50AE Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 (edited) Oh God, sometimes I can't understand people! Long time ago, a guy promised me 7 mortars 5" HDPE. I asked him if it's truely HDPE, he said yeah, water drainage stuff. I told him I'm happy and I'm going to give him my MMO in exchange.When I went to the postal service to get them today, I saw 7 big gray tubes. I asked if they are for me - "yes" they said.I touched the pipes with my nail, guess what - sharp hard nasty plasticNot hard to guess what it is: PVC of course Angered, but still calm, I phones the guy and asked him if he is able to make a difference between HDPE and PVC. He had the will to tell me:-Yes of course, I sent you PVC pipes. Don't worry, they will hold 5" shells, I've already shot with them without problems.. bla bla. What I am going to do with this junk?! I can't shoot with this thing! And the guy says I will be alright. Let him kill himself, I don't really care if he can't understand the properties of PVC. I will not be alone with on NYE, I can't risk to have the ladies, men and kids slaughtered by potential PVC shrapnel if my 5" bottom shot shell wants to flowerpot.. But why the fuck can't he tell me he is sending me the wrong thing?! Edited August 10, 2011 by 50AE
Mumbles Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 I wouldn't be firing any shells with bottom shots out of HDPE anyway. The two piece construction does not always hold up to heavier shells. They'll work for a while, but eventually they fail, and I don't want a bottom shot to be in there when it does. It goes against some reasonable logic and sanity, but the bigger shells with salutes should really only be fired from steel. This of course requires the knowledge and confidence to know your shell is going to make it out of the gun. A few I know are alright with smaller shells, 5" 2 and sometimes 3 breaks, to be fired from fiberglass.
50AE Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 (edited) Mumbles, if the bottom shot isn't considered as a break, then I'm only firing single break cylinders, while the break the bottom shot isn't very big. The 5" cylinder shell with BS and times salutes weights 1300g, whereas a 5" spherical with colored stars is about 600. A little more than double the size and flat bottom, is it too much? I also tend to use big granules for a soft kick, say 3-4mm. I have planned to do a thick plug, about the same length as the inner diameter and place several steel plates running through the plug and the mortar, across the diameter.. Edited August 10, 2011 by 50AE
Mumbles Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 Depending on who you ask it may or may not be considered a break. The PGI considers it a break, but many of the people I've learned from do not. For competition's sake I tend to consider it a break. Also where the bottom shot is an integral part of the performance of the shell, like a timed salute shell, I would also consider it a break. I hate to say it, but if you can make a timed salute shell and bottom shot in 1300g, it honestly sounds like you're cutting tons of corners. A single break 5" canister shell seriously weighs around that much. Out of curiousity, why would you use steel plates instead of bolts or something similar? It doesn't really matter how you reinforce the plug, past a certain point the weakest point is the tube itself. It's very common to see the plug blown out of the tube by tearing bolts/screws/etc. down through the walls.
50AE Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 Cutting tons of corners? Well, my bottom shot weighted about 600g. Keep in mind I'm not usind dense flash, as I don't find the need to do. Also, the bottom is a little smaller than the ID of the shell wall. I put a 4" BS in a 5" shell. Why using plates? Normally I'm using nails or bolts for my cardboard tubes. But I thought about the plates, because they have a bigger surface area and like this they will exercice less pressure on the mortar wall when the shell lifts. A screw would carve into the HDPE, no?
Peret Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 You would do better to put multiple hose clamps around the tube over the plug, to stop it expanding from the pressure and working the fastenings. That's how end plugs fail and blow out, not because they aren't strong enough. I don't know if anyone has ever measured the pressures in these larger mortars, but it wouldn't surprise me to see values well over 1000 PSI with the heavier shells and that will inflate even thick HDPE enough that the screws or pins are taking the entire load. It's drain pipe, not high pressure tubing.
Ralph Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 It's drain pipe, not high pressure tubing. only if its drain pipe your using and not high pressure tubing you managed to score
guntoteninfadel Posted September 15, 2011 Posted September 15, 2011 Ok so the IS nerds finally figured out a way to block the Internet. I am down to posting from my phone and this sucks! No eBay, forum or email. So if my posts seem erratic, no I'm not having a siezure just getting hammered by the predictive text while fat fingering my keyboard!
guntoteninfadel Posted September 19, 2011 Posted September 19, 2011 Information systems. The computer geeks that keep us rolling on down the road providing access and security at light speed. It has got sooo bad I can't check my email, bank account, the forum or anything that is remotely not medical oriented. Trying a proxy in the morning. Have to be careful and make it as difficult as possible for them to track me.
