A Manual of Pyrotechny; or, A Familiar System of Recreative Fire-works

by G. W. Mortimer

Filling and ramming the cases.

Filling and ramming the cases.—In this part of the operation, we must be as careful as in any of the past; for if any inequality exist in the density of the composition, produced by inattention to the ramming, the Rockets will not rise with an uniform motion, nor ascend to their proper height; but on the contrary, will observe a very erratic motion, and be deflected by every renitent particle they may meet with in their course.

Directions for filling and ramming.

To avoid this disappointment, and to render more certain the ascent of the Rockets, the following directions must be attended to:—

1. Your composition must not be too dry, or it will be liable to disperse, and fly about in a kind of subtile meal or dust, while you are driving it; but if you moisten it a little just to destroy its dusty nature with some of the liquid mentioned in the early part of our Manual, it will cause it to collect, and be more solidly compressed in the case of the Rocket.

2. No more of the composition should be put into the case at each ramming, than will cause it to rise one half of its interior diameter; and the filling must be thus gradually continued, till the charge rises exactly one diameter above the piercer.

3. Much has been said by writers on Pyrotechny respecting the number of blows proper to be given to the rammer, to each ladle full of composition, (a piece of copper made into the form of a scoop, and holding the proper quantity answers best for a ladle;) some have assigned to Rockets of four ounces sixteen strokes with the mallet, to those of one pound twenty-eight strokes, and so increasing the number of strokes by six, to every pound; but in our opinion these rules are more ridiculous than useful; for the same mallet, by possessing a different momentum, might produce an effect, at one time double, treble, or perhaps less, than at another. It is therefore impossible to assign any determinate number of strokes, to be given at each ramming; the only certain rule is, that the composition ought to be driven till it becomes quite firm and compact, and that its density (as near as possible) be the same throughout the whole of the charge. If the rules for the number of strokes assist in any way to impart this property to the charge, we have not the least wish to depreciate them.

4. In ramming, it is best to keep the rammer constantly turning round in the case, and in using the perforated rammer, be sure to knock out the composition from the hollow every ramming, or it will be liable to be split by the piercer.

5. Invert the cartridge at the close of each ramming, in order that the loose particles of the composition which are not compressed may escape, for if suffered to remain in they would prove injurious to the article.

6. Rockets should always be rammed on a solid block, or on a post set fast into the earth; their ramming cannot be properly effected on any table whatever.