15 replies to this topic

[Caramanos2000]

I have 50 of these plastic shells for New Years but I havnt tested any yet.I think these are intended for Flash salutes, so my question is if these will burst ok with just bp or maybe a little flash? I mean all I can do is seal them with pvc glue because If I paste them they wont fit into the mortar. Will that be enough or am I gonna be blowing end caps off?

[Bonny]

I have 50 of these plastic shells for New Years but I havnt tested any yet.I think these are intended for Flash salutes, so my question is if these will burst ok with just bp or maybe a little flash? I mean all I can do is seal them with pvc glue because If I paste them they wont fit into the mortar. Will that be enough or am I gonna be blowing end caps off?

I think the ends will blow off unless you use flash which will likely destroy any stars you put in them. You might be able to spike with some fiberglass stranded tape, as it won't add much thickness.

[MDH]

I think you have to look at the way consumer fierworks do it (and bonny will testify if he knows the limits here in Canada). At a limit of 45 millimeters, Canadian shells don't have much going for them - yet many, especially Vulcan's (a company I'm sure most of us here have heard of), pack quite a punch -- with just black powder.

One common technique which is used here is to make it a "burst", which is essentially a mine launched at high altitude. A cylindrical tube with a heavy bottom that keeps it stable is lifted into the sky. When the fuse reaches through to the inside of the tube from the lift charge, a layer of black powder is ignited and usually small stars and flying fish fuse etc. are above that layer, meaning that your effect is a mine going off in the sky.

That's your best bet.

You can use flash, but you will need a way to stop it from disintegrating as bonny has pointed out. Flying Fish fuse is a candidate here...

Edited by MDH, 03 December 2007 - 03:26 PM.

[pyroman89]

One common technique which is used here is to make it a "burst", which is essentially a mine launched at high altitude. A cylindrical tube with a heavy bottom that keeps it stable is lifted into the sky. When the fuse reaches through to the inside of the tube from the lift charge, a layer of black powder is ignited and usually small stars and flying fish fuse etc. are above that layer, meaning that your effect is a mine going off in the sky.

MDH is very right as that is how most of the shells in Canada are made.

[Caramanos2000]

Fired 2 shells. 1 can and 1 plastic spherical. The can didnt have a flash bag and was very nice with some tigertails but was under lifted. The spherical shell had too much flash and became a salute. This is probably because I used 5g of flash for a 1 3/4" shell lol. The D1 stars in it were completely obliterated

[W.P]

5 grams? I don't even use 2g of benzolift in 2.5" shells.

[Caramanos2000]

Will rice crispies and a flash bag be ok? Will the rice crispies increase or decrease the amount of Bp I use? Any ideas on how I could join the lift charge and shell in one package if Im going to be bottom fusing?

Edited by Caramanos2000, 08 December 2007 - 01:42 PM.

[W.P]

The rice crispies and a flash bag idea would work, but personally I'd just heap my flash straight onto the rice. Generally, using BP coated anything for use in breaking shells is the economic and more effective solution, so yes, it decreases the amount of BP you need. Joining the lift charge and shell and using bottom fusing is simple, use a plastic food bag and heap the lift charge into that, tape the bag to the shell, most fuses burn hot enough to melt plastic.

[Caramanos2000]

Brilliant I like it Tried some rice crispies on the ground and it was very nice. Took a zip log bag put some rice crispies in it, sprayed them with starch spray and added bp till they were covered. Took about 3 hours to dry in my drying box lol. It pwned.

Edited by Caramanos2000, 10 December 2007 - 05:07 AM.

[Caramanos2000]

Some spherical shells el cheapo style. Xmas ornaments(plastic) from local farmacy, $2.50 for 28 of them wooot. Slice the back, fill and seal. I paste them with 2 layers. Work and fit ok in 2.06" mortars I think from pyrogear. BTW the cuout squares are put back in with hot melt glue before pasting.

Edited by Caramanos2000, 10 December 2007 - 08:11 AM.

[MDH]

Gosh that's hilarious... But have you tried my idea yet?... No sale?

[Caramanos2000]

I tried it by using just bp in a cylinder shell with Tiger tail stars but it seemed to burst like a regular shell. Not very loud though. I am interested in it though it sounds good if I could have some inserts do that.

[Caramanos2000]

Can I hot glue some stars or some fuses to the top of the shell and have the liuft charge ignite them?

[W.P]

No, there's a simpler solution than that, I'll draw a diagram of how small commercial cakes do it:

Edited by W.P, 13 December 2007 - 05:52 AM.

[Bonny]

Can I hot glue some stars or some fuses to the top of the shell and have the liuft charge ignite them?

For a rising effect? Most certainly. I often glue leftover stars to my 1" cylinder shells...works well.