mormanman Posted November 23, 2008 Posted November 23, 2008 You guys remember the Al cylinder that you someone said that that I could make anything out of it. Here it is, a good looking rammer.http://i38.tinypic.com/11gn96v.jpg http://i36.tinypic.com/2q2fnzk.jpg
asilentbob Posted November 23, 2008 Posted November 23, 2008 About all I have done pyro related recently is cook up about a lb of dextrin... Maybe 2lbs... haven't weighed yet and its kinda hard visualizing it... Somewhat considering getting some more corn starch and just cooking all the dextrin I'll ever need. Painted the army ammo can... can't remember if I said that here... need a small inverter mostly... Got some more anderson power poles... Waiting on a small CW transceiver kit. Something radio related to do. A little socking stuffer for myself as it is...
superman1451 Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 About two weeks ago I made some wheat paste. Now I think its starting to ferment. Would this affect binding properties of the paste at all?
Richtee Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 About two weeks ago I made some wheat paste. Now I think its starting to ferment. Would this affect binding properties of the paste at all?Yes... as you puke on the shell, your stomach acids will render it useless. Chist man, make more paste!
superman1451 Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) Yes... as you puke on the shell, your stomach acids will render it useless. Chist man, make more paste! I didn't need that much more. Just enough to paste 4 crossettes. I dumped the rest cause it smelled pretty foul, but I was just wondering if fermenting would affect the paste. Edited November 26, 2008 by superman1451
Richtee Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 I didn't need that much more. Just enough to paste 4 crossettes. I dumped the rest cause it smelled pretty foul, but I was just wondering if fermenting would affect the paste.Never had the stomach to find out. Elmers will work for a couple more strips I'd think.
tentacles Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 I've heard some of the old hands on passfire say that they prefer the consistency of rotten paste, and that it dries harder.. But the smell is awful. Just buy a WASP and be done with it ;P
asilentbob Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 Add a very small amount of a copper salt and you shouldn't get that fermentation problem. I don't think you will be able to store it for that much longer... but it should help... I wonder about benzoates, boric acid, etc..
Miech Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 They used to mix in a bit of paris green in the old days, but who would spill it for such a purpose today? Benzoates don't seem to work, they probably need a more acid environment to to their work properly. I didn't try boric acid yet, as I prefer to make the paste when I need it. Pasting with CMC might be a better idea of you want to store your paste for longer time, as it doesn't rot that easy as wheat paste. It will drie out after a while however, and after some weeks it will turn green and become unusable.
tentacles Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 (edited) ASB: I think it's 1tsp of benzoate (or salicylate) to a gallon, or was it a quart of wheat paste? I'd imagine you could use even less than this.. Consider that a 23L batch of wine uses about 1 1/2 tsp of potassium sorbate. Paste will keep for months with that bit of benzoate in it, and of course, stored covered, preferably in a cool dark place. edit:Miech: Many of the old hands at passfire swear by adding benzoate to paste. "Tom, This may run a bit counter to your tastes, but a lot of the old-timers liked to use ''soured'' paste for its particular handling and adhesive properties." (Lloyd S) "Tom i put a table spoon of waterglass in. It never seems to smell when it goes a little south after that and it can stay out a lot longer before going bad." Bill Ellis "I just add a smidgen of Potassium or Sodium Benzoate when I mix up wheat paste. It sits around for months without any signs of attack by microbial free-loaders." Eric H. Is your wheat paste THIS bad? http://pyrobin.com/files/wheatpaste.jpg Edited November 27, 2008 by tentacles
Swede Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 Happy Thanksgiving! (For those who celebrate it this day) Richtee reminded me that today was the day to give thanks for things like comps that work, all 10 fingers, and the means to do what we love. Now the real question remains... Did the Pilgrims use Willow or Alder in their black powder? Did they prefer D1 over D24 glitter? How much perc did they use in their whistle? Thanksgiving would be much more thankful with a suitable display of Pilgrim Pyrotechnics!
TheSidewinder Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 Hmmmm.... good question! The Pilgrims used BP made in England. Take it from there. And on behalf of APC, here's wishing everyone in the States a very Happy Thanksgiving!
superman1451 Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 http://pyrobin.com/files/wheatpaste.jpg[/url] No there was no mold growing but it was fermenting like crazy and giving off a horrible stench.
crazyboy25 Posted November 27, 2008 Posted November 27, 2008 Happy thanksgiving! Im making dry ice cream mmmm fizzy...
h0lx Posted November 29, 2008 Posted November 29, 2008 'sup chums, I'm back will ressurect my lab soon and now I also have an accomplice to make science happen with:) glad to see the forum's upward evolution and #pyrotechnics still alive. Also, nice to see a favicon on it, I remember buggin good 'ol mumbles multiple times about it.
rev.redneck Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 where can I find info on rockets flying strait? I looked all over, my rockets are great, burn about 8 sec. real high but turn sideways at last moments. I cant understand, is it the stick? 3 for 3 with no problems(besides turning at the last moment!
crazyboy25 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Chances are its the stick. If your nozzle or core is off center that might do it as well but my bets on the stick. Make sure it balances perfectly level when you put your finger just behind the nozzle.
mormanman Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 I was wondering if you used fins if that would help. I made a rocket (haven't fired it yet) and I threw some Popsicle stick fins on there. I hope it works. I did the test where you tie it to a string and swing it around and if in flies straight with nose in front then its suppose to fly straight.
oskarchem Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Am I a selfish bastard? Humm... I wonder. Today I left my girlfriend (with which I was dating for 7-8months), to go with another girl. I decided that we only live once, and that I should make the most of this life. But the worst part is that I don't feel bad about what I did... Shame I stopped pyro, I could of shot some stuff, to chill off.
