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| FlaMtnBkr... |
 Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:33 am |
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I can find a few places that have Bismuth Trioxide but none that have
the Subcarbonate. Anyone know of a place or person selling it?
I have plenty of Trioxide but seem to have better luck with
Subcarbonate. Is there a way to convert it that isn't too complicated?
Thanks for any and all help! |
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| FlaMtnBkr... |
| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:20 pm |
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On Oct 20, 8:12 pm, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
<lloydspinsidemindspring.com> wrote:
Quote: FlaMtnBkr <flamtn... at (no spam) gmail.com> fired this volley in news:ca4dd69a-67f5-
49f6-8725-98f2618b5... at (no spam) j9g2000vbp.googlegroups.com:
I have plenty of Trioxide but seem to have better luck with
Subcarbonate. Is there a way to convert it that isn't too complicated?
Luck really doesn't count in this arena. We make hundreds of pounds of
the loudest crackle you've ever heard every year from bismuth trioxide.
The only advantage I can find to the subcarbonate form is that it is less
expensive. Its performance in crackle is not better.
If your crackle with the trioxide isn't working well, try: 1) upping the
NC concentration, and 2) use a bit LESS aluminum vs. magnalium. Too much
aluminum (or too much metal, et. al., will make it less likely to pop
after the smoulder phase.
You might also try upping the copper oxide (but not by much), as it has a
catalytic effect.
LLoyd
I don't use any aluminum in my formula right now but I know the one
you are talking about. I used that formula with the subcarbonate
before I got any trioxide and wasn't that impressed. I don't remember
if I ever made it with trioxide or not to see how it performed but I
have experimented quite a bit with different formulas, chems, and mesh
sizes. My latest batch isn't as loud as normal and I didn't do
anything different which is frustrating.
I think I use plenty of NC with your previous advise but I might try
making up some and just going overboard with it to see how it behaves.
I use the following formula which is quite different than yours:
37.5 Bismuth
37.5 Black copper oxide
25 magnalium
I like the fact that it uses half as much of the expensive bismuth
compound and at least using the subcarbonate, have had better luck. I
thought I had zeroed in on something that worked well for me with the
chems I have but this last batch has thrown me for a loop. Instead of
one loud pop I'm getting multiple quieter pops. Guess I will have to
play around some more.
I also need to come up with a better way of making them. I have read
how you outline how you make them and it sounds like it would be a
learned technique that could be hard to get the hang of. Getting them
broken up into the right size is tedious so far. |
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| Lloyd E. Sponenburgh... |
| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:12 pm |
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Guest
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FlaMtnBkr <flamtnbkr at (no spam) gmail.com> fired this volley in news:ca4dd69a-67f5-
49f6-8725-98f2618b54bd at (no spam) j9g2000vbp.googlegroups.com:
Quote: I have plenty of Trioxide but seem to have better luck with
Subcarbonate. Is there a way to convert it that isn't too complicated?
Luck really doesn't count in this arena. We make hundreds of pounds of
the loudest crackle you've ever heard every year from bismuth trioxide.
The only advantage I can find to the subcarbonate form is that it is less
expensive. Its performance in crackle is not better.
If your crackle with the trioxide isn't working well, try: 1) upping the
NC concentration, and 2) use a bit LESS aluminum vs. magnalium. Too much
aluminum (or too much metal, et. al., will make it less likely to pop
after the smoulder phase.
You might also try upping the copper oxide (but not by much), as it has a
catalytic effect.
LLoyd |
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| Lloyd E. Sponenburgh... |
| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:19 am |
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Guest
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FlaMtnBkr <flamtnbkr at (no spam) gmail.com> fired this volley in news:d62690eb-1c5b-
4560-99f8-129f8ec784ad at (no spam) d34g2000vbm.googlegroups.com:
Quote:
37.5 Bismuth
37.5 Black copper oxide
25 magnalium
Just for S&Gs, try this one; I got it off the Internet about ten years
ago. It's worked well for me, and although it's not the formula we use
at the factory (because our process is different), it is the basis for
it.
Bismuth Trioxide 71.4
Magnalium, -200mesh 14.3
Black Copper Oxide 9.5
Aluminum, atomized -200 mesh 4.8
12g of double-base NC powder and 100cc of acetone per pound of powder
mixture.
Mix a lacquer from the NC and acetone as I described in my amateur
process. Add the mixed/screened powder, and knead to a thick batter.
Process by the dry/extrude/dry/palm-roll screening method I described
before.
Prime with a hand-mixed rough powder with +6.25% dextrin, by rolling like
you would stars.
Truly, the technique is not difficult, and the learning curve will be
about one 1-lb batch long.
If this stuff isn't the loudest crackle you've ever used, some/all of
your chemicals are suspect.
LLoyd
LLoyd |
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