GBthriller

Hi everyone, long time I know.

This is very topical for me. The very reason I havnt been here in probably a year or so is because of peoples ignorance. I put all the chemicals away, and threw buckets of cold water on my passion. All because I was fed up with people calling me a b*mm maker. They say it with a smile, with no ill will but whats the difference? Its all ignorance, potentially dangerous ignorance. Never have I purposly make a b00mber, a b*mm, or anything like it. Sure there have been mistakes, but you know... And those idiots all ask "whens the next show?!". Uh never.

I missed being here and reading your posts. Glad my username password still works, thanks guys!!

He got out on bail, and after many miserable months of fighting, including hiring Bill Ofca as an expert witness he was aquitted on the felony counts, found guilty of one count of illegally possesing fireworks, place on probation, and forbidden to be involved with pyrotechnics, at the cost of returning to jail.

Think of the poor fellas with kids. You would think that if the cops had an idea of what was happening in the domestic spat it could/ would count for some consideration before getting all lathered up and throwing the book at him. Then again, any of us who have encountered our paramilitaric finest know they approach most situations with one palm full of pistol grip.

Too bad.

Yes it was very strange as it wasn't like it when it came out of the ball mill, but started turning black/dark grey flake by flake over time. So it must have been some sort of oxidation taking place, but I haven't heard anyone mention it on here before, so I was wondering if it was just me!

I'll try a new batch next week and see if it does the same.

Makes me wonder if getting your Al that wet caused the problem. What was the purity and PH of your water? Any of you chemists out there? What could the NaCl have done to it?

Incase you are looking for gummed tape, the stuff from Staples is perfect for pasting shells. For 3" and below, it needs to be cut in half so it conforms properly. Combine it with 'Lap' wallpaper adhesive (proper starch based) available from Wilkinsons, Focus etc and you never have a problem with poor breaks.

I just fired a 3" last night. It was pretty good. Sorry no vid to show.
The 3/8 pumped D1 stars were not a strict uniform size. The point of building this shell was to try and improve my skill and get a bigger, harder break. It was a success, but later my wife said "I get the feeling your unhappy". Isnt that a kicker? Of course I'm unhappy with it, I'm a pyro.

I used thin hemi's made with newsprint and pva. filled each side with stars, lined with tissue paper, filled with KP on hulls, (it's my first KP shell) I added 5g of FFFFg. I then pasted with more newsprint and pva about three layers, let it dry for three days. Next layer was cotton string, many random wraps coated with waterproof wood glue, that dried very hard. Left roughly 3/8 gaps in the string layer criss-crosses. Next layer was another three of newsprint and the same waterproof woodglue. Resulting in a very hard experior after about a week of drying.

If Adams meathod works better, I never invest that much time in building again. I'll start one of Adams type tonight and test in a week.

My feeling is that the shell report should be at least as loud as the morter. (You shouldnt be on top of the morter). Is that about right?

GB

Ever done this?:

Berg's Gold Willow;
Charcoal, Lampblack, Sulfer, Titanium, Etc.

Pressed them into a 1/2 inch cube using a light grid. Tick,tick,tick... waited days for them to dry and HARDEN. Finally, my lampblack mess is dry but has absolutely no integrity. ???

I weigh the SGRS bag, has exactly the amount it should if you add the amount that is supposed to be in my willow comp. How in the #e11 did I manage that? Moron!

But now I find myself asking the Starpol question again. Does anyone know how much Starpol I should add to this comp vs. the recommended 5% SGRS or Dextrin? It's been said that starpol is a superior binder, and since I find myself with a fresh Kilo of soft powdery (messy lampblack) comp, it's time to try it.

Thanks for the help.

GB