4 replies to this topic

[bobconan]

In spherical shells less then 3" do you fill them up completely or do you put a layer of stars and then meal coated (fill in you favorite) in. If you do fill them completely what bp grain do you use?

[Richard H]

I often find that small shells (usually 2") consist of stars loosely mixed with a weak flash or similar burst. Attempting to form a layer of stars and then a layer of burst would be commercial suicide, as it would just take too long!

[bobconan]

So would they even fill it up all the way? Im not gonna be using 2" just 2 1/2 and up.

[italteen3]

Took apart some 1 1/2" shells the other day, five of them to be exact. They were not filled up all the way, stars were all different sizes, burst in each shell was never the same. Made mines out of all 5 taken apart shells with the plain meal powder. First mine I guess had the most BP and was pretty loud and of the other four two were just right and 2 were horrible and low. So basically if you make small shells, just throw in some compatible stars and burst and have fun.

If your not using under 2 1/2" you can probably make the shell normally or do it the commercial way it should work. Over that I am unsure of.

[Kembang Api]

For 3 inches canister shell, I use rice hulls coated with meal powder in the ratio of 20 % rice hull and 80% BP mix (meal powder plus 5% dextrin) by weigh.

After filling the shell with stars (7 to 9 mm mix stars) all the way to the top and fill the center with the above rice hulls to the center. I add 2 tea spoon of flash powder (mix of Pot. Perc. 70 % and 30% of fine aluminum). Top up the center again with rice hulls. Finish it off with chipboard disk (2mm thickness) than fold up the shell kraft paper with a good quality glue.

The next importance issue is the fuse timing and your lift charge. The shell will be about 100 grams, so you will need a very strong lift and a good timing or shot it out to the water and you will enjoy a nice water shell.