Posted: 7/14/2017 9:40:01 PM EDT
|
Today i video one of my mortar shells going off. It was not a launch but set off the ground to get an idea what happens during a aerial blast.
It is just a black powder charge and charcoal stars. I have it running at 1/4 speed to get a look at what happens. https://youtu.be/A_KrhKqhaSA I do need to make better quality stars. I need to cut the weight of the shell by substituting black powder with black powder rice hulls coated in black powder. Eventually I will put ever thing together and get some decent shells. It is a lot of work making your own powder, fuse, paper shells and ignition system. |
| In another recent thread someone posted a link to these igniters. Being the pyro that I am, I had to order a batch. They work well and will ignite using just a 1.5v battery. |
|
Quoted:
In another recent thread someone posted a link to these igniters. Being the pyro that I am, I had to order a batch. They work well and will ignite using just a 1.5v battery. |
|
Quoted:
The words "no good can come of this" come to mind When you start making flash powder (the stuff in firecrackers and bigger bangs shells) it is a lot more powerful and a hell of lot more precautions have to be taken. |
|
Quoted:
What diameter shell. I don't think you need rice hulls until you get to pretty big shells. of the two should help me get there. |
|
Quoted:
No one wrote a letter to the BATFE asking if this was OK yet?  may get a call from the BATF wanting to know what are you dong with them. It happen to a fellow proyo I know.He explained it was for making fireworks and they told him it was okay. That was over a year ago and this guy still has his 2 dogs. I am just sticking to salt peter, sulfur and charcoal for the time being. I doubt I get much than this due to the cost of the chemicals and the attention it brings to you. |
|
Quoted:
Every thing is in their orange book for this but it is geared towards the commercial people. I can tell you this if you order certain chemicals you may get a call from the BATF wanting to know what are you dong with them. It happen to a fellow proyo I know.He explained it was for making fireworks and they told him it was okay. That was over a year ago and this guy still has his 2 dogs. I am just sticking to salt peter, sulfur and charcoal for the time being. I doubt I get much than this due to the cost of the chemicals and the attention it brings to you. Look up the Winokur glitter formulas and spend some time trying them out, there's a lot of room to experiment there. |
|
Quoted:
The stars are the most dangerous thing in an aerial shot. Must be made and handled properly. The star you see coming at the camera is made with charcoal, salt peter, sulfur and a binder. They don't go boom but do burn. You notice the sparks it shedding right before it hits close to the camera. The type of charcoal used , white pine, causes that. When you make stars with colors that is when you get into the more hazardous chemicals. |
|
Quoted:
You can still do quite a bit with the basic black powder ingredients and a little atomized aluminum powder, and that's not going to get you put on a list. Look up the Winokur glitter formulas and spend some time trying them out, there's a lot of room to experiment there. Quoted:
Quoted:
Every thing is in their orange book for this but it is geared towards the commercial people. I can tell you this if you order certain chemicals you may get a call from the BATF wanting to know what are you dong with them. It happen to a fellow proyo I know.He explained it was for making fireworks and they told him it was okay. That was over a year ago and this guy still has his 2 dogs. I am just sticking to salt peter, sulfur and charcoal for the time being. I doubt I get much than this due to the cost of the chemicals and the attention it brings to you. Look up the Winokur glitter formulas and spend some time trying them out, there's a lot of room to experiment there. |
|
Quoted:
Send a letter to ATF to see if you can shoulder fire it. |
|
Quoted:
I bet they send you a letter saying sure why not. Can we hold your homemade brew for you and watch? If it loads from the muzzle and not an explosive head there is no fed law against it as long as you are using black powder. You can have a cannon if you want. But state laws can be different. 
|
|
Quoted:
I am sticking to 2" shells now. You are right about using the rice hulls for bigger shells but I want to get the biggest bang with the least amount of powder. I figure a combination of the two should help me get there. |