OldMarine Posted September 24, 2017 Posted September 24, 2017 I stuck with it and got them all pressed and dried. Couldn't finish any of them since they wouldn't let me bring them to the hospital for some reason. Had another bout of anaphylaxis and they decided to keep me for a few days.
NeighborJ Posted September 24, 2017 Posted September 24, 2017 (edited) I had a three day building marathon. Got the entire exterior of the new pyro shed done, minus the tar paper and shingles. I'm still uncertain if I should put any windows in it, I just don't want to make it any easier for a would be prowler. Lloyd if I was close I'd come down to help out, I've got my hands full even without hurricane damage, I can only imagine the mess down there. And Patrick I feel for you, I'm allergic to penicillin, nickel and an unknown fruit, all of them give me anaphylactic shock. The nickel allergy really sucks because I weld for a living, i need to stay far away from anyone welding stainless, It has cost me jobs. Edited September 24, 2017 by NeighborJ 1
lloyd Posted September 24, 2017 Posted September 24, 2017 (edited) Definitely put windows in, but make shutters blind-hinged, and locked from the inside. A prowler who's determined might pry them off... but he might also pry your door off, if he's that intent on getting in. You'll miss windows if you don't have them. My machine shop doesn't have them. And by now, I've got every wall covered, anyway. I like seeing the daylight, and being able to monitor goings-on outside. Lloyd Edited September 25, 2017 by lloyd 1
NeighborJ Posted September 24, 2017 Posted September 24, 2017 Yeah I would really like to install Windows, I have two tiny double hung windows left over from when I built my house. They would work nicely in the shed, I would at least know if a visitor has pulled into the driveway. I haven't had any suspicious activity here in the last 18 years but I want to minimize any kind of invitation.
whitewolf_573 Posted September 27, 2017 Posted September 27, 2017 (edited) Getting 2 buckets to do a improved tlud version, and use the one i have as an second, aditional tlud if i need more charcoal and cant wait for the other to finish.I also have wood and wire mesh to make some screens, and planning also a drying chamber. Edited September 27, 2017 by whitewolf_573
PeteyPyro Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 Found this 10 ton hydraulic log splitter, and am brainstorming how to use it as a rocket/star plate press. Perhaps an electric hydraulic pump, a PTF gauge, and some scrap scrap steel for the arbor chassis and lexan shield frame. Has anyone else here tried to 'press' into service something like this? Any ideas? If I can pull this off, it would be a totally 'jacked' press. 1
NeighborJ Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 I've seen the similar harbor freight log splitter and "rocket press" instantly poped into my mind. It would work great if it had a flat plate welded to the splitter blade. It would work well as a baby star plate press but some shim stock would be needed to lengthen the ram to accomodate them.
PeteyPyro Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 Thanks, NeighborJ. I was thinking along those lines too. I can cut off the wedge, and I have some 3/4" plate steel to replace it. There is over 18" of 'throw' to the cylinder's piston, so short tubes may fit. I'm looking for the scrap lexan now, which is hard to find, for a shield for the press. I'll make the shield frame to fit the lexan or other "bullet resistant" shielding, after I figure out how and where it needs it. This is a work in progress...
NeighborJ Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 Petey I tacked a old socket to the crank handle lever holder on my press, it allows me to set a torque wrench with a PTF guage and press to the same pressure every time.
lloyd Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 NOOOO! Make an adaptor plate that fits over the wedge, and serves the purpose without 'killing' its usefulness as a log splitter! It could be an easy 'clamp-on' affair that would leave the splitter intact when you wanted to use it for its original purpose! Hydraulic splitter wedges don't NEED to be real sharp -- although it helps, so a little edge-marring wouldn't spoil the tool's primary purpose. Lloyd
OldMarine Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 (edited) I never thought of making a cover for the wedge on my splitter. I have a 30 ton press now!Put the second layer on some disc pasted 3" ball shells today. Haven't made but a few so this is still a learning process. I really like the disc pasting method. Edited September 28, 2017 by OldMarine
PeteyPyro Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 Some great ideas, guys. I'll make an adapter plate to cover the wedge as Lloyd shared, and preserve its original function. Pix coming. Congrats to OM on his 30 T press. <grin>
OldMarine Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 Petey, I've got one of the HF manual splitters as well. It had both fast and slow pumps on it so would probably work faster than my manual 6 ton from Caleb does a is.
