2 minute mine

[h0lx]

Ok this is my first tutorial, so don't flame me about it. Also I mus appologise for image quality, I used webcam. OK here goes.

 

I have a crapload of used commercial cake tubes, which have holes in sides, so I tought, why the fuck Use mortars and more complex construction, when it can be done shit simple.

 

You need:

An used cake tube(here I use 20mm ID)

Stars(here I use TT)

Lift powder

Toilet paper

Fuse(I use blackmatch, visco would be better)

(A minute or 2 of free time)

 

Take your tube. Put a fuse into the hole in the size so that about 1/4 of the tube ID is stikcing inside.

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9255/picture009pb4.jpg

 

put in a scoop of lift, I use about so, that 3-4 mm of the bottom is covered, which takes about 5g. You should test with your lift, to see how much it needs.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/4830/picture010qo3.jpg

 

Next take a square of toilet paper and push it into the tube about 1.5 ids forming a pouch.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4594/picture011ll6.jpg

 

Fill the pouch with stars leaving some piled ontop, some stars may need a sprinkle of meal/lift inbetween to assure ignition.

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/3292/picture012ry3.jpg

 

now fold over the edges of the toilet paper so the stars are covered and push it down the tube with your fingers(A stick may be needed if the tube is longer than your fingers reach) until you feel it hits the lift. Now place on ground, light, back away and enjoy.

 

The finished mine:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8066/picture013av4.jpg

[optimus]

With such small mines, I find there's little or no advantage to using the tissue bag, unless you're using chlorate stars...

 

Just dumping the stars on the lift should work fine, as long as you use some wadding. You may even get more height than your method.

[h0lx]

You mean, just dump the stars and put a wad of paper on top? That would make the mass production even easier and faster:)

[hst45]

Yup. When I started out doing pyro as a kid, for quick-and-dirty backyard displays I'd scavange a used tube from a cake, pour a "dipper" of BP, ("dipper" was a .38 casing on a popsiclestick), drop-in a small handfull of stars, and use a top wad. I used aluminum foil as the top wad to reduce the yard-fire potential. Quick, cheap and easy.

[shadopyro]

I used to do just that, though with old film cannisters stuck one on top of the next (with the bottoms cut off), cheap and easy. Though i would've thought that if the mine were to be moved around alot the BP will mix with the stars too much...

Anyway, great tutorial!

[joker5]

an even quicker way to make a mine is to use a 1.75 inch mortar tube that is bottom fused, then take a commercial class c shell , cut the bottom and dump the lift charge in to the mortar, then break open the shell and dump the stars and hulls in , then light, takes about 1 minute to make if that long p.s. the tubes you are using make great casings for 1.75 inch can shells, that is what i use them for, also i reuse them to launch 1 inch arial salutes , they work great

[Mardec]

dude..

 

Nothing personal, but destroying commercial fireworks is so.. so.. ARG you know what I mean.

 

It is all about the fun and the happiness of making everythink yourself, seeing that your hard invested time and efford payed off..

[shadopyro]

Actually i take some fireworks apart to steal the stars or the comp, though that only if its something not very interesting... like a fountain or something.

[Mumbles]

The comment by Mardec was in response to Joker5's post directly above it. Read them and it will make more sense.