Sparx88 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) I see some use fiberglass reinforced tape, duct tape, reinforced kraft tape or masking tape to seal the halves together before pasting. I have been using masking tape but have wanted to ask if there is a better way. It seems as though using a reinforced tape would be better at evening out the pressure capacity and giving a more round break being that the seam is a weak point. What do you suggest? Edited June 13, 2014 by Sparx88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambentPyro Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) I've gotten perfect breaks with just masking tape around the seam and then pasting it with gummed tape. Some people use the strapping tape, some glue their halves together, it all depends on personal preference. However, symmetrical breaks are more dependent on the quality of the pasting job (assuming you organized your stars neatly and have a good burst) than how you seal the equator. The more evenly distributed the gummed tape is, the better chance at having a successful shell. I used to hand paste and I could say when I began, I had very egg-shaped breaks because I did not follow any set method to pasting, but then I found a Japanese style pasting which has worked for me great ever since. But now a minute or two (depending on the shell size) in the WASP will get it done. Edit: I should probably mention I've also seen people just wrap tape around the seam and use nothing else. They'd put the lift on and call it a day. I personally would never do this, I don't think there is an adequate clearance between the shell and the mortar when just wrapping tape around the equator. It's also very half-assed to do it that way and is against the tradition. Edited June 13, 2014 by LambentPyro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schroedinger Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 The guys you saw using just tape around the seam, where they using normal hemis or nested hemis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikingPyrotechnics Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 "I should probably mention I've also seen people just wrap tape around the seam and use nothing else" I did that with success :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fXZErhZb-E It was a 3" Ballshell. 4 turns of gummed tape just around the seam. ( 2" gummed tape ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambentPyro Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 "I should probably mention I've also seen people just wrap tape around the seam and use nothing else" I did that with success :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fXZErhZb-E It was a 3" Ballshell. 4 turns of gummed tape just around the seam. ( 2" gummed tape ) Yea I saw that video a while ago, I am wondering if it would succeed in a 6 or 8 (150mm or 200mm). The guys you saw using just tape around the seam, where they using normal hemis or nested hemis?Normal strawboard hemis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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