xBangergoosEx Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I am building my first 6" ball shell, and i am wondering if i should top fuse it using a passfire or if i should bottom fuse it like most smaller shells (where the fire from the lift charge ignites the time fuse, etc.). I am particularly nervous about this shell because a great deal of raw materials, time, and effort is going into it and i would hate for it to flowerpot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I am building my first 6" ball shell, and i am wondering if i should top fuse it using a passfire or if i should bottom fuse it like most smaller shells (where the fire from the lift charge ignites the time fuse, etc.). I am particularly nervous about this shell because a great deal of raw materials, time, and effort is going into it and i would hate for it to flowerpot. Cylinders I like to top fuse, ball shells, never seen it done. Anybody here ever top fused a ball shell? -dag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The only ball shells I've ever seen top fused were 36" in diameter. I believe Ned or someone may prefer to top fuse when using spolettes as well in 12" or so. A 6" will be fine. I've bottom fused every 6" ball I've ever made including when I made the mistake of lifting one with 10% by weight of commercial 4FA. Don't do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiapyro Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 haha ohhh geez. wow, that shell must've gone to the moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potassiumchlorate Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 (edited) I have made two 6" this far, bottom fused. I considered making top fused this year, since I have spolettes now, but it turned out that the spolettes don't fit in the holes, so I will drill holes and bottom fuse with an ordinary delay fuse instead. They used to top fuse all shells back in the 19th century, though, from what I've understood. We discussed it in another thread. Edited December 21, 2011 by Potassiumchlorate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan999ification Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 i only top fuse my cans if they are to be lifted hard, come to think i never saw a top fused ball shell before, certainly the bigger ones have paste/glue soaked string wrapped around the one or two fuses allowing the fire/pressure to pass the weak spot, rigidity is as important you need to pack it solid.take your time dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cogbarry Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 haha ohhh geez. wow, that shell must've gone to the moon ..or maybe not. What did happen mumbles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 It didn't go as high as I would have thought, but it made a hell of a bang when it exited the gun. I was almost positive I had blow up the fiberglass gun, though it was fine. It got higher than normal, maybe 700-800 ft, and was still traveling up when it went off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cogbarry Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 It didn't go as high as I would have thought, but it made a hell of a bang when it exited the gun. I was almost positive I had blow up the fiberglass gun, though it was fine. It got higher than normal, maybe 700-800 ft, and was still traveling up when it went off. Ah, glad the shell and gun survived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algenco Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Dan Creagan says he top fuses ball shells sometimes.It might prevent a few "flowerpots" that way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonny Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 For a 6" ball, just botton fuse it. As long as the shell is well made (nice and full) and well pasted you have nothing to worry about. The (chinese) shells I've worked with up to 12" are all bottom fused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanishPyro Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 I would also just go for the bottomfusing, as long it only is 6" shells, when they get double the size - or even bigger, i would start considering about top fusing them, but it won't get a problem as long as you ensure the fuse properly. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts