Pumped star plates

[viziers]

Mumbles im not sure if this is ok here but here goes.

 

 

I have purchased a 3/8" pumped stare plate from Skylighter and am having very poor success pumping stars out of it. My method is filling up the plate and putting the top on and compressing it the is hammer but when i extract them they come out crumbly and fall apart except for a few which areuseable. Is there a better method of using this tool? Ifi can get it to work well then it will save me a lot of time considering im using a single shot pump and you can imagine how time consuming that is especially whem im making a few shells in sizes from 3" to 4" ball shells.

 

 

Any advide and imput is much needed.

[pudidotdk]

Try using more solvent.

[viziers]

Try using more solvent.

There is deffinately enough solevent because when i use the single star pump they come out perfectly, The only thing i can think of tat i need a press

[qwezxc12]

I use both their 3/8" and 1/2" star plates...other than their shoddy construction, they work fine for me. I had to epoxy two pins back in the 1/2" plate...and this was after returning the 1st one because it had glue slopped all over it. What can I say...cheapness is a quality than can overcome many faults.

 

I mix my comp up either in a zip-lock bag or bowl, then screen to ensure the solvent is distributed evenly - 8%-15% depending on the binder / formula, usually. Letting the damp comp 'rest' a bit before pressing the stars will help the binder activate.

 

I personally do not use a hammer to compress the stars - I fill the plate in a non-stick baking pan and just hand press using my body weight while lightly rocking the top plate side to side to compress the stars.

 

Works great for me.

[cplmac]

If you are using a star plate, you need a press I think. I use my arbor press to pump single stars.

[Umphrey]

If you are using a star plate, you need a press I think.

Not necessarily. I have had no problems, other than having to press exceptionally hard using hand pressure on my 8mm star plate. You merely have to press down very hard for a few seconds. Hammering or quick pressing tends to make stars that are weak and crumbly. To make things easier I have resorted to using a 60lb anvil. I load the plate with composition and align the pins, I then place the anvil ontop of the star plate and allow it to sit for 30 seconds or so. I immediately eject the stars afterwards, using only firm hand pressure.

 

For larger starplates it may be required to use a press, or a very great weight.

[Mumbles]

Pumped stars are generally pretty fragile at first. Whenever I pump comet or crossettes, I have to be careful with them for a few days. It might just be a problem with you handling too roughly. Are they not able to hold together under their own size? If so you need more solvent. If they fall apart from you squeezing them or moving them, be more careful with them, and let them dry.

[viziers]

No im not handling them to roughly because when i use my single pump they are very firm and compressed . But maybe i need to use more pressure than what i am getting from a hammer.

[Umphrey]

But maybe i need to use more pressure than what i am getting from a hammer.

You cannot use a hammer on a starplate. Firm constant pressure for several seconds is required. You should lay down a sheet of paper to place your star plate on, after proper pressing each star should leave a tiny wet spot absorbed into the paper. Uneven pressing or insufficient pressing will result in either only some stars leaving a mark or none at all.

 

It seems that the nature of hammering causes the star composition to "layer." Most of the stars I've made by hammering appear very weak, and when dry they tend to crack apart lengthwise in layers.