skipjack

i finished a batch of round stars this weekend, using my new starrollingmachine.
it's got a few modifications compared to the classic starroller, which is why i'd like to introduce the concept to the board ...


from left to the right:
Back / Front / Front with bucket inserted / 10mm Stars

the construction is based on an old washingmachine.
as their electronic parts usually wear off first, chances are high that you find an old washingmachine where the motor is still working.

i detached all the unnecessary parts, filled the washing-drum with rubberfoam and pushed a bucket (white on the picture) inside. the rubberfoam keeps the bucket in the washingdrum, not allowing it to tumble or move.

now you can put another bucket (green) into the "base-bucket" (white) and also remove it in the same easy way.

this handy feature has a few advantages compared to the classic starroller:

1) fast and easy clearance of the rolling-drum when sieving out the stars, that reached the desired diameter.
2) easy to clean
3) possibility to use more than just one rolling-drum (every starcomposition its own)


happy construction!
Skipjack

i've read a few posts here that suggested to cover the ricehulls/ricecrispies with BP and Flash/whistlemix.
like covering the hulls with BP first and then covering them with an extra layer Flash or whistlemix? did i get that right?

i was wondering if it wouldnt be better, to roll the flash/whistlemix-layer onto the hulls first and put the BP-layer on second.
in a way that the blackpowder would break the shell, accelerating the stars, which then get the kick from the flash/whistlemix, and accelerate even more.

what do you guys think?

in one of the threads some of you guys pointed out that wheat paste was the ultimate glue when it comes to shell-pasting.

as i've never seen anything called wheatpaste no matter what shop i was in, i wondered if thats just a mixture of wheatflour and water?

can i make wheat paste at home by simply stirring wheatflour and water together... maybe heating it? or is it a little more tahn that?

thanks for some infos on that...
Skipjack

hi guys!

i was surfing the net and fell over a page, showing some awesome videos...
selfmade shells, made by a guy named "Pax".

heres the URL: http://home.comcast.net/~darkspunge/

those breaks are really astonishing!!!
especially the "2.5" chlorate blue" - thats my fav!

i hoped that he could maybe help me with a few specific questions i have, concerning pasting and break.

does anyone know if he is a member on this board?
or maybe you see this post yourself, Pax!

thanks!
Skipjack

PS: here's a 2.5" shell i built in spring 2004 - Video-Link

hello there

according to Shimizu the burstingcharges "KP" and "H3" both contain 2% glutinous rice starch, which are added to the mixture.

i used to screen the ingredients together, followed by spraying them with water until slightly damp and pressing them, using a bench-vice-kinda press.

is this the way, those burstcharges are meant to be prepared?
or do you simply dampen the mixture, rub it through a sieve and let the crumbs dry?

in that way the rice starch would make sense. ... but when its pressed anyway then i dont really see the need for the binder.
or did i get something wrong there?

does anyone know, how this mixture is meant to be prepared, according to Shimizu?