16 replies to this topic

[Sourdough]

https://share.icloud...3pN4D8qq7T2MYuA

1 1/2 canister shell, winokur #20 pressed stars, kp burst. let me know what you think, and please post some of your small shell videos.

[Sourdough]

well, that video didnt seem to work. my technology skills are worse than my (very amateur) pyro skills. if i can figure out how, ill try to post the video again.

[cmjlab]

Sounds cool! Looking forward to the video.

Maybe a YouTube account? You can set the videos to unlisted if you don't want anyone to find them via Google search, it makes it so only people with a direct link or embed (posted here) can view them.

[Mumbles]

Hard to say much without being able to see it, but KP has always seemed to have a shell size sweet spot for me.  Too small and they don't burst hard enough, too big and they slam really hard.  I hope you had better luck.  For me it was always kind of 4-6" ball shells.  8" would probably be fine too, but I switched to something else by the time I progressed that far.  I've also never really tried it much with cylinders, so it may be different with the stronger walls.  Looking forward to seeing it. 

[Sourdough]

i have not found a teenager to help yet. im unfortunately technologically challenged. hopefully when the kids come down on memorial day

[Sourdough]

https://youtube.com/...o?feature=share

lets see if this link works. 1.5 canister shell, win #20 pressed 3/8 stars, kp burst charge, if it works, let me know your thoughts.

[cmjlab]

That was a good looking glitter shell. Broke at a good height too. Did it have a comet attached to the outside of it too?

[Sourdough]

kind of cheated, i hot glued a tiger tail star to the bottom of the shell. it usually works well.

[cmjlab]

Looked good. Maybe you'd have better luck with it staying if glued to the top, it'll still light by the several milliseconds of exposure to lift flame and hot gasses before the shell actually leaves the mortar, but not be torn off by taking the brunt of the lift. If you have issues with it taking fire (shouldn't with Tigertail) you can always prime it with a slurry and dip it in fine grained black powder or stick some strands of Blackmatch to it. Either way, it was a good effect and a good looking shell!.

[cmjlab]

Was that your first shell? When you say canister, do you mean traditional cylinder shell built with turns of Kraft paper, and string, or an actual pre-made chipboard canister? Impressive if that was your first!

[Sourdough]

i have glued them on top at times, and youre correct, they generally light well. no, this wasnt my first, ive been making them periodically for about two years now. i roll the canisters from a big roll of kraft paper. that particular shell had no string spiking, just a few extra layers of gummed kraft tape.

[GreginCA]

It looked quite nice for such a small shell. Time to step up to a 3 inch shell and add the spiking. 

[Mumbles]

That looked real good.

[Sourdough]

thanks greginca. i have some 3 hemis and a few hdpe launch tubes. i was thinking of trying a couple for memorial day, but july 4 is probably more realistic. .

[GreginCA]

thanks greginca. i have some 3 hemis and a few hdpe launch tubes. i was thinking of trying a couple for memorial day, but july 4 is probably more realistic. .

Try a 3" Italian cannister. Fulcanelli is the go to reference for all shells Italian. I like round shells but a good cannister the same diameter simply carries more composition. 

[Skypainter]

Awesome shell! Gold glitters are one of my favorite effects.

[Darude90]

Really nice!