Best I (American Pyrotechnist) - We've pulled out all the how-to articles from Van's publication, American Pyrotechnist, and put them in one set of covers. All new material not printed in the other Best of books. A great collector's item! Over 40 articles, extensive index to Best II, III, & IV. 80 pages.

CONTENTS

CHEMICALS & BLACK POWDER

• Revisiting CIA Method Black Powder
• Always Back to Gunpowder
• Improvised Potassium Nitrate
• Black Powder Specifications (table)
• Perchlorate/Charcoal Powder
• The Manufacture of Charcoal
• White Strobe Star
• Titanium Comet
• Drying Technique for Perchlorate/Charcoal Powder
• Cheaper Glitter Mixes with Antimony Oxalate
   

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
 

• Pyrotechnic Paper Cutter
• Making End Caps
• The Art of Crimping
• Building a Ball Mill
• Notes on Pyro Adhesive
• Zipper Stars
• Home-Built Hydraulic Press
• Pyro Pipps (cartoon)
• Improved Titanium Sparkler
• Thunderstorm
• Blue Star Formulas
• All About Crossette Stars
• Holy Cow! (cartoon)
• A Corking-Good Star-Pump
   

HOW THEY WORK & HOW IT'S DONE

• The Colorful Bird
• Sal Salute Safety Tip (cartoon)
• Jumping Jacks, How They Work
• Really Beautiful Red
• Analysis of Sound of Music
• The Little Ones
• The Whistling Rocket
• Match-Pipe Making Simplified
• Visco Time-Fuse Expedient
• Magnesium Bottle Rocket
• Radiant Wheel
• Class C Missiles
• Quick & Easy Buzz Bombs
• Colored Smokes for Amateurs
• It Makes No Sense (cartoon)
• How to Make a Donut Shell
• 4th of July Balloons
• Becoming a Fireworks Operator
• Rocket Motors Based on Maleic Hydra-zine
• Basic Shell Construction
• Roman Candles