Skylighter Fireworks Tips Newsletter
December 21, 2005 -- Issue #70

Be sure and read the special further down in this newsletter. It may be THE best money-saver you will ever get from us!

TIPS FOR ROLLING BETTER ROUND STARS

This is another wonderful jewel, which I lifted right out of the Pyrotechnic Mailing List this past Monday. John Vico, one of my favorite and more sane pyro pals, wrote it and graciously gave us permission to reprint it here quick before anyone else did. I haven’t changed a single word of it. If you’re just learning to make fireworks, and/or new to rolling stars, read this. It is a huge help. If you have questions, please let me know.

--Harry Gilliam

Subject: Star Rolling
From: "John Vico"
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 08:52:18 -0500
X-Message-Number: 1

I've been lurking as usual on this thread but would like to offer a few tips for starting round stars:

Many of you are using small amounts of material which does in fact make it more difficult.
So be it, but adapt accordingly. My best "bowls"..... an aluminum wok and/or its cover.

1) Use tiny heavy cores ie. #7 lead shot. (I never found the initial clay coating to help. It's just an extra step) Millet, rape seed, acine de pepe are all good second choices but save them until you've got the technique a little practiced. Never thought of using the silver candy toppings but they seem a little big. You'd be better off researching how they are made and adapt the technique to star cores for those bright little color flashes at the center of a nice charcoal star.

2) A small mister is essential. Several of you have mentioned the best one as being the small cosmetic type which fits easily in the palm of one hand and sprays a minimal amount of perfume (in our case solvent) from a single downward pump of the button. Aim well; hit the cores not the pan, roll fast in a small area of the pan.

3)Shake the comp in from a baby powder can or like: again aim well, small amounts. Some of the plastic cans which allow you to squeeze out a "puff" of powder are ideal.

4) A minimal build up of powder on the bottom of the bowl is okay especially if your bowl is very smooth which causes the stars to slide more than roll especially when you are first starting the cores. Add small amount of dry comp until no more pick up working in a small area of the pan. Shift the star cores to another area of the pan and keep them rolling. If everything is right you should be able to stop briefly without the cores sticking together badly, otherwise add a little more comp. Roll fast and add another spritz on the cores from the mister. Keep going fast for equal coating and to keep them from sticking together. Don't be in a hurry to add comp it encourages the raspberries. Too much moisture?? then work a larger area of the pan to get rid of some but when your are ready to add comp try and stay in a small area then move out as things get coated.

5) "Toro paste" is available on the bottom of your bowl in one of the areas where comp has stuck to it. Work the stars out to an area where everything is good and they are not sticking to each other. Stop and with good aim spray the stuck comp. Work it with your gloved finger tip into a syrup especially around the edges of the stuck comp. Roll fast again and pass the stars through this area. They should pick up the syrup nicely and be ready for a little dusting of dry comp. If they are sticking together roll and bump really fast and add a little more comp on a "virgin" area of your bowl.

6) In general roll fast and hard when stars are wet and sticky. Bump if needed

7) If you really get too much comp stuck to the bowl, scrape with a spatula and use it to make cut stars. The option of dissolving a small clump of comp with solvent in a small area of your bowl as toro remains open.

8) Size the stars frequently on hardware cloth returning the ones that pass through to the bowl.

9)If you get a clump of stars that you really want to save, the best way to separate them is with the point of a needle. Good luck.

These tips are for starting small amounts of small cores. As things grow, so does the technique and tools. That's when the machines are most helpful.

--John



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