25 replies to this topic

[cooperman435]

But surely a crosette must break with a "cross" or its not a "cross"ette?

With a round hole its a "coulured star/comet to report with bits flying off" :-)

Edited by cooperman435, 22 September 2012 - 08:31 PM.

[Sparky]

Well a straight comet or one with a round hole would be fine for me. Let me know cost and when you are thinking of knocking some up.

[Mumbles]

I actually find the round holed ones harder to get just right. If you find someone in the know they can get you almost where you need to be, but there is a fine line sometimes between jetting a crossette and blowing one to smithereens if you're going in blind. The fluted design is harder in my opinion to break into a dozens of pieces as it has pre-imprinted weak areas. When you get good at it, the round hole crossettes still break reliably into 3-5 pieces most of the time. There is actually a way to ensure they break into 4 equal pieces, but it's quite labor intensive and time consuming if you ask me.

The "crossette" name is more for the effect you get when you have a shell full of them, than when you have a single fire comet. A 5" crossette shell typically holds around 40 crossette comets. When these go off, preferably at the same time, the fragments and tails cross over each other and make kind of a woven pattern. Very impressive when done well. I will admit though that I like the fluted design much better for single fire comets.

I've owned both the fluted and round hole designs. I'm still getting the hang of the round hole comets, but they do have some advantages when pumping them out. They definitely release from the tooling easier, and you can spin the tooling around to line up pins if you need to.

I'm not trying to talk anyone into one design over the other. Each will have their own devoted camps I am sure.

Edited by Mumbles, 24 September 2012 - 03:34 PM.

[Vic]

All here really appreciate your input Mumbles, thank you.

[cooperman435]

Ill definately agree the round ones are easier to make as spinning the base to release the comet without riping its surface is possible whereas a "crossette" has to be pulled off in a straight line.

[Mumbles]

There are very few things I like doing in this world more than talking about pyro. It's really my pleasure. I'm happy you guys let an American hangout with you here.

There's actually a trick to getting the fluted tooling out. If you fully eject the comet, it will expand ever so slightly. You can pull the plunger back into sleeve, and the comet will get caught on the lip of the sleeve. If you have the wetness right, it will pop right off. Sometimes some release agents will help out. It's also important to keep the tooling clean.

Perhaps I misread before, but it sounded like people were making the crossette or other cavity former in the base instead of the plunger. This is definitely an interesting design. I think it may have merit for the gang pressing of comets or large comet tooling where material costs become significant. Getting them to release could be challenging, but I bet something can be figured out.

Upon thinking about it more, I'm not sure if the crossette name having more to do with the appearance in the sky of several going off at once is true. I'll see if I can look it up in Fulcanelli or Hardt or some other reference some time soon to make sure I'm not just making things up in my head.

Edited by Mumbles, 25 September 2012 - 05:13 AM.

[cooperman435]

I simply made the shatter/flat/crosette ends as it meant one tool for the lot, didnt mean to start a reveloution :-)

I use resin as the binder for all my comets so release is easy, the comet comes out esentially hard and dry so never sticks to anything at all.

I was always under the impression a crosette was a single unit that broke into a cross?

[pyromaniac303]

Ive the pipe now spare to make 2" and if I remember 3" too, cant't remember who has bought them from me in the past but there a plunger type with interchangeable bases to make flat, indented (shatter) and crosette comets depending on which base you want.

Think of a stinless pipe with a syringe plunger type insert and a plug in the bottom to create cavitys or flat sections

I bought a 2" pump from you a while back, and they really are good quality. Its still going strong several years later and makes some fantastic titanium and glitter comets. Not tried shattering comets with it yet though.

[cooperman435]

:-)

[Barnsley-Bill]

I use graphite powder on my crossette pump to help release it' before i load the pump I just dip the tip of it in the graphite powder and it helps stopping the pump sticking to the comp.

I've just made 50 today' half TT and the other half Shimizu Blue #1a bit difficult loading two different comps into the pump' but they look ok once there dry I'm going to fire a few to see what there like before putting them in a shell.

[Barnsley-Bill]

these are a few I made yesterday:)