50AE Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Am I a selfish bastard? Humm... I wonder. Today I left my girlfriend (with which I was dating for 7-8months), to go with another girl. I decided that we only live once, and that I should make the most of this life. But the worst part is that I don't feel bad about what I did... Shame I stopped pyro, I could of shot some stuff, to chill off. It's not sure if you're definitely a selfish bastard, it can happen to everyone. But if you think it's wrong, better learn from your mistake and don't do it next time. If your girl friend didn't like your move, try to apologize
Brakkie Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Oskarchem: I did the same thing! I had a "girlfriend" which was basically one big mistake. We had a lot of arguements, she was whiney and pretty much boring. I went on holiday and figured, if I meet someone REALLY NICE I'll go ahead and talk and see! I generally don't meet and associate with girls that much. Almost all my friends are guys, the girls I do know are/were from previous (attempted) relationships. Not more than a handful though. Anyway to get to the point, I went on holiday and I meet a girl and eventually ended up making it out with her. I cheated! The guy that would always say "I'll never ever cheat in my life" CHEATED. Anyway, it felt great to meet a wonderful girl and we've been together since. Getting close to 3 years and I would've never forgiven myself if I stayed away from that girl because of my at the time "girlfriend". Do what you want, you only live once! Just be honest and open towards the "victims". I told my "girlfriend" as soon as I got back home, we broke up, she cried but in the end I was open to her and told her the whole story.
Mumbles Posted December 1, 2008 Posted December 1, 2008 I never bother to conserve wheat paste. It's a cup of flour to 6 cups of water. The ingredients arn't exactly breaking the bank. Anyway, I usually add an unmeasured amount of potassium benzoate, and keep it sealed and in the fridge. Out, and with no preservatives and it will be sour by the next day, and furthering evolution within a couple of days. It will last for at least a week in the fridge, though it does start to thicken considerably. I usually have to thin it before I want to use it. Plus using hot water brings the temp up. You're hands are already going to be pruny and sticky. They might as well not be freezing too. I've never tried to store it longer, but it doesn't show any signs of deterioration. I've heard of others (Eugene Yurek I think), adding water glass. It turns the paste kind of tan color, and very much preserves it. Months I've heard if stored in the fridge. It supposedly also improves binding properties. The basicity of the water glass does something to the wheat to make it stickier and brown. Same concept as to brushing NaOH on pretzles to turn them that nice brown color. For small amounts I just used 50:50 thinned white glue, or powdered wall paper paste, which is wheat paste. Same thing if you dried your wheat paste made from flour and ground it to a powder. I stopped using it as much because I didn't want to use up my limited supply. I have found new sources now, but continue to use the one from boiled flour. There is just something about it that I like. Plus I don't feel like ordering more.
Pretty green flame Posted December 1, 2008 Posted December 1, 2008 I am tempted to try the water glass idea, any reference on how much to use per...say 100g of wheat paste Mumbles?
Mumbles Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 I got lucky and found this. Normally I keep things of this nature on my computer in a special folder, but my computer is out of commission at the moment. From Passfire From: Eugene Yurek Date: 11/30/2006 Subject: Re: powdered water glass "Make whatever type of paste you normally like to use (I have used flour paste - these days wheat starch - um, NOT golden harvest wheat paste - get the stuff for about $1/# from the local Chinese grocery - needs to be cooked but its no worse than making flour paste and its a lot cheaper than golden harvest and readily available) and add about 1/2oz of the concentrated sodium silicate solution to it per quart (you could go up to 1oz but I'd caution against going much higher - not necessary and it makes the paste so sticky its hard to work with - your fingers will stick to everything - YUK!). When you add the sodium silicate to the paste and stir, it will turn a medium creme color (like the filling in creme donuts). This is just the action of the alkali (which sodium silicate is) on the starch particles. This has no bad effect and with the sodium silicate in the paste, if you store it in a closed container in the fridge, it'll keep for at least 6 months, if not longer. "
tentacles Posted December 2, 2008 Posted December 2, 2008 PGF: I think a tablespoon to a standard batch (1 cup flour / 6 cups water) "Tom i put a table spoon of waterglass in. It never seems to smell when it goes a little south after that and it can stay out a lot longer before going bad." Bill Ellis
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