Rolling stars

From PyroGuide

Rolling stars is as much of a skill as it is a technique. The person rolling stars needs to have a good sense of size, consistency, and many other factors that influence rolling stars. In this tutorial, one method of rolling stars will be addressed and explained. Teaching is not an option, as hands-on experience is the only way to learn to roll stars both efficiently and properly.

[edit] Materials

• A good place to start with materials is a star rolling device. Either you can go with an old-fashioned method and use a chinese wok or similar type pan or bowl, or you can either make or buy a star rolling machine. The basic star rolling machine consists of a plastic or metal tub or drum, either turned by a set of rollers or spun by a shaft. An electric motor runs the whole device, and the speed (RPM) of that motor determines how the device needs to be geared in order to run at maximum efficiency. See Star roller for more information. The pyrotechnician needs one of these simple, yet advanced tools in order to begin rolling stars.
• A small spray bottle with adjustable spray pattern.
• Various types of scooping and scraping devices - spoons, putty knives, etc.
• Star composition(s) for rolling. Beginners should use less-expensive compositions to start with as good amounts will be wasted due to the learning process. Amounts will vary. I find that to make rolled stars for a 3" round shell, it usually takes about 100g (4oz.) of composition. You will end up rolling only about 80-90g of this, and the rest of the composition will be excess. But it is better to have extra than not enough when deadlines are closing in.
• Cores. I typically use lead shot, about #8, as suggested in some other tutorials for rolling stars. The lead works well to establish the cores of the stars as it picks up composition easily and weighs more than traditional cores like corn cob and rice hulls. Certain stars will use specialty cores such as dragon eggs, strobe composition, etc. Other types of core material can be used, but with some difficulty, especially to the beginner.
• Some type of sizing "screen" in order to gauge the size of your stars. You will need these in order to keep your stars the same size and not have some growing much faster than others. I use a homemade approach to the uber-expensive sizing screens by drilling holes in a small plastic bowl. Use many different bowls for many different sizes. If you're sticking with small stars, I suggest sizes of 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", and 3/8". Much bigger than that and you'll be working with 4" shells.
• Many plastic containers. You'll nees extra containers for wet, useless star composition, and for keeping separated the different sized stars once you run them through the screens.

[edit] Procedure

What you will need:

Cores- #8 lead work well, but I'm using small pumped stars.

Composition- Some compositions are much easier to roll than others. Generally the hardest compositions to roll are ones with a large percentage of coarse flake aluminium. People may also have trouble with coarse Titanium containing compositions, some Charcoal streamers and Red gum bound stars.

Solvent/adhesive- Alcohol and water at 25:75 is the standard formula.

AND: A star roller or wok.

First, You have to choose a type of core. In this example I'll be using pumped Yankie's flashing stars. I'll be layering some slow meal powder on them. This will be a Tiger Tail like affect.

Fill your roller with 5 to 15 cores. Turn on your roller or start moving your wok in a circular motion. (Make sure that it does not exceed 70 rpm. Mine is about 60. Add a little dry composition and spray a small amount of alcohol/water at about 25:75. Try not to hit the bowl. If you do, its not the end of the world.

Your cores should be picking up the composition. If not, add some more water/alcohol mix. Only add in small amounts. Then add some more dry composition and some more alcohol/water.

Continue this process until your stars are your desired size. Then coat them in prime.

I will provide pictures of the process as soon as I possibly can. I may even post a video.