How a Star Mine is Built

[BassmanSW]

One tip. NEVER use a PVC tube! If the shell explodes in the tube it will shatter sending sharp pieces of PVC everywhere. Use a fiberglass, HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) or heavy cardboard.

[MrKoolDom]

Do you make the stars or do you buy them?

[KILLSWITCH220099]

plz show us hot to make a comet

[peterguy3]

how would u scale this for less height and lower bang

[Nighthawkinlight]

@peterguy3 Less black powder lift.

[SimonsRandomChannel]

This may be a stupid question for some people, but how do you launch it?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@SimonsRandomChannel Watch my most recent video about how ball shells work. This is fired from a mortar just like a ball shell.

[DJCake2013]

i love your carpet :)

[shyshy1ful]

what is a comet

[KILLSWITCH220099]

where do you get the sulfur and potassium nitrate?

[mcwario13]

hOW IS A COMET MADE???

[busspuppy]

This is a great source I found on how to make a lot of stuff. pyroguide(dot)(com)/index(dot)­php?title=Main_Page I have not tried any of the compositions and they may or may not be safe, so use caution. There is a lot of good info there.

[Jsmooth7444]

I always used ghetto homemade Stickymatch using clear packing tape and granulated BP. Always loved chrysanthemum stars....

[dghgrwhy]

where do you buy your black powder? if you make it where do you buy the powders? please reply or email me at ruizemmanuel12@yahoo.com

[iliya1997]

what is that red tube thare? is that the mortar?

[Arteolike]

Is it possible to make small mines? Say small enough for a 1" mortar?

[saintDJ2]

is tht burned wood -.- or reall stars...just wonder in xD

[zozlolz]

is that even legal?

[purplemutantas]

@zozlolz Under US federal law it is legal to make pyrotechnics. What you can't make are explosives.

[supertech571]

7 people don't like fireworks.

[MegaRobo9867]

When I looked at the title, I thought, "I could use this for airsoft."

Two seconds later, after clicking on the video, "... nope."

[PyR0Star]

when I made these NH, i put cone hats made out of a circle piece of paper, so they look like rockets =)

[PyR0Star]

Copper(II) chloride sounds like some nasty stuff, but it helped produce a lovely color in your mine!

[Anthony82949]

how did you light it since you visco fuse is a the bottom?

[Anthony82949]

did you prime your stars? and can you tell me what the best prime fo stars are.

Thanks!

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Anthony82949 Black powder works as prime for most stars. To light this I lit the fuse and dropped it down the gun, which is generally not considered a safe practice. I recommend you use quickmatch or enough visco that you can have the mine at the bottom of the gun and the fuse reaches to the top.

[Anthony82949]

can you not use a comet?

[PyR0Star]

This video really influenced me and the design of my star mines. They've become crowd favs, performing 100%, and creating some interesting effects! Less is more in starmines, the more stars, the more of a wall it becomes, instead of shooting star effect. <3 Sub this channel if you haven't already!

[kmgentil]

hi Nighthawk, i have a question for u, actually 2- #1~stupid question, how do u make a comet? and stupid question #2 how do you make quickmatch fuse?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@kmgentil To make a comet you can press the moistened star composition into a section of PVC pipe with a wooden dowel, then use the dowel to pop the comet out after it has been compressed. It will take several weeks to dry. To make quickmatch first make black match then roll a thin paper tube around it.

[PyR0Star]

@Nighthawkinlight I like to use syringes, some larger ones for oil I found work fantastic. I find the pvc ones messy =)

[Anthony82949]

what stars would you recommend?

and do you have to make the comet yourself or did you get it from a retailer?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Anthony82949 Start with tigertail or other charcoal streamer stars. I made this comet.

[Anthony82949]

do you cut the thin paper on the top (other end of the fuse)?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Anthony82949 The paper won't get in the way of anything.

[Anthony82949]

do you cut the thin bit at the top or leave it?

[tibothenr]

does anybody nows a place where they sale al these type of chemicals

en ship to europe (sorry for bad englisch im from belgium)

[00alexthegreat]

stupid question, but you take the string off before you fire it, right? can someone just respond yes or no. thanks

[Nighthawkinlight]

@00alexthegreat You do not.

