laserkoi Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 hi. i have a few standard fireworks 3" mortor tubes (new) it says only use 3 times , these are from when 3 " shells were legal to buy ( uk ) they were sold as a pack of 3 shells and 1 lunch tube .they are made of carboard the wall thickness is 6mm . it it possible to make them stronger so they can be reused ?
Davidg1 Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 Yes it is possible using wood hardener such as Cuprinol but it is expensive. Surely cheaper to by fibreglass ones from Oliver Brown http://www.oliverbrown.co.uk/ or cooperman http://www.cooperman435.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=75_55&products_id=103
nater Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 You can soak them in waterglass too. Without seeing them in person, you might be surprised how durable cardboard mortars can be. The biggest things to look out for are them getting too hot from rapud reloading and the layers of rolled paper peeling apart. As long as they stay in tact, I would keep using them.
laserkoi Posted September 22, 2013 Author Posted September 22, 2013 thanks for the replys . i have a couple of 3 " and 4 " from " oliverbrown s " i rate them verry well . so think i will use these desposables for comets .
Bobosan Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 (edited) They are spiral wound and as others have posted, sealing them with wood hardener or water glass will preserve them very well. Biggest culprit on untreated spiral wound tubes is they will absorb moisture from any KNO3 residue left behind after firing. I glue down any loose flaps of cardboard that is peeling and then use a product called Minwax wood hardener to seal them. Attached is a method from Skylighter that uses calcium chloride and sodium silicate (water glass).coating cardboard tubes.doc Edited September 22, 2013 by Bobosan
Arthur Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 Cost of a malfunction vs cost of a few new GRP tubes there is no comparison. Shells were available to consumers so long ago that the supplied mortar may well be past it's prime. There is some gas main pipe that makes really robust 3" mortars when well plugged, New card mortars are available
laserkoi Posted September 23, 2013 Author Posted September 23, 2013 thanks Arther . saftey is always the top priority .the price of carbon glassed wraped morter tubes it makes no sence to risk it . i will keep 1 just for pure nostalgia .
dan999ification Posted September 24, 2013 Posted September 24, 2013 Donate one to the ukps forum collectors. I wouldn't risk it either, the age and wall thickness would concern me. Dan.
laserkoi Posted September 25, 2013 Author Posted September 25, 2013 (edited) dan there is aprox 50 +of these in the fireworkshop werehouse were i work every season .i get hold of a few more and post on ukps . would the (Firework Nostalgia) be the right thred ? iam just a little concerned that if i gave a few away ,that someone may try to launch a shell from 1 and hurt themselves ? Edited September 25, 2013 by laserkoi
dan999ification Posted September 30, 2013 Posted September 30, 2013 yes though without checking I don't know who. I doubt that anyone serious about preserving our history would ruin it :]
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