What size pumped stars for 3" canister shell?

[AldoSPyro]

Im starting to make 3" can shells and I was wondering what size should I use? I have a 1/2" star plate and it works great, but 1/2" sounds kind of big for a 3". What would you suggest? The comps i would use are D1 gold glitter, Tiger Tail, C6, and C8

 

(PS. I cant make rolled stars yet, so I'm stuck with pumped stars.)

[schroedinger]

For the D1, C6 and C8 you can go up to 10 mm for tiger tail max 8 mm. But better make them 2 mm smaler on your first shell to see how you chems behave. You could also use cut stars.

[nater]

I use 1/4" color or slower burning stars or 3/8" with a fast burning comp like C-6.

[pyroman2498]

I use 3/8" stars for my 3" cans , they are easier to stack than 1/4" , the only time ill use 1/4" stars in a 3" is when im using a very slow burning comp . this is just my way of things and others may have other ways

 

Stays safe and Stay Green

 

~Steven

[TYRONEEZEKIEL]

I definitely agree with the 3/8" size. That's what I use and they stack well

[AldoSPyro]

I have a star plate in the 1/2" size, so it's a lot more effecient for me to make 1/2". But I'm really asking, is it safe to use 1/2" or will they hit the ground?

[schroedinger]

They are quite likely to hit the ground

[LiamPyro]

This is'nt exactly on topic, but while we're talking about pumped star sizes for shells, what size pumped stars are good for a 3 inch *ball* shell? Is the same as it is for a 3 inch can? Thx

[dagabu]

This is'nt exactly on topic, but while we're talking about pumped star sizes for shells, what size pumped stars are good for a 3 inch *ball* shell? Is the same as it is for a 3 inch can? Thx

 

I kept them the same size, yes.

[AldoSPyro]

I saw a guy who made a 3" color to report with 1/2" stars, and they didn't even get close to the ground

[schroedinger]

Sry to maybe sound a little rude now, but if you insist on using your 1/2 " stars then go that way but i doesn't like you ever really considered trying an other size.

[gregh]

Just over-lift it a little if you are concerned about the burn time. Use the larger stars, it's called a dahlia shell.

[Livingston]

so im new but have made over 20 3" can shells and I like my breaks to be full so I tend use stars around 1/4 but no bigger then 3/8.. using bigger will give a different effect then what I like. one time I use 3/4 cut stars and they where huge and bright which was very awesome in a way but i like giving that intensity effect.. Look man its all about experimenting... mess around have fun.. you'll find out what you don't like and what you do like..

[AldoSPyro]

Sry to maybe sound a little rude now, but if you insist on using your 1/2 " stars then go that way but i doesn't like you ever really considered trying an other size.

I would use other sizes if it was a safety issue of stars hitting the ground, I have individual pumps in other sizes, but I only have a star plate in 1/2". So it would take my an hour and a bit more just to pump enough stars to make one 3" shell. Plus I think most of you are talking about rolled stars.

[Mumbles]

Pumped and cut stars are the ones to use in cylinder shells. Rolled stars are not well suited since they don't lock together to form solid shells. Also, just because a star is pumped, it doesn't need to be stacked around the wall. They can be bulk filled just like cut stars. In fact I'd recommend it. It'd be incredibly tedious to sit there and diddle around trying to stack 100+ 3/8" stars inside such a small shell. I don't actually believe anyone who's brought this up would waste their time doing this.

 

1/2" comets would probably be fine for the fastest burning compositions like spider stars or a few streamer/flitters, but a large majority of stars will burn way too long. Some will definitely pose a fire/fallout risk.

 

Just cut some stars. As you mentioned pumping enough 1/4" or 3/8" without a star plate would be unnecessarily laborious.

[Col]

It doesnt take that long to stack pumped1/4" stars into a 3"

[schroedinger]

It doesnt take that long to stack pumped1/4" stars into a 3"

3 inch.jpg

Looks neat.

But mumbles was referring to can shells, and i can tell you stacking and chimming 3" cannisters can be pain, but can be worth it. The main problem with these is the shiming as you need som self closing tweezers to get them into place, even more worse with extra long casings.

The only good thing about these shell size is that you don't need to fill the spacings between the casing and stacked stars.

[AldoSPyro]

It doesnt take that long to stack pumped1/4" stars into a 3"

3 inch.jpg

I'm talking about CANISTER SHELLS, it's in the title of the thread, it is really hard to balance and stack small stars around the stright up walls of a canister shell!

[Col]

I`d use a chipboard liner or thin walled tube to create a temporary inner wall and just drop the stars down into the gap between the liner and the shell wall. A wooden skewer is useful for manipulating errant stars into position.

[WonderBoy]

I'm with Mum, the time spent stacking a ton of small pumped stars in a 3" just wouldn't be worth it. I generally use around 3/8" cut stars, with 1/4" stars in the 'pistil'. But I have also used 3/4" comets in a 3" shell, so your 1/2" pumped stars should be fine as long as it's not a really slow burning comp.

 

I mostly use my 1/2" star plate to make stars for 2" insert shells. Three rows of 7 makes very nice inserts for stutata type shells.

 

 

WB

[MrB]

I'm with Mum, the time spent stacking a ton of small pumped stars in a 3" just wouldn't be worth it.

Shortcuts help there. It doesn't get quite as neatly packed, but i simply place thinner tubes, one around the passfire, one inside the perimeter. And then just fill each with the appropriate stars. And then fill the empty space with burst, carefully pull the tubes, packing the burst in there while pulling, and you are done. I keep telling my self it looks better then simply tossing a random mix of stars and break in to the shell casing. Regardless of if i mix colors or not.

B!

[nater]

Bulk filling cylinder shells around a cannule as you describe is hardly a "shortcut" and is normal practice when using cut stars.

[MrB]

Perhaps, but it's not the method i see people using when they are "in a hurry" to produce large amounts of shells they don't care much about the performance from.

They just stick stars and burst in the same bucket, and fill the shells from there. Done. In comparison to stacking, i prefer my shortcut over the alternatives. Call it what you like.

B!

[WonderBoy]

B, it really seems like you don't know what you are talking about.

 

This is not a "shortcut" that I am referring to. As has been said, this is common practice when using cut or pumped stars. I can not honestly think of any examples of people straight jumble filling cylinder shells, other than small cake or shell inserts (maybe things are different in Europe?).

 

Something to note though, as you load the shell, be sure it is solidly filled by jostling polverone between stars, filling any large air spaces. I also use a dowel or other small piece of wood to press down on everything while loading the shell to make sure it is all locked in place.

 

 

WB

Edited January 8, 2015 by WonderBoy

[AldoSPyro]

B, it really seems like you don't know what you are talking about.

 

This is not a "shortcut" that I am referring to. As has been said, this is common practice when using cut or pumped stars. And I can not honestly think of any examples of people straight jumble filling cylinder shells, other than small cake or shell inserts (maybe things are different in Europe?).

 

Something to note though, as you load the shell, be sure it is solidly filled by jostling polverone between stars, filling any large air spaces. I also use a dowel or other small piece of wood to press down on everything while loading the shell to make sure it is all locked in place.

 

 

WB

Totally agree with you, if you have reached the level of laziness where you can't even use a canule, you should not be making fireworks with the ability to permanently injure or kill. Only people making thousands of cake inserts in chinese factories jumble mix.