[TheFyroPyro]

What if you used small pieces of R-Candy with magnesium or another effect as stars. Would that work?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@TheFyroPyro Yes, they might work. That would be much more difficult than making normal stars however, and they would absorb moisture from the air which would ruin them after a few days.

[coolboyhanseh]

i will love to make one with u...idk why but i find this sooo interesting!

this must be fun...

[kom1Jesse]

where do you get your stars and chomets

[RashiD1G]

ur sm was with purple go-getter and tiger tail comet?

[VATICANCREATEDISLAM]

how easy is it to make black powder dude, would love to make my own fire works!

[VATICANCREATEDISLAM]

how easy is it to make black powder dude, would love to make my own fire works! and what is quick match?

[al3xtube11]

if you run out of black powder as i did can you use homemade granulated black powder for shells

[ohmarvin]

i like your videos. its awesome that you're a pyro cause your not too great with electronics.

[destroyed14MCfly]

whare can you buy good,bright stars?I'm a beginner in making fireworks so i need some good tips :D

i just built one firecracker yet and it was an epic fail.

your videos really helped me!

next silvester it makes boom like hell :D

[slowman1996]

no primer is needed on the stars?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@slowman1996 Not on those stars in particular, no.

[MrThepsychomen]

@Nighthawkinlight i subscribed man,, your fucking awesome (plus you play the guitar haha ;) )

[lexichronicle2]

purdy! if you have a quick scan of the titles for my videos, you'll see i'm a bit of a chemistry nerd, but this is still one of those things where hearing the advice of someone who's building these all the time is invaluable.

[meganubis]

you make home made fireworks easier thx for being alive!

[bigtupac11]

hey i wanted to ask a question.

im from australia and unfortuntly fireworks are illegal and the only thing i could get my hands on where firecracker , anyways the question is would there be anyway to make a mortar from the composition in firecrackers?.

[vikramana]

it "s really good

[pyrogirl1985]

Is that a fire extiinguisher on the right? Always good to be safe if it is :D

And BTW would you mind telling me the ratio for your purple stars?

[IRIDEKANGAROO]

what is a comet

[IRIDEKANGAROO]

what is a comet

[TheMosh97]

where do u get the comet ?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@ZnachiBeatBox95 I suggest you do much more research before actually building fireworks. Start at amateurpyro(dot)com

[r2darky]

@ZnachiBeatBox95 Ofcourse the lift charge is on the bottoom, how would it else "lift" itself up to the sky? (: hope it helps mate lift charge ALWAYS on the bottom ^^

[122later122]

what is the comet made of ?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@122later122 Tigertail comp.

[bibilic100]

@Nighthawkinlight  good idea but no, its made out of potassium nitrate and red iron oxide or charcoal

[Nighthawkinlight]

@bibilic100 My comet? I think I know what I made it out of.

[pyr0ph1L]

Wouldn't sprinkling just a little bit of meal powder over the stars, shake it a little so it gets evenly spread out, help ignite some more stars? (:

[Nighthawkinlight]

@pyr0ph1L It shouldn't be needed if the stars are primed properly.

[TADHGMADDEN]

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!! :D



[Berryice1]

what type of visco fuse is that?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Berryice1 Falling leaves fuse

[Nighthawkinlight]

@9DragonMaster I pressed the damp composition into a section of PVC pipe then popped the pellet out to dry for several weeks.

[pyr0ph1L]

@Nighthawkinlight THAT is a genious way of doing it, how the BIIP did I never think of that. xD

[Nighthawkinlight]

@9DragonMaster The comet was pressed tigertail mix. Cedar should do fine.

[mike12703]

@Nighthawkinlight what did you shoot it out of?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@mike12703 A fiberglass mortar. Mortars can be bought on pyrodirect(dot)com

[mommasboy168]

@Nighthawkinlight willow works pretty good too

[japanesepoptart]

Hey nighthawk? I was wondering if you could explain something to me:

When I make star mortars for testing, I put H3 into the bottom, then put the star in the top and then light it. It usually performs very well. but when I switch the projectile from stars to a dummy, using the same amount of lift, it goes like 2 feet into the air.

do the stars by any chance add to the power of the lift? because my dummy's top height is 10 feet while my stars have broken 75!

