Formulas

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 14?
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 20?
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.

Back to the Main Pyro Page