I was reading the Pyro Forum and saw these awesome cheap HDPE containers that would be great for mixing comps while also being a bit more reusable than the paper ice cream tubs.
Also the thread talked about using a pneumatic paint shaker as an option for mixing comps that require mineral oil or other binders to be used without the need to spread them with a solvent of some kind. This might be a way to speed up our 1 hour whistle comp to 5 minute whistle comp. But, it adds the need of a compressor and this shaker to the items we have to have on site. Worth a read through.
This is one that I found a few years ago, look promising too. I like how the pinch roller squeegees the glue along. Although that would use a lot of glue, probably better to use wallpaper paste or diluted wood glue.
And industrial fireworks making machines. Check out the snappers making machine
Yeah, I was watching those same videos. I also found a supplier of machines out of India. They sell ones that would work for us at around $2500 plus $600 or so in shipping. But, you can buy a lot of tubes for that amount of money. That is 1326 3 pound rockets from hobby horse. If we make 50 an event, that would be nearly a 9 year supply with 3 events a year. So lets say life time supply, plus we wouldn’t have the extra cost of manufacturing time and materials. But, that would also be a cost of $119 per event on just tubes.
If we could build the tool to roll tubes for around $200 or $300, I could see this being worth while as we would likely pay it off quickly and bring the $119 per event to 2 hours work and $3 worth of materials. Especially, if HH becomes difficult to deal with. I don’t see us turning this into a competitor of HH, unless we want to bulk buy from New England and dole them out.
But seriously, we are in need of 3 (1.5 in or larger diameter) rollers that are at least 3 foot wide. If anyone happens to have any they would part with.
I’m betting we well have to make them. No big deal, just probably not free. I think creative arts is thinking of getting rid of the none working Vinyl cutter. It would be great if we could get that for parts. @uglyknees could we please
sorry