[Nighthawkinlight]

@japanesepoptart The stars don't add much. A dummy can fly less due to any number of things. The seal in the gun is the most vital change often times. A tighter seal will provide more lift exponentially due to an increased burn rate of the powder under higher pressures. Weight of the dummy can also be a big change.

[japanesepoptart]

@Nighthawkinlight Actually, come to think of it...

have you ever used H3? Because i recently had the mortar explode while using it!

I'd really like to hone in on the correct amount per gram, because I'm not interested in making bombs. (actually, of all fireworks, salutes and firecrackers are my least favorite!) It seems to be a pretty delicate balence; a fine line between a dud and an explosion! I use a 3/4" mortar. The stars vary greatly in size but using them, I've gotten 75'

[Nighthawkinlight]

@japanesepoptart I have used H3. It is rarely used because it is MUCH more dangerous than black powder in a number of ways. You should quit using it and all chlorates for that matter entirely. Chlorate is only ever used when an effect cannot be achieved without it. Lifting shells certainly does not require the risk and unpredictability of H3.

[japanesepoptart]

@Nighthawkinlight

Actually, I'd like to stop using it if at all possible. BP is less expensive and safer... and H3 just blew up my mortar! but the problem is, my black powder sucks...alot.

I've tried days of ball milling, I make my own pine charcoal, my sulfur is 99.99% purity! the only fault is my KNO3 which is stump remover. (My friend has also lifted rockets with a payload of several pounds with the same stuff!) I haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing wrong!

[Nighthawkinlight]

@japanesepoptart Do you granulate your BP? That is necessary to use it for lift. Try adding just enough liquid laundry starch and water to it in a 50/50 ratio to make it clumpy and forcing through a screen to granulate.

[japanesepoptart]

@Nighthawkinlight

I have granulated it, but whenever I do, I'm always concerned with the rate at which it's burning. When I light H3, It burns faster than I can count. but when I light my granulated BP, it just seems to burn slower than it should. I guess I'm not sure.

How fast should it burn? Should it go up in a puff of smoke or should it be more slow?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@japanesepoptart It should go up quite quickly, but if it does not you can make up for it by better containing your lift. If the lift is tied in a bag made of several layers of paper it will lift the shell much harder.

[popomonstor]

You should show us how to make one that crackles.

Your a legand to me man. I only watch your vids on how to make fireworks. You do it the most proper way i can thiank of going about it.

[Mrcheater1231]

wHERE i CAN BUY EFFECT ?

[bvbthebest09]

can i make lift powder out of "normal" blackpowder? i cant get kno3 :(

[Nighthawkinlight]

@bvbthebest09 If you mean smokeless powder, the answer is no.

[bvbthebest09]

@Nighthawkinlight i mean lift powder the granulated i have normal but i dont know how to granulated itd ;)

[japanesepoptart]

@Nighthawkinlight

Enlighten me! why cant you use smokeless ? =/

[Nighthawkinlight]

@japanesepoptart Smokeless powder is made of several high explosives, mainly nitrocellulose. The difference between an explosive such as nitrocellulose and a composition such as black powder, is that black powder is made up of several molecules and atoms that react together in a combustion reaction of sorts, whereas nitrocellulose is one large unstable molecule that decomposes rather than burning. What makes NC unacceptable for replacing BP is a much higher and faster pressure spike.

[pyrocrazyUSA]

where did you get a fiberglass mortar

[Nighthawkinlight]

@pyrocrazyUSA Leftovers from a display.

[pyrocrazyUSA]

@Nighthawkinlight Okay thanks. By the way, do you have a license?

[TheHomeScienctist]

@pyrocrazyUSA 3'' i know that cause i asked about a year ago

[HowToPyroForYou]

did you make the tube out of craft paper?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@HowToPyroForYou What do you mean by the tube? The casing for the mine is craft, the mortar it was fired out of is fiberglass.

[PyroRul3s]

Is the point of a mine to kinda explode right as it exits the motar where as if it was a shell it would explode high up in the air?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@PyroRul3s Yes.

[progamerxt]

@PyroRul3s hence why its called a mine it came from the word land mine thus exploding like one...

[Pyr0King]

Damn thats way more advanced than mine. Mines super simple. Very nice dude

[trooperx666]

this might sound kinda funny but could you make one with just a comet?

