33 replies to this topic

[lloyd]

Chuck, this is only an opinion, not 'fact':  I consider ALL tubes "single-use".  Tubes strong enough to lift comets or mines are so cheap when bought in bulk, that it's just not worth the trouble to treat them to try to make them last longer.

 

Again... just my opinion...

 

Lloyd

[chuckufarley]

That's what I always thought too Lloyd. The treatment I heard of was for cardboard consumer mortars to increase their lifespan. But hearing OM get so much use out of his made me curious if he was doing anything special.

[OldMarine]

Nah, these tiny things don't take but about 9 -10 grams of lift and fit fairly loose in the tubes so I'm getting no tube blowout or real burn damage. Even the crackle loaded ones are only about 10 grams including the gum tape skirt I'm putting on them to amplify the lift!

[chuckufarley]

Im assuming you drill a hole/holes just above the plug to ignite the lift/Passfire to the next tube. Or do you leader the shells?

[OldMarine]

Yeah Chuck, I have a hole drilled through both sides just above the plug since I planned on chain fusing these into 12 shot cakes. I made up a gross of the tubes so I'd have enough for a dozen come time to light them. I suspect I'd better make up another dozen to make up for "test losses" and other necessary fun..er....experimentation. Yeah, that's the ticket!

[chuckufarley]

Sounds fun! Keep us posted on your progress.

[OldMarine]

I'm just started on an unlimited data plan so I'll try to put up a video soon just to see how it goes.

[Mumbles]

Hygroscopic BP residue would be my biggest concern, not lift forces.  You can always try to preserve them.  They're cheap enough to discard every once in a while though.  The water glass and calcium chloride treatment would be a quick way to start.  Pyrocreations does sell little pre-made 1" cardboard mortars if you're interested.  http://www.pyrocreat...tar-1-inch.html  They look to just be their normal 1" x 4" tubes stuck onto a base.

 

For a more permanent mortar, you could look into HDPE.  This size of HDPE is often only available on a roll, but sticks might be available.  The rolls can also be straightened in short lengths by inserting a dowel into them and allowing them to relax back straight.  I've heard putting them in the sun can help.  There used to be some places that sold smaller ones like 1" or 1.2", but I am unable to find any in stock at the moment.  Pyrodirect has 1.2" and 1.5" listed, but out of stock.  Platte River Fireworks has 1.5" and looks to be in stock, but nothing smaller.  It also never hurts to e-mail and ask about smaller sizes.  It may  be available, but just not common enough to warrant keeping in stock.

[OldMarine]

Kyle has a project on PF that used PVC and with this tiny lift and no salutes sounds safe enough.

[OldMarine]

 IMG_20170412_2287.jpg   30.79KB   5 downloadsMy latest ball shell....

[NeighborJ]

I see you found a use for the foil tape. Those tiny plastic shells work good for bottle rocket headers as well. Let's see a video.

[OldMarine]

Working on it. Gotta make up a bunch more without "testing" them all this time!
I needed a laugh and these little jewels provided it!

[Mouse]

Poly irrigation risers cut in halve work for me!!!!

[Piccaso]

There is so much useful information on this forum I wish it was used more.