Burst media

[Visco]

Hello everyone, have a question on making my first 2" shells. The only thing I don't have is burst media. I can't find rice hulls local and will have to order. I have seen where some used corncob media and one where puffed rice was used. Will either of these work in a shell this small? If not where is a good place to order rice hulls. Thank you for all your information.

[DaMounty]

Hi,

 

For 2" shells I just use straight up BP riced through a window screen. I'm not sure of the FA number associated with that screen.

 

DaM

[dagabu]

Agreed, you want the hotest break you can get without blowing stars blind.

[Mumbles]

If you move toward larger shells at some point, rice hulls can be found at basically any homebrewing shop for what it's worth.

[Visco]

Thank you for the information. I'll try the bp alone and see what it does. Just curious what size shells will start requiring media? 4"? Be a while before I work my way up to that. I'm just excited to get these 2" up in the air.

[starxplor]

My reading has shown 4in shells to be the line. Not that 4 in are on either side of the line, but actually are the line and either can be used if done right.

 

For what its worth, my two 4in plastic shells opened fine with straight BP, but they didn't go anywhere near as high as hoped for because of the higher weight.

[BlueComet24]

For 1.75" paper ball shells I use hot milled BP granulated through a 16-mesh kitchen colander with +5% dextrin and +20% water (give or take a little to get it just right). I recommend you do the same for 2" shells.

[NeighborJ]

I agree with blue, I use 1.75" bp salutes and shells which are surprisingly powerful they just need confeinment. I use fiber reinforced tape to paste the entire first layer and it breaks so hard it will blow some stars blind. I use bp granulated w/ 20% water on a 4 mesh screen, they turn out like mini cornflakes.

Edited September 1, 2016 by NeighborJ

[braddsn]

Rice hulls are your best bet, because they are cheap, and lightweight. You could use grass seed as well if you needed to. Rice hulls can be ordered online (pyrochemsource), or better yet do what I did and order a 50 lb bag, and it will more than likely last most of your lifetime. Here is a link to it. http://www.groworganic.com/rice-hulls-50-lb-bag.html

 

In 3 and 4 inch shells, the main advantage to hulls over granulated bp is weight. With granulated bp your shell will be much heavier and require more lift. I personally would not break a 4 inch shell with granulated bp, a 3" would be my limit.

 

Since you are asking about 2" shells in this thread, I would most certainly recommend breaking anything smaller than 3" with granulated bp. 4FA to be exact.

[dynomike1]

Ain't that somethin, you live right across the river and have to get them out of CA.

[braddsn]

Haha yeah.... Mike you have a good source for hulls over there?