[Nighthawkinlight]

Sure, it's just called a comet instead of a starmine. No disc is needed for a comet because it should be just shy of the diameter of the mortar it is fired out of.

[trooperx666]

@Nighthawkinlight the reason i asked is because i had the idea of making a mortar shell starmine type thing. i was going to have like a regular mortar but have a starmine around its fuze would look pretty cool i think.

[Vilius128]

now i will check if star mines work with stars made out of nitrocellulose lacquer.Lol

[Nighthawkinlight]

Sorry, replied to the wrong comment.

[bluefox216]

so you have to drop this 3 inch shell you just made into some sort of 3 inch mortar tube before lighting it right?

[Nighthawkinlight]

This 3" mine must be dropped in a 3" mortar, yes.

[bluefox216]

@Nighthawkinlight and you have to buy them not build them yourself or can you build them yourself?

[Nighthawkinlight]

Mortars are very cheap, and hard to make. Try PyroDirect.

[bluefox216]

@Nighthawkinlight ok thank you very much for the help :)

[TutorialsFromIcom]

ehats better round shell okr tube shell?

[Nighthawkinlight]

Neither. They're different.

[HandMadeFireworks]

Going to build a 2" as soon as my TT stars are dry... =P

[panzuman]

was that a go getter mix it seemed to be self propelled

[Nighthawkinlight]

Not a go getter mix particularly, just an energetic AP composition with an uneven prime.

[panzuman]

oh ok so was that the reason for the movement?

[Nighthawkinlight]

The uneven prime causes the stars to burn more at one end than the other. That pushes them around.

[panzuman]

i get ya

[rich8104500]

where do you buy stars at

[ledlight2]

he makes them

[LangerBlonder]

Hey, watch my 4" Starmine.

Thanks for posting this great method of building starmines Nighthawk =)

5* of course.

[p0rndownloadZ]

Holy crap your stars looks pretty!

[ENGterrorman]

is your fuse strobe fuse ? ive looked everywhere for 9sec visco but i cant find any.

[Nighthawkinlight]

No it's purple falling leaves from Skylighter. I have not been able to find the same fuse again since I bought it.

[spenfisher2]

you got the local dogs poed

[mackinnon182]

hey i was thinking of experimenting with compositions of black powder. I thought of coarse potassium perchlorate would yeild more oxygen per mole than the nitrate but then i thought lithium perchlorate? would that be a more potent oxidizer than the potassium? discussion please, i havn't already done this because lithium perchlorate (as far as i can see) is hard to get and expensive...

[Nighthawkinlight]

Black powder is nitrate based. If instead you use perchlorate then you no longer have black powder but a mixture known as KP. As far as oxidizing value goes, lithium perc is no better than potassium.

[qp0w3r]

hey i have a question, i can make some decent minishells but i dont know how to get them into the air.

[Nighthawkinlight]

Attach a bag of black powder under the shell, run a fuse from it long enough to reach to the top of a fiberglass or HDPE mortar and fire it.

[hermitpim]

Hee Man, really nice tut

i made some mines by just filling a tube with a couple gram of BP and then a thin layer of tissue and placed like 20-25 tiger tails on top of that. [ No casing at all ] just drill a hole in the case were the BP is, and fire .. [ nice effect though ] why should you make that casing and drop it in a mortor tube ?? my method might be wrong

[Nighthawkinlight]

That will work. It is not as effective for lifting stars as this and it is much more difficult to transport, but it will work.

[qp0w3r]

hey youre really my inspiration for pyrotechnic´s, i just finished my first mini shells just for testing (your BP works fine btw i use willow choarcoal) i link a video response to you when i have tested them

[SSleipnir18]

Bad Grenade, the stars begun to burn to far......

[neovictorius]

could be really funny to fire this off at about 2-3 metres away from a target (a person, in thi scase) and give a great chok.. but in stead using FP :p

[thechemaniac]

when you say 3inc what is the actual dimensions of your mine case?

[Nighthawkinlight]

~3". If you are unsure, slide the mine casing in your mortar before completing it so it may be re-sized if necessary. It should be a close, but not tight fit.

[thechemaniac]

no i mean 3 inc is the diameter right?

and what is the height of that one?

[Nighthawkinlight]

Yes, approximately 3 inches in diameter. How tall the mine is depends on how many stars are used. 5" is about average.

