shell lift problems

[Firewurx]

I tried making some easter egg shells for the past 3 days and i just cant get them to get the proper height. The lift im using is pyrodex......(my chemicals havent got here yet) ive tried using lots of lift, packing the shell tightly, and tons of differnt combinations of the two. The shell just wont go over 10-15ft. Will pyrodex lift the shell?

[deadman]

Pyrodex should lift your shell. How long is your gun? What are the weights of your shell and lift? Is it fused from the top of the mortar or through a side fuse hole. I've never worked with pyrodex, but with smokeless side holes act as a vent and don't lift as well.

 

So maybe you could use a longer mortar or make sure there isn't a pressure vent.

[Firewurx]

Well the shells were dummies so they didnt weight much at all i did put a little sand in it. As for the lift i used way more than it should have taken. The fuse was in the side so that could be my problem.

[deadman]

Also if you are lifting to light of a shell it isn't going to have much momentum to keep it rising against all the forces pulling and pushing it back down to earth.

 

How long is your mortar? And try fusing it from the top.

[cplmac]

Also make sure there is not a big difference in shell size to mortar ID. Pyrodex SUCKS for pyro applications, I can't stress that enough. Mortar length is a good place to look, shell weight especially with easter eggs is a difference maker and short of that I'd probably rather light them and throw 'em than try and make pyrosucks work as a lift charge.

 

I do not endorse throwing shells, lit or otherwise.....

[Firewurx]

When i load my shells i make sure thay have a snug but not too tight fit, as for pyrodex the stuff sucks. Haha yeh throwing shells wouldnt be such a good idea.

[mormanman]

I was on pyroguide.com and they said that for a star mine to come up with that much pressure you have to place a peace of paper over it with a dab of hot melt glue. This may help.