PeteyPyro Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 (edited) Yup, OM, I'm guessing that hydraulics would pump the larger cylinder for quick slack take-up, and the smaller one for the final compression and dwell time. I'm looking at Caleb's PTF gauge set up, as well as Wolters and Ben Smith's. I'm considering ordering this cheap (<$10) pressure gauge to make the PTF setup described by Skylighters article. https://m.ebay.com/itm/Brass-1-4-NPT-Male-Hydraulic-Liquid-Filled-Pressure-Measuring-Gauge-0-3500-PSI/291672552291?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20150519202348%26meid%3Ddae4cbdf93ee4b0eac7d32e79ff77daf%26pid%3D100408%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D253171356987&_trksid=p2349624.c100408.m2460 And tap the main hydraulic reservoir for this gauge with this 1/4" NPT Lowe's tap, https://m.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-HANSON-2-Pack-SAE-Tap-and-Drill-Set/50214679?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-ToolsAndHardware-_-SpecialtyHandTools-_-50214679:IRWIN&CAWELAID=&kpid=50214679&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=1945&k_clickID=facfb4a5-dedb-40d4-9c82-f3be33eb6be3&gclid=CjwKCAjwu7LOBRBZEiwAQtfbGKDCwhN69gmfj-rar9j54COj3lgpn-nIEXLdBeolLQqgVNJZCK6pQhoC4XcQAvD_BwE Any thoughts on this? For pyro today, I'm making the anvil from solid oak since I need a new blade for the metal bandsaw. I'll post pix, and maybe a tutorial in rocketry/tooling once done. Thanks for the ideas. They really helped me. Edited September 29, 2017 by PeteyPyro
OldMarine Posted September 29, 2017 Posted September 29, 2017 (edited) I'd just get Caleb's PTF gauge. It has a 1 square inch piston so gives a true reading with no math needed other than rammer area. He also will fix them if we unfix them.I'm going to weld me up a wedge adapter for both the HF splitter and my Husky gas model. 4"comets sound appealing. Edited September 29, 2017 by OldMarine 1
PeteyPyro Posted September 29, 2017 Posted September 29, 2017 OM, don't forget pucking & corning BP with that 4" comet press too. <grin> I'm out to the shed early today.
OldMarine Posted September 29, 2017 Posted September 29, 2017 I tried corning BP and didn't find it worth the effort but I'm in love with big ole comets! Playing with some 1¾" crossettes today and want to get bigger.In other news: One of my cats decided to try to use my screens full of dying coated rice hulls for a bed or litterbox. I caught her just before the deed but plan on building a screened box for outdoor drying soon. If kitty had ruined 2 lbs of hulls I'd probably have strapped her to my next rocket. 1
Mumbles Posted September 30, 2017 Posted September 30, 2017 You may find this thread a worthy read. https://www.amateurpyro.com/forums/topic/7529-urine-in-black-powder/ 1
OldMarine Posted September 30, 2017 Posted September 30, 2017 Hehe! I think I'd give up pyro if BP smelled like cat piss. 2
OldMarine Posted October 1, 2017 Posted October 1, 2017 Got home at a decent hour and decided to work on my cluster rocket a bit. After reading up on the BFR rockets that Dave Ferguson won the Guinness World record with and picking his brain, I've switched to super fast visco rather than QM for fusing of the ring of ½" BP+ whistle motors of the first stage.I'm keeping the double QM fusing for the 2nd stage since it has worked well.
patsroom Posted October 1, 2017 Posted October 1, 2017 Hehe! I think I'd give up pyro if BP smelled like cat piss.You just have to shoot it up higher............ Pat
Jsweimer Posted October 1, 2017 Posted October 1, 2017 Newbie here- Can anyone point me in the right direction to purchase some good tooling? Many Thanks
OldMarine Posted October 1, 2017 Posted October 1, 2017 Newbie here- Can anyone point me in the right direction to purchase some good tooling? Many ThanksCaleb and Ben make fine tooling at reasonable prices:http://www.woodysrocks.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.htmlhttps://www.fire-smith.com
Mumbles Posted October 1, 2017 Posted October 1, 2017 Wolter is the third of the "big three" tooling suppliers in the US. https://www.wolterpyrotools.com/
OldMarine Posted October 1, 2017 Posted October 1, 2017 Made up another 3 lbs of coated rice hulls, lifted and leadered some 3" ball shells I made last week and pressed the ½" rockets for my next two cluster rocket tests. I've got more BP for rocket fuel milling and am making up a few lbs of Buttered Popcorn glitter to press up later. I also plan on using this for the delay in my ¾" central rocket in the cluster thingy. 1
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