[Nighthawkinlight]

Nah, I'm not. But thank you

[Nighthawkinlight]

You will not be able to join most clubs, but the majority would allow you to attend shoots. A list of clubs can be found at PGI(dot)org. There are several in your general area.

[Nighthawkinlight]

Have you considered joining a pyrotechnics club? That may be done with or without license, and many clubs have building on the shoot site for which a license is not required.

[TheBombBros]

go getter or cavity stars in your shell? becuase i might use your comp if they are go getter

[TheBombBros]

this is the only way i make my starmines now. i like to add minishells and go getter stars to add a really nice effect. i try ti make all the minishells different solors becuase it adds a beautiful touch to it. although i use quickmatch to fuse my starmine.

[Norbizzle2012]

Very Cool

When you light it do you light the fuse and then drop it in the mortar?

[Nighthawkinlight]

No. In place of the fuse I add, use a quickmatch or blackmatch leader long enough to extend out of the mortar. To that attach a visco delay. Lower it into the mortar, then light it.

[helavor]

do you make your stars and comets? if not could you tell me a good place i could buy them?

[Nighthawkinlight]

I do make my own. I make my stars in the same way is is seen in my video 'How to Cut Stars' and several star compositions can be found on my website: GrassRootsDIY(dot)com.

[scimikey]

Do you put this mine in a mortar?

[Nighthawkinlight]

Yep.

[megafeltch]

to make blue stars can i replace the AP with Kclo4

5*

[Nighthawkinlight]

I have not tried. It will certainly not be as deep a color.

[megafeltch]

thanks for the reply

[ks1231231]

why is you black powder ganulated and not a fine powder?

[ks1231231]

you put a comet in the bottom, how is that made?

[Golph246]

can ik make this also with some roman candles ?

and do you need a sort of tube to shoot it?

[kiepskipolak]

how to do you make Ammonium perchlorate

[Nighthawkinlight]

If you need to ask it is not within your abilities. No pyrotechnic I know of makes their own ammonium perchlorate. It is much better to simply buy it.

[kiepskipolak]

but still you know how

[Nighthawkinlight]

No, I do not. I have only briefly looked into the process. A google search will teach you more than I know.

[mike12703]

just go to thew store look under gun powder not substitute crap or pyrodex but like just traditional black or gunpowder and use that it comes in like a pound or somethin

[PersonguydudeWB]

That costs something like $15-$22 a pound. Homemade BP would cost like less than $6 a pound, and you can make some really nice BP with red gum and a ball mill.

[UpDeUp]

How long do you mill your BP before you granulate it? and what mill/media do you use, the reson i'm asking is i just made a good mill and i am about to buy media, oo one more thing, how long do you mill it for?

[Nighthawkinlight]

I use a dual barrel 6lb mill with 50cal lead ball media. About 150-200 balls per barrel. I mill my BP for ~12 hours. The time required will depend on the mill speed, size of barrel, %age of barrel left empty, amount of media...

[UpDeUp]

your suppose to fill hlaf with media and 1/4 with BP/ other chem right? the speed is about 100-120 rpm (got that reading from my hand lego mindstorms) does it matter if i mill it for lets say 3 hours then the next day 6, then 3 to finish up? my barrel if 4"PVC pipe but in to 2 5" segments (mines about the same as your) and its dual barrel

[Nighthawkinlight]

It does not need to be quite half full of media, only a third or so. SO long as the mill has ~25% empty space when milling. It is fine to turn the mill on and off. Be very sure your mill is in a safe place, not indoors, and not where an accident would be catastrophic.

[MrBonbridge]

nice vids,, love them,, I can't make them cause I don't have the 'ingredients'..

[utuber1418]

very easy to get! go ahead and try it out. just be very careful

[kentfireworks]

those stars is cut ??

[Nighthawkinlight]

Yep. Those stars be cut.

[pyroman4811]

your so smart that it makes me feal dumb

[pyroman4811]

how old r u 20 30 years old you r so smart dude thats y im asking

[Nighthawkinlight]

Thank you. I'm sorry to hurt your self esteem, just keep learning ;) I am 19.

[pyrodude24]

is it just me or are your thums chubby or yours are normal and mine are weird lol =) nice vid any how