Pretty green flame Posted September 20, 2011 Author Posted September 20, 2011 Haven't done pretty much anything pyro related in a long time, started too get kinda boring without the adrenaline from shells firing out of the mortars. Everytime I go on pyrobin I miss this hobby even more.... If at first, it was just a break after the prime season (around NYE), recently some things happened after the Norway incident, let's just say the country isn't that pyro friendly anymore. Feels bad man
Mumbles Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 I'm sorry to hear that PGF. I hope that things blow over soon over there so you can get back into it.
spitfire Posted October 17, 2011 Posted October 17, 2011 I think we need to stay positive in our thinking. We make articles to enjoy people, to give them a smile. It just involves some materials and work that is in the grey area of the common laws and yes, can (CAN!!) be used in a bad way to some degree. It is a good thing there are laws to stop people from doing harmful things to others, but that is not what we are. We make pretty things with good intentions. We don't harm people, we give them joy. Pass on this message to anyone, everywhere, and anytime when it applies. Let people know that although we use materials that are used in terrible things too, we only use them to make people happy. You can use gasoline to burn someone's car or house down, but you can use it as a fuel for your lawnmower too. It makes your lawn and the neighborhood look nice. This example is the exact same matter of discussion. I can talk about this subject for days, it just makes me sad we have to. After all these years of pyro and developments in our society this is all i can say. Spread the message there are people using these materials in a good way, with good intentions to all.
Algenco Posted October 17, 2011 Posted October 17, 2011 Son is on his way back to Shanghai He'll be back in about 6 months to stay, and bringing my new Daughter-in-law
Potassiumchlorate Posted November 22, 2011 Posted November 22, 2011 I was about to make my first TT stars. First the stars wouldn't bind with SGRS. Yesterday Mumbles gave me some advice. Now I'm sure that the cold I have has developed into bronchitis, so I can't make any TT stars for at least a couple of days anyway.
50AE Posted November 29, 2011 Posted November 29, 2011 (edited) Not sad exactly, but I feel I will partially fail my plans for NYE.I just spent too much on audio stuff and I don't think I will be having finances for fireworks.Me and my best friend are also spending on building a common workshop. We have some plastering left and then painjob. Finally working tables must be build and also a good door. I will at least try to make 8 4" and 8 5". But I have to weld racks for the 4" and 5". I also have to make charcoal stars and these must be done now, otherwise they won't dry.I also have to buy 5" mortars... Oh... Edit: on the bright side I have plans for my future audio system: Fostex Fe103En on these: http://fullrangedriver.com/singledriver/DIYRH5.htmlClass A valve amplifier known as "the blue pill". Great sound http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/822/fil634.gif/All these will cost me 'bout 300 euros DIY. Edited November 29, 2011 by 50AE
californiapyro Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 no minors in manufacturing at winterblast this year *sigh* oh well, there's always Do-It in 10 months...
NightHawkInLight Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Sump pump went out. Guess that's what I'm doing today.
athlon Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Cleaning up after making black match...bleh!
dagabu Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Sump pump went out. Guess that's what I'm doing today. Shoveling S----, Poo? -dag
NightHawkInLight Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Swimming? Very fortunately it hasn't come to that. I heard the pump running when I woke up in the morning but no water was moving out. The outlet pipe was broken off inside the threads on the pump foot when I pulled it up, which I'm not sure if that was the issue, or if I broke that off as I was removing it. Could have just been clogged. In any case I couldn't get the threads clear on the old pump so I'm just installing a new one. The motor on the old one still works so I plan on ripping it apart and taking a look to see if it would make a good ball mill or star roller motor.
Potassiumchlorate Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 I have Novovirus. It has a funny name in my language: "winter puke illness". Doesn't feel that funny, though.
killforfood Posted December 20, 2011 Posted December 20, 2011 Sump pump went out. Guess that's what I'm doing today.NHL,I feel you're pain. Last year my daughter went through that delicate time in life When Mom gets to show her how to use feminine products.Unfortunately Mom forgot to mention that they should NEVER!!! be flushed down the toilet.The downstairs toilet was clogged, the upstairs toilets were clogged and the septic tank inlet was clogged. After digging up the septic tank and pulling the lid off, I quickly spied the problem. It's amazing just how well them things can swell up and seal a pipe. After a mighty tug, I managed to dislodge the offending feminine product. What I failed to anticipate is how much pressure is behind two stories of poop. I wanted to take a shower but everthing in the house was still clogged up. What a Nightmare.My Daughter was sooo embarrassed that I figured it would never happen again. Well it just happened again this week! Grrr. Next time she digs it up. KFF
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