonium Perchlorate | 70 | Ammonium Perchlorate | 54 |
| Strontium Nitrate | 30 | Copper (II) Oxide | 30 | Barium Nitrate | 35 |
| Red Gum | 15 | Red Gum | 15 | Red Gum | 16 |
Screen together through 60 mesh screen then dampen very slightly and press into thin walled tubes between ¼ and ½ inch ID. You can plug the bottom with a bit of clay first or not, depending on how you plan to use or mount it.
Stars
These are formulas that I've tried and liked. More will be added as I experiment more.
| Ruby Red | ||
| Strontium Nitrate Potassium Perchlorate Parlon Magnalium Sulfur Charcoal (AF) Red Gum Dextrin |
50 8 18 12 5 5 2 5 |
These are the most brilliant red stars I've tried. The formula may also be used without the dextrin as a rocket fuel as described in the Skylighter article. The stars will require a good, hot prime. |
| Emerald Green | ||
| Barium Nitrate Potassium Perchlorate Parlon Magnalium Sulfur Charcoal (AF) Red Gum Dextrin |
50 8 18 12 5 5 2 5 |
These rich green stars are simply a modification of the ruby red stars above. May also be used as rocket fuel with some aditional Barium Carbonate, detailed in the Skylighter article. As with the red stars, these need a good prime to ignite reliably. |
| Yellow | ||
| Barium Nitrate Aluminum - American Dark Cryolite Dextrin Parlon Sulfur |
60 16 8 6 5 4 |
This formula produces a nice, bright, yellow star. Be sure to saturate the water used for binding with boric acid to avoid aluminum/nitrate reactions. |
| Orange Titanium (From Best of AFN III) | ||
| Ammonium Perchlorate Potassium Perchlorate Calcium Carbonate Magnalium (100-200 mesh) Titanium Flake (10-60 mesh) Parlon Red Gum |
20 20 15 15 15 10 5 |
These stars burn a brilliant orange while throwing nice sparks from the titanium. |
| Silver Streamer (Improved Snowball by Oglesby) | ||
| Potassium Nitrate Barium Nitrate Antimony Trisulfide Aluminum - Atomized 14µ Sulfur Charcoal (AF) Dextrin |
35 16 13 10 9 9 8 |
I used this formula for the stars in my first aerial shells. They take fire very easily and burn with a full, bright twinkling tail. I saturate the water for binding these stars with boric acid to stabilize. Be sure to use no more than 7% water to bind or the effect can be ruined. |
| Glitter (Winokur #39) | ||
| Potassium Nitrate Charcoal (AF) Antimony Trisulfide Aluminum - Atomized 20µ Barium Carbonate Dextrin |
51 19 12 8 5 5 |
A classic glitter formula, also excellent in comets, especially crossettes. As with all formulas containing both aluminum and nitrates, the water should be saturated with boric acid. |