How To Make A Fireworks Star Dryer

Learn how to build a drying box for drying out firework stars and other hygroscopic materials.

Materials Needed

• Desiccant bag/Calcium Chloride (CH8106)
• Glue
• Plastic container, rectangular
• Screen
• Staples
• Wood, lengths of 1x1

The basic concept of a hygroscopic material storage box is to keep materials and components that absorb moisture from the air dry. You will need the following materials:

- A shoebox-sized plastic container; Tupperware works fine
- A piece of screen that fits on the bottom of the container; stainless steel is best
- Two lengths of 1 x 1 wood that are as long as the longest sides of the container
- Staples
- Calcium chloride (the material inside Skylighter desiccant bags)

First, butt the 1 x 1’s up against the sides and bottom of the box, one on each side, inside the box. The 1 x 1's are just lying there; apply some glue to help secure the wood in place. Then staple the screen to the pieces of wood. Now all that’s left to do is to sprinkle a 1/2’’ layer of calcium chloride on the bottom of the box. The calcium chloride continuously absorbs any moister in the air around it and keeps hygroscopic materials stored on the wire "shelf" dry. If any moisture is present in the material stored in the box, the calcium chloride will dry it out. Keep the top on the container as air-tightly closed as possible, because after awhile the calcium chloride will get mushy and will have to be replaced. Use this box to dry firework stars, comets, firework star compositions, oxidizers, or any other hygroscopic materials in your pyro projects.

To learn more about making firework stars read these:

"Roll Better Round Firework Stars"
"Making Uniformly Sized Round Firework Stars"
"Testing Firework Stars, Making and Using a Star Gun"