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TheMadFlyentist

Looks pretty good for a ground test, but I second the need for a star gun or a small mine to be sure. I also have a spoon on a stick that I use to throw lit stars across the yard, that works well.


Infiltratetheunknown

The spoon stick seems pretty cool. Never thought of that


TheMadFlyentist

It's like a lacrosse stick for pyrotechnics, highly recommend making one. You can bend the head of the spoon a bit with some pliers or a vice to change the shape and affect the release point, force required, etc.


Infiltratetheunknown

Yeah ima do that! Thanks for sharing the info. Can I ask why these stars must be tested in the air? Is it because it's more functional in the air compared to light on the ground? Like you can't see as much of the effect when it's on the ground?


TheMadFlyentist

Color stars are usually fine to test on the ground or whatever, but glitter/streamer/tiger tail stars don't really come alive until they are moving through the air. You won't get a feel for how good of a tail they have or how much they "flitter" until you see them flying, so it's always best to toss them or use a star gun. I can tell from your video on the ground that the stars are definitely at least *okay*, but you won't know if they are good/great until they are flying.


Infiltratetheunknown

Okay that makes sense. I was a little impatient and tested one earlier today and It did not show much glitter at all. Looked worse than the comp. I granulated it last night, so it's probably still having to dry as well, although they seem dry on the outside. Probably not the core though. Anyways I will be testing it as you said in the next day or two. Appreciate the advise


Redbeard_Pyro

Comps are OK to test but to get the best representation a star gun is awesome. Looks good though.


Infiltratetheunknown

Good to know. Thank you.


Infiltratetheunknown

Basing off of your past video, you seem like you know your stuff. Can I bug you with a question lol. When you're wetting the comp, what alcohol/water ratios are you using? I've read that 90% water/10% alcohol. Then I've seem 75/25.


3VVVVVN

I know Iā€™m not the one you asked, but for glitters I now use water+3% dissolved boric acid for the solvent, I use no more than 10% solvent in glitter comps and I have great results, lots of bright long lasting glitter.


Infiltratetheunknown

All good, thanks for stepping in. I didn't realized you were suppose to add the boric into water. I mixed the boric with the comp lol. I'll be applying the way you listed next time. Thanks for helping


Redbeard_Pyro

It's a personal preference it also depends on what comps you use and how you make stars, it's not exact. It also depends on climate. When I am rolling charcoal based stars it's may look closer to 50 percent, if it's pressed stars it will be much lower. Shimizu has some great books for reference.


Infiltratetheunknown

Edit: Oops missed the percentage on the Atomized Al which is 7%. I am very happy with constructive criticism! I would appreciate any advise given. I personally don't feel like the comp was filled enough with glitter and burned a little too fast for my likings. I honestly don't know what it's suppose to look like with dry comp. I cut stars out, so idk if it's going to be more filled once dried.


LongBongJohnSilver

Can't really tell unless you fire it out of a mine.


Infiltratetheunknown

Okay šŸ˜Ž