idigital Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 I am going to try my hand at crossette shells for this years 4th. To save time, I picked up some 3" plastic canisters shells. However now that I am looking at the canisters, I am worried about them not breaking. I am guessing that the top lids of the canisters may just blow off. Does anyone have any experience with making crossette shells using plastic canisters instead of paper? And if so, how well did they work? Thanks in advanced for any advice. idigital
aquaman Posted July 2, 2007 Posted July 2, 2007 THIS website explains and shows how to make them. It's using a paper canister shell but I believe it will still be the same procedures. If you're worried about the ends blowing out, just spike the shell a few more time with string. Or you can use a stronger string but I would probably use just cotton twine (what you use for blackmatch).
crazyboy25 Posted July 2, 2007 Posted July 2, 2007 i love crossettes and i would like to make them however i have a few questions before i even attempt them: 1. can all star comps that can be pumped be used in crossettes? 2. how is 2,000 PSI applied a jack, a press? 3. is it possible to use crossettes in a 4" ROUND aerial shell? if so how big would they be. i have a couple more but i would like to know the answers to these first thanks.
Frozentech Posted July 2, 2007 Posted July 2, 2007 i love crossettes and i would like to make them however i have a few questions before i even attempt them: 1. can all star comps that can be pumped be used in crossettes? 2. how is 2,000 PSI applied a jack, a press? 3. is it possible to use crossettes in a 4" ROUND aerial shell? if so how big would they be. i have a couple more but i would like to know the answers to these first thanks. 1. Theoretically, yes. I think though, that tailed comps ( glitter, charcoals, etc ) give a much better effect, that way you get the crossing trails that really define a crossette. Otherwise, 'splitter star' is a better name for them. 2. A press. 3. Sure. I think 3/4" crossettes comets look fine in a round shell.
pudidotdk Posted July 2, 2007 Posted July 2, 2007 Frozentech, I've tried contacting numbers of times, however no answer what so ever. All I need it actually specs for the 3" crossette shell on your site.
crazyboy25 Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 by press you mean something like this:press tutorial?would it be possible to get away with a large vice?
aquaman Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 You can but you're not going to get near 2000 PSI. I used my vice for whistlers and it worked fine. If you can't or don't have time to build the press try the vice. Just be aware that the device you're making is wide open in front of your face so put a board or brick over it and wear glovers and eye protection.
crazyboy25 Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 Just be aware that the device you're making is wide open in front of your face so put a board or brick over it and wear glovers and eye protection. what do you mean?
pudidotdk Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 He means that when pressing whistles etc. there is a risk of ignition. If this happens you will get more hurt without a blasting screen than with a blasting screen.In short: Blasting screens will save your butt! Yay... 200 posts
Mumbles Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 In general, I find plastic shells need a hard break, usually flash, to really preform well. Whats the problem with just rolling a paper canister? Might want to try some practice shells with just comets or something in the plastic shells if you're serious about it. Gluing and spiking may do the trick. I can confirm a vice works fine on a 3/4" crossette pump.
idigital Posted July 4, 2007 Author Posted July 4, 2007 Thanks guys. Mumbles, I was going to do paper shells, but I have been so busy with my regular job that I didn't have time to do it. However I had a few plastic canisters and wanted to build a couple. I tested my crossette stars last night and they work great. Hopefully we will have good weather tomorrow night. I have lots of round shells, so even if the crossette shell don't work well, it will be ok. idigital
crazyboy25 Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 I can confirm a vice works fine on a 3/4" crossette pump.thank god. how long a 3/4" crosstte pump? i have a big vice but im not sure if the pump would fit. i will try to set up a blast screen before attempting even though im not sure how necessary it will be after all i dont plan on putting whistle/flash in my crossette pump just D1 glitter and whatnot. EDIT: hmmm my vice has an opening of about 4-1/4" a little smaller then i expected will it fit? BTW its a pretty huge vice never used it for pressing before but its big must weigh 50-60 poundsmy vice
idigital Posted July 5, 2007 Author Posted July 5, 2007 Just a follow up guys.... The plastic canister worked fine. My crossettes work beautifully. I will post a video tomorrow hopefully if I get time. I was worried because I read that it is hard to make crossettes on your 1st, 2nd or 3rd try. Well I guess I got lucky because they worked great. Thanks Mumbles for the advise on spiking the canisters! Idigital
Mumbles Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 My crossette pump fits in the vice, but just barely. I had a thin piece of wood over the top and bottom so as to not damage the tool itself. It was right on the borderline of disengaging from the threads. For pumping crossettes, I don't think you'd be in much danger of an explosion. First of all the comp isn't as energetic as whistle or some other rocket comp. Secondly, the comp is pressed wet. The only reason I've ever pressed behind a shield was because the shield was already attached. I've done most of my pumping on arbor presses without shields. I'm glad to hear your crossettes worked well.
