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well this is random and something i've been wondering for a while. can a 1 pound rocket lift a pound.
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well this is random and something i've been wondering for a while. can a 1 pound rocket lift a pound.

Short answer: No :P

 

Long answer: There is no long answer :lol:

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The weights are not derived from the lifting capacity. It is the mass of lead balls the ID of the tube that would fill said tube. This only goes for BP tubes. So 10 balls the ID of a 1lb rocket weight approximatly 1lb. If you do the math it acttualy works out relatively close.

 

Whistle and strobe rockets are shorter. Due to the ID they are still classified as 1lb, 2lbs, etc from old world conventions.

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As i thought, well bummer then. Back to the drawing desk
If you're looking for Ti flakes you'd have better luck checking with a machine shop or a recycling center. A local metal recycler has barrels of titanium swarf and chips, They'll sell them at 5 to 10 dollers a pound, depending on how contaminated they are. I typically buy one up from the cheapest, it's lots of small swarf curls and chips with some grease and dirt mixed in. It's very easy to clean up with some mineral spirits. Most of it is usable as is, the rest can be chopped up with metal shears.
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ohhhh. ok, so how much can a 1lb rocket lift, or does it depend on the rocket

Standard 1lb BP core burning rocket can lift about 150g.

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is jap time fuse really necessary for 3 inch shells? i ask because visco seems to work reliably and it's a lot cheaper.
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Well I would certainly not use visco as time fuse for a 3".

You dont have to use time fuse you could always use good ol' spolette.

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Hello all!! Havn't been around in a long time...just wanted to stop in and say hello. This year has been very busy for me and I've had a lot going on so I havn't done any Pyro in a long time... But I graduate in about 2 weeks and hopefully will have time this summer for some stuff!

 

Hope everyone's doing well and still at it in my absence!!

 

Fredjr: You have a 1lb rocket that will lift a pound? I've never heard of any being able to lift that much...

 

Jacob: I wouldn't worry about the fuse.... I have always just used Visco for my fuse in 3" shells... I think its fine in small shells, but anything much bigger and the visco would have to be to long...

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Time fuse is very reliable. While plain visco is very reliable too, i don't think it was designed to specifically take fire from a lift charge. It still will a very good bit of the time, especially if primed, but when the shells start getting bigger... if the fuse fails it can be a really sucky failure. Also just the inside of time fuse burns unlike visco, so it enables some better timing in some situations... but visco can be wrapped in masking tape or similar so that just the inside burns too... I haven't used spouletts myself yet... going to have to get around to that someday.

 

I guess its mostly preference and tradition.

 

 

Anywho... Got some:

8.8lbs Cowboy brand mixed hardwood lump charcoal (~$5)

2 boxes of rice crispys...

1gal 20% Vinegar (~$12)

2 Dowel rods for a black match drying rack

 

Pre-soaked string in KNO3 and dried it... Making match shortly.

 

Was considering getting a big dowel rod and PVC for it for a comet pump, but decided to put it off until another day. Have some ideas for the cavity involving plastic spacer things...

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is jap time fuse really necessary for 3 inch shells? i ask because visco seems to work reliably and it's a lot cheaper.

I use Visco for my 3" and 4" shells; 1-1/2" in length for both. I split and prime the outside end to take fire. On the inside end, I leave ~ 1/4" untaped and use a drinking straw filled with lift fines to pipe fire to the center of the shell. The 3" has a smaller diameter hole that a 2" x 1-1/2" piece of masking tape rolls up perfect for. The blue hi-tack tape on the 4" is to bulk up the section passing through the 1/4" time fuse hole in the hemisphere.

 

http://www.apcforum.net/files/fusedshells.jpg

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I'm planning on building a sponenburgh. I was just wondering all the -guides say 1/3-1/2 HP, why not 1/4? Something like this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=92103

 

I know it's only 7 dollars cheaper, but that's money I could spend on the pullies or media.

I'd go for a stronger motor so you can be certain that it will handle the load with no problem. The sponenburg i think takes around 20-30lb's of lead, which is a lot. I'd go for the stronger motor just to be on the safe side.

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I'm planning on building a sponenburgh. I was just wondering all the -guides say 1/3-1/2 HP, why not 1/4? Something like this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=92103

 

I know it's only 7 dollars cheaper, but that's money I could spend on the pullies or media.

I'd go for a stronger motor so you can be certain that it will handle the load with no problem. The sponenburg i think takes around 20-30lb's of lead, which is a lot. I'd go for the stronger motor just to be on the safe side.

I honestly don't know why 1/4 HP wouldn't work.. also try www.surpluscenter.com for motors, they have some excellent prices and a wide selection.. but they often sell out on 115v motors.

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I found a chem supplier that is willing to sell Ba(CLO3)2 in small quantites(1lb range) and was wondering if $15-18 would be a good price to haggle on. He also sells barium nitrate but it costs $12 a pound(no hazmat fees though ;).
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I just found this excerpt from Tom Dimock's girandola video on youtube:

 

 

The one at the end of the video has got to be the best girandola I've ever seen!

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I have the book, and have always wanted to try one of those. I guess the last one gives me something to shoot for. I need to get better and rockets and drivers and such first though.
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I have the book, and have always wanted to try one of those. I guess the last one gives me something to shoot for. I need to get better and rockets and drivers and such first though.

Where is one able to get pyro books? Barnes and Noble?

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Where is one able to get pyro books? Barnes and Noble?

Actually, I did special order my copy of Lancaster through Borders books. For the most part, American Fireworks News, Skylighter, and eBay are where I bought the rest of mine. Also, keep your eyes open for pyros who are leaving the hobby, I was able to score a few books that way also. I guess I have well over $1000 worth of pyro books by now, so you can see that books make up a large part of the expense in this hobby.

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B. Dalton or one of the other "mall book stores" is able to get Pyrotechnics By George Weingart, but the info is available on line anyway. And I think it's something like 60 bucks and non-refundable since it is out of print.
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I just acquired another $400 or so in glassware from a friend that moved out for the summer! Its all very nice. I am also homeless until June 1st when I can move into a house that I really really like. I think Ill be living out of the car.

 

 

Look at my sig. I just built a website detailing how I make my spending money.

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So how do you guys work with your chemicals without getting dust clouds?

Mom said I couldn't buy that 20 kg chemical order unless I found out what the actual law consequence is when making pyro (this was easy). Also she said I need to get a stink cupboard or similar because there may be poisonus dust clouds in the room, but I think that's a bit much to pay/make a stink cupboard.

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