Outer shell coating

[jrhpyro14]

How do you guys make the outside of your shells look so good??

also, what do you use to make the mold, like if you wanted a mold the size of a tennis ball???

 

im really new to this and just want to make everything look neat

[jrhpyro14]

ok, is it like against the rules to post how you did that or are you guys just not telling me?

 

i meant what kind of paper would i use to make a Hemi?

[lnstantkarma]

I don't really know why no one is answering you but anyway, if you are talking about aerial shells most everyone buys the paper spheres so they look good in the first place and when the shell is finished they reinforce (does spiking apply with pasting sphere shells?) it with kraft paper and glue this is several layers of course and that is what can make a shell look good.

 

I don't know how to make shells by hand and I have no idea what you mean by a "mold"

[jrhpyro14]

Yk, ya, I'll probly just buy the shell.

 

And yes i was talking aboout areial shells.

 

But thanks anyway.

[Jason]

You can use plastic shells, and then paste the shells together with Kraft paper + Wheat paste. Some people don't like plastic, but I find a good pasted plastic shell works.

 

To get it look neat is just a matter of time really.

 

Good luck.

[jrhpyro14]

could you use just like some elmers glue or something to glue down the kraft paper?

[ULTRABUF]

I have used elmer's glue on a shell before because I didn't feel like making wheat paste, it worked well. On the next one, however I think I will try using wheat paste.

[jrhpyro14]

ok, thanks for your help

[Jason]

I think kraft paper soaked in wheat paste looks nicer than elmers. This is probably what you would want to go with since you want a nice looking shell.

[lnstantkarma]

I don't really understand what kraft paper is and where to get it, is it just the brown paper paper bags are made out of and is that where it is obtained? And then there's gummed paper which sounds better because it doesn't involve wheat paste so do you just get it wet with water? Also I have no idea where to buy it either. I don't mean to jack this thread but it would be stupid for me to start a new one when this thread is so appropriate.

 

Okay nevermind I just went to hobby lobby and bought a big roll of kraft paper.

[Mumbles]

Yes, kraft paper is just the brown paper bag stuff. It is just a special name given to unbleached standard paper. It does come in different grades. Theres virgin(ideal), recycled(acceptable), and paper grocery bags. I'd suggest staying away from paper grocery bags. They are practically unusable. They are much weaker than even recycled paper, and will result in many more layers needed. Go to the nearest office supply store, and they should have small rolls of it. Not huge rolls, but 2 or 3 feet wide and about 60 feet long. This will be recycled, but it pretty decent in quality.

 

If you are getting serious, and want full rolls(9.5" or so in diameter), you'll have to order them most likely. You can get full recycled rolls on the internet for 20-$25. If you are going to get a full roll for anything besides covering your work area, get virgin kraft though. It's maybe $10 or $15 more a roll, and will be well worth it. Each roll will last you for many years. I think 70lb rolls are about 5 or 600 feet long, and the 30lb rolls are 1200 feet long.

 

The gummed tape is kinda hard to find in the right sizes. Normally it comes in 2" and 3" widths. You can try to cut it I suppose. Thus to get the more desirable 1" tape, you need to buy it by the case of 30 rolls. With some google searching you can find it. I can't remember right now where I got mine from, but at case was around $80. It's good for medium sized shells, but tends to pose a problem in ball shells 4" and under. It is also weaker than pasted paper, so more layers may be required.

[iclazion]

Okay I hope this will clear most of the questions you might have on making a round shell out of craft paper. I got my sphere / ball out of a vacuum cleaner. This picture below shows the type of cleaner I got the ball out of:

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07620.jpg

The next picture shows you, or are supposed to show you where the ball is located, but I am not going to clean the dust off the clearer to show you the ball. In any case the ball is located in a small frame below the upper part of the vacuum when it is opened. Try and find a broken vacuum cleaner please ?

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07621.jpg

Here is the ball and the shells I have made by using the ball. First get hold of a condom “I am serious” and wrap it around the ball, cling film will also help or aluminum foil could work. The condom is used as a release agent.

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07622.jpg

This is the craft paper I use, it is extremely thin and you only need one or two coats of dextrin paste.

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07623.jpg

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07624.jpg

Cut the craft paper into ½ inch or 2cm strips across the craft paper, now size them down so that they are +- 2 to 3 x 1/2inch “2cm x 8cm” strips as seen in the photo. Coat the craft paper and start to cover half the sphere working in circles, also make sure that every piece of craft paper overlaps half the previous one, keep on going till it is covered. Use your thumb to smooth the paper out. Try and keep it as round as possible. “THIS TAKES TIME so relax and do not try hurry the process. It took me 4 days to get it to my desired thickness. After your first layer is done apply a second one, and set it aside till it is damp. Try and twist the shell you just made. If it moves slightly pull it up to release any suction caused in the process. After the first half is dried cut it along the mold line on the ball. Now make another half and do the same thing. After you have made your two halves and they are dried put them back on the ball and layer then till you are happy about the thickness, about another 8-14 layers should do. Place the ball out side to dry after each two layers added. Cut the paper ball in half taking care not to cut the plastic ball in half to. Use a knife to pry the halves apart. Take your TIME

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07625.jpg

 

The dextrin I used was made from a tutorial I found online. I used Maizena “corn starch where I come from”. I placed the white maizena in a baking tray covered with foil and baked it on high heat till it turned a golden or dark cream color. Keep a eye on your starch while it is baking, using a knife spread and mix it around while it is in the over. I sieved the baked maizena “corn starch” to remove any burnt or hard media.

This is the Maizena

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07626.jpg

Maizena “corn starch” before the big baking

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC07627.jpg

Maizena “corn starch” after the baking

Here is what I ended up with so far.

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC05787.jpg

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC05785.jpg

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC05786.jpg

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC05788.jpg

http://www.cherryweb.co.za/shell40/DSC05791.jpg

I hope this comment answered some of your questions.

Safety First “I would love to see more fireworks coloring the sky at night” Oooh and Aaahh

[jrhpyro14]

DANG!!!

Thanks sooo much.

that helps alot and i appreciate the time and effort you put into making that tutorial for me.

much appreciation..

(there should be a clapping hands smiley)

[iclazion]

The lifting cup was made out of the inside cardboard pipe found in normal toilet paper rolls. I then cut the roll in the desired length and placed it onto a piece or mounting board in my case a piece cut from an apple box. Place the tube on the cardboard and using a pen trace the inside diameter onto the cardboard. Now take your sharp scissors and cut away around the circle making sure not to cut the line you just drawn. Make sure it fits tightly into the pipe and tap it in until it sits snug. With my lifting cup I cut pieces of craft paper about 5mm x 30mm and pasted the first half of the piece onto the tube where the circle is located and then folded it onto the circle, going all around. Two layers will work nicely. The lifting cup is only there to hold the charge to the shell, because I dont want to pour my lifting charge into the mortar. As my project goes on I will up date the tutorial. PS: the Delay fuse going into the shell should have a wall thickness of 3-4mm

[Bonny]

DANG!!!

Thanks sooo much.

that helps alot and i appreciate the time and effort you put into making that tutorial for me.

much appreciation..

(there should be a clapping hands smiley)

There is also some very good tutorials here: http://www.pyroguide.com/index.php?title=Category:Tutorials