I'll risk feeding the troll, to put in a good word for a man who has my
respect.
I took Jim Mitchell and Sonny Thompson's first class on EX propellant
making. I bought a fair amount of equipment from Jim. The class and the
equipment were outstanding, with excellent documentation and highest
quality. I have made a few batches of their various "Thunderflame"
formulas over the intervening years (not many lately, no time). The
other day I was looking at some grains I cast at that first class. They
look great, no crystallizing, color changes or particulate dust.
Jim sold casings, nozzles and closures under the DPS name for a while,
but I haven't heard anything about him in a while. IIRC, he owns a
machine shop, and he probably had to stop with the fun stuff and
concentrate on making money. I know that everything I bought from him
was a work of the machinist's highest art. I have an H casing of his on
my desk at my day job, just to admire.
If you are looking to buy some secondhand stuff that Jim made, I can
assure you it started out as highest quality...however it may have been
abused by the owner!
I have seen hardware from Loki and John Bolene (Mostly Missiles) for EX
users, and both appear to me to be very high quality. If I had the time
for EX, I would be buying from them. Dang, I'm getting the itch to cast
a few grains again...
Doug Pratt
dad-at-pratthobbies-dot-com
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