another wheel

[Col]

The stubborn wheel that listened

3/4 id x 6" drivers, home cooked pine bp, various microstars, metals and a bounce.

[OldMarine]

Did you use separate drivers or were those just really stubborn delays?

[Col]

Hi OM

Seperate drivers on a hexagonal reloadable wheel frame. The drivers were linked with two strands of BM in swept/curved matchpipes which is usually very reliable. The transitions on this one were stubborn but very consistant at almost exactly 5 seconds each.

[OldMarine]

If you'd mounted that twice as high I think the microstars would have shown more impressively.

Still very awesome!

[Col]

It was mounted a shade over 6ft, i`d have needed the ladder for12ft

[Mortartube]

That's excellent! What was the basic driver comp? It was lovely and fierce. No sluggish bits there. Nice micro stars too.

[Col]

Thanks matey,

The fuel was just basic 75/15/10 with homebrew pine charcoal. The trick is to use a short core (1 tube id long) to spin up the wheel instantly. Using a loading funnel with the same id as the choke ensures the microstars can exit easily.

[Mortartube]

I have made small wheels before but they weren't as good as that and I have never done them with microstars. Nice tip about the funnel too. I am inspired for next year.

[Col]

Its worth knocking up a reloadable frame or two. All you need is a skate wheel (1/4" bore bearings) and a bit of 3mm ply or 4mm mdf and 3 stainless self tappers. I prefer hexagonal frames which allow for 2, 3 or 6 drivers. The drivers attach with 4 nylon cable ties (3/16" wide) which locate into slots filed into the edge of the frame. Once the ties are tightened the drivers are locked solid. I always add a line of hotglue onto the tubes either side of the ties to provide added security against slippage.

 

[Mumbles]

Have you ever checked the drivers and zip ties after firing? I've always wanted to use them but have been concerned over them softening or melting. I guess it's clearly not an issue.

[Col]

Hi Mum

As long as the ties are good quality nylon ones and the drivers dont explode they`ll stay attached. Luckily, I threw the wheel in the shed to protect it from the rain and didnt get around to cutting the drivers off yet so i grabbed a pic. I tried something slightly different with this wheel, i cut arched sections from a (black) tube and glued them onto the drivers for anti slippage duty.

 

Edited November 8, 2016 by Col