crazyboy25 Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 My crossette pump fits in the vice, but just barely. I had a thin piece of wood over the top and bottom so as to not damage the tool itself. It was right on the borderline of disengaging from the threads. well i don't know how big your vice is or what size pump you are using. so could you tell me how big my vice would need to be to be able to fit a 3/4" crossette pump?
aquaman Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 Just a follow up guys.... The plastic canister worked fine. My crossettes work beautifully. I will post a video tomorrow hopefully if I get time... Glad to hear it. Crazyboy: My vice can open about a foot and it worked great. It's not near as beefy as yours but it opens a little more. If you can, try to make your tooling fit around the size of the vice that your using.
idigital Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 Here is my video + pics. The crossette stars are Winokur 39 with Ti flake added to it. The stars are 5/8" in diameter. My neighbors were pretty loud this year, so you can hear them in the video. I ended up with about 35 spectators when I shot off my 10 shot finale. Here are some pics and the movie... My VERY bad looking shells... I was in a hurry, sorry for the way they look. First layer of crossette stars in the 3" plastic cylinder... A plate of crossette stars 3" Crossette shell video... I think it went pretty good for my attempt at a crossette shell. Again, sorry for the poor looking shells. I also made some of the stars different sizes to stagger their break times. idigital
crazyboy25 Posted July 7, 2007 Posted July 7, 2007 Crazyboy: My vice can open about a foot and it worked great. It's not near as beefy as yours but it opens a little more. If you can, try to make your tooling fit around the size of the vice that your using. well i plan on using a 3/4" crossette pump so i was wondering if you or anyone else has one would you tell me how big my vice would need to open to fit it? i would rather use my big vice because i belive it is stronger and can be anchored to my workbench but if that doesn't work i MIGHT be able to get away with this: vice 2
aquaman Posted July 7, 2007 Posted July 7, 2007 If you can anchor that second one it might be better because you're able to open it more. But like you said it isn't as strong as the first one and you probably won't be able to put the same pressure on the second one as you can with the first one. You're choice. If you can, use them both. One might work better for a certain thing than an other. As for the crossette pump, I can't help you there haven't tried making them myself.
crazyboy25 Posted July 7, 2007 Posted July 7, 2007 ok i found a way to anchor the second one vertically with plenty of room 1+ feet so that should work however i would still like to know about the other one so if anyone has a 3/4" crossette pump i would love to know if it would be possible to fit it in a vice with a 4-1/4" opening. thanks
Frozentech Posted July 7, 2007 Posted July 7, 2007 ok i found a way to anchor the second one vertically with plenty of room 1+ feet so that should work however i would still like to know about the other one so if anyone has a 3/4" crossette pump i would love to know if it would be possible to fit it in a vice with a 4-1/4" opening. thanks My 3/4" crossette pump (Wolter brand) is just under 4 3/4" fully compacted. You'd need about an inch above that for composition which is pressed down to form the comet.
crazyboy25 Posted July 7, 2007 Posted July 7, 2007 damn an inch too big oh well i guess i will have to use the pipe vice i found it is a little more powerful than expected.
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