Magnesium is hazardous when wet and can decompose in the presence of ammonium perchlorate without the bichromate protection. Potassium bichromate (dichromate) is very poisonous and a suspected carcinogen. Handle with care.
Magnesium must be coated with potassium bichromate. For cut stars, dampen 25% by weight with 10% NC lacquer in Acetone. Stars must be primed with special strobe ignitor (see under primes) before the final BP prime. Strobe frequency is about 3.1 hertz, which can be increased by using finer magnesium.