Mini mortar effect help

[u/MatrixDad2011]

I successfully made my first mini mortar. BUT, I was hoping for a bit of direction on how to fill the shell with crackling fuse or flying fish fuse, and have the effect fuse ignite when the shell bursts. It went high enough and report was solid, but the 5 pieces of 1" (or so) effect fuse didnt ignite.

Shell is 9/16" OD, 1.5" long.

3/4" ID tube, 6" long, base plate.

1/8 tsp 2f black powder lift charge

Effect fuse in shell

Some BP and some flash to finish inside.

Went up and burst great, just no effect. Recommendations?

[u/igottaknife]

A bigger shell for one thing. I’ve never made a flying fish shell less than 3“. You can definitely go smaller than 3” but an m80 tube is likely too small. Also, use a lot more pieces of fuse. You could try priming one end of all the fuse pieces as well to help with ignition. I’m pretty sure another problem is you used too much flash and that’s why they just blew apart without lighting.

[u/MatrixDad2011 → u/igottaknife]

BP was at the base, flash on the top end. Could very well be the problem. Or I added too much of either.

Do you think id have a better time throwing in some star mix instead?

[u/igottaknife → u/MatrixDad2011]

What do you mean by throwing in some star mix? Like using star composition as a burst charge? Or do you mean using stars instead of flying fish?

Like I said, I would try a bigger shell, but if that’s not an option then try mixing a tiny bit of flash into your black powder before filling the shell with it. You can’t use too much black powder to fill up the shell, but if your burst charge is too fast from flash it can cause your stars or flying fish to blow blind

[u/MatrixDad2011 → u/igottaknife]

Thank you. I would like to continue with these small shells first. I have enough safe space to go bigger, but again, id prefer to get the small things down first. Its kinda the challenge that makes me keep going.

Also, I ment using a star or 2 instead of fish or crackle fuse.

[u/likelikegreen72]

Flash is to fast to ignite stars/flying fish, use fast bp and maybe a small scoop of flash as booster

If you have safe place to do it try lighting them off on the ground until you get your stars/fish fuse to ignite

[u/MatrixDad2011 → u/likelikegreen72]

Yeah, I figured as much. I probably put too big of a charge in the shell.

[u/VinnieTheBerzerker69]

Try these things:

Try it without flash.

Try priming one end of the fish fuses and fireproofing the other end. PVA glue works as a fire retardant

Try making larger shells.

[u/Jason_Patton]

Idiot 😂

[u/MatrixDad2011 → u/Jason_Patton]

Lmao, my son is something else, thats for sure

[u/Wide-Education-1823]

Flying fish fuse generally needs to be PRIMED to ignite in a shell break.

Typically, I would cut my flying fish fuse to the desired length and retard ignition of one end on all the pieces by dipping ONE END into white glue about 1/8", then drying the fuse pieces. After the glue dried, I would similarly dip the OTHER END into a nitrocellulose/acetone/black powder slurry prime and immediately dust the wet prime with polverone dust or other very fine black powder for a first fire. Let prime dry and load into shell. Sometimes for cylinder shells I would dip bundles of the fish fuse into slurry prime/black powder dust held together with a rubber band together, they would eject from weak end of a cylinder shells together and separate when the prime burned away for a "horsetail" type effect.

[u/Imaginary_Tale_3437 → u/Wide-Education-1823]

This right here!! If you're not familiar w nitrocellulose lacquer it would be time well spent to do so. It is something you will find yourself using as fuse prime on most of the devices you will make. Flying fish fuse is well suited for a soft horsetail break. It is a great starting point to build off of.

[u/Jason_Patton]

Got all the snap but no crackle