dagabu Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Well... This is pretty sad when such an important subject looses steam so soon. I have been out of the game for a while and just read my FIRST article about waxing tubes yesterday, I am thrilled with the results and would like to see/read your results on your rockets. What are your experiences so far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddewees Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I have yet to have a situation where unwaxed would Cato, but waxed didn't (although I have a specific situation that does Cato, but haven't used a waxed tube for it yet). But... the fact that my motors stay the length they started at, with zero wrinkles is reason enough for me to wax almost all my tubes now. I thought it was going to be a pain in the ass, but it's actually a painless task. It cuts down on dust significantly too when using fuels that contain to oil, wax or Vaseline as well. Just go thin on the application... more is not better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Interesting observations DD. I CATO half my rockets, mostly due to riding the red line and absurd pressing pressures, all in the hopes of finding a stable but fast BP rocket. I have yet to press a rocket with waxed tubes but when I do, I plan on trying the three bulk waxes I already have. 130-Paraffin waxPure soy wax120-Paraffin/mineral oil wax (loads of this left over from the wax bath for my hands) So, with NO proof whatsoever, I theorize that the wax allows for clean pressing (no tube distortion or shrinkage) and grain inhibition. I am looking forward to resurrecting my BP spindle from the spare parts bin and give it another try with the waxed tubes as well as my all whistle end burners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nater Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Like I posted on Fireworking.com, my rockets are not so close to the redline that I feel like waxing the tubes gains any performance. Like DDewees, no wrinkles in the tubes. I hear no creaking as I press, which I first thought was the all-thread frame of my press, but that stopped with waxed tubes. Waxing the tubes has also eliminated the problems I had with the fuel creeping around the outside of the rammer when pressing to higher pressures. I have just been using solid Paraffin wax melted and coated in the tube with a dauber, just like Dave F mentions in his notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidF Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I tried to post links to my videos on youtube but nothing happened. I was able to run hot sali whistle all the way up on universal tooling, and then BP tooling, in the 1# size. There is also video of a 6" ball shell being lifted by a 1# BP motor made with straight hot BP and a nozzle. I will admit that it was not lofted to proper height- but still, it did not CATO. The whole rocket with shell weighed 1332 grams. I have quite a few videos of different fireworks and rockets on my channel if anyone is interested. The channel name is'imastrangerhere'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maserface Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I tried to post links to my videos on youtube but nothing happened. I was able to run hot sali whistle all the way up on universal tooling, and then BP tooling, in the 1# size. There is also video of a 6" ball shell being lifted by a 1# BP motor made with straight hot BP and a nozzle. I will admit that it was not lofted to proper height- but still, it did not CATO. The whole rocket with shell weighed 1332 grams. I have quite a few videos of different fireworks and rockets on my channel if anyone is interested. The channel name is'imastrangerhere'.I can quantify those findings, I too have pressed my hottest bp, with a nozzle, without cato. The video is posted somewhere on youtube. I also made chlorate/sali whistle, and flew it successfully on a bp spindle.. Dave F, keep the videos comin I have shown everyone who will watch you sali whistle / bp spindle video! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddewees Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Dagabu coming out of retirement!?! Can't say I didn't see that coming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddewees Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 (edited) DavidF, I'll try that AP rocket tonight on that 8.5" spindle, top fused... I'm putting my money on Cato, but we shall see. Should have a video posted in about 3-4 hours. Edited June 12, 2014 by ddewees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddewees Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Well, this isn't definitive... but it does support the theory. Two identical motors, pressed to the same pressure. Same batch of fuel, both top fused with quick match, only difference is one tube was waxed... the other not.... Two different results. Unwaxed tube:[Video] Waxed tube: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidF Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 So what's next, bare match to the top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leedrill Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Glad to see people are listening the wax being a lubricant allowing the grain to relax is the only problem ( that i had read Steve la duke asking). But so far stored motors don't move at all even with good verniers and it seems we are slowly on a path to discover waxed tubes have benifets that we haven't even pin pointed yet Hope to see this go a lot further and hope for more inavations from you in the future dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Dagabu coming out of retirement!?! Can't say I didn't see that coming... The wife told me, "One step at a time big guy." the other day. I am thinking I will be able to press some come PGI but probably not before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maserface Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Ddwees, I told you it wouldn't waste a trip Nice rocket though! I was on the edge of my seat last night! Waxed tubes for president Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 So what's next, bare match to the top? Nope, your hot Sali whistle with a..... NOZZLE!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psypuls Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I need a good tool for waxing my tubes with 15mm id, what should i get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mabuse00 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 This might be helpful: Besides:Is there some prefered type of wax the professionals use?Paraffine, stearine...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowcat1969 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I think most folks here in the U.S. are using parafins...either what one uses for home canning (the Brand name Gulf Wax can be googled), or for candle making have both been mentioned. I believe somebody even used tealight candles melted down and is using "scented" rocket tubes, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidF Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Ned uses the pouring method shown. I've never tried it. I use the dauber method. A small shotgun cleaning swab should work nicely for a 15 mm tube. My first one was jute twine wrapped around a threaded rod with washers and nuts. It worked but was ugly. A sliding fit is good if you go the dauber route. Some folks have used a heat gun to smooth out the coating. Too much wax can be a PITA. For me, a regular 1# BP tube gains 0.4-0.7 gram from waxing. Some folks put the wax in the fuel but that weakens it somewhat. I've used the scented wax and called it femfuel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schroedinger Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 David i didn't understand how your dauber method is performed. Do you just put the sponge side into melted wax and the pull it trough the tube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddewees Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 That's exactly what you do. I use an actual sponge wrapped and tied to the end of a rocket stick. The sponge is slightly larger in diameter, and swabs the inside quickly and easily. Even if the motor is slightly larger (less build up when inserting the sponge), you can easily swab one side then the other in one or two stroking motions. You just have to do it, you'll figure out what works best for you within a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schroedinger Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Ok, thank you. Than i know how it works now and my thoughts where right. Will try that method soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psypuls Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) I found some gun cleaning swabs on ebay, what caliber? or gauge?? should i get for a 15mm ID? Edited June 26, 2014 by psypuls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodad Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I am using a 20 gage shotgun mop or Swab if you will for 3/4" NEPT tubes. I have Gulf Wax in a vegetable can, I set this in a small sauce pan in 1 1/2" of water at a slow simmer. It is a little tight but it gets the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidF Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 http://fireworking.com/sites/default/files/u83/run%2052%2C%20mostly%204%2B4hr%20sumac%20fuel%20super%20duper%20BP%20spindle%2C%201lb%2C%20nozzled.jpgAs far as I know this is the first time over a hundred pounds of peak thrust has ever been achieved with a 1 pound BP rocket with no additives, like whistle. The rocket was pressed with hot BP and a nozzle on tooling custom made for me by Steve LaDuke. The tapered portion of the spindle for this rocket was 6 1/2". The tube was a regular thin NEPT tube. I could lift a 5" ball shell to a respectable height with a motor like this if I wanted to. But this is just an investigation. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobosan Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Very Impressive, Dave. Did you have tooling made to take advantage of waxing?...or vice versa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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