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How to Make Fireworks

by pudi.dk on September 7, 2007 Table of Contents License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: How to Make Fireworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: Shell parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: Shell Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: Filling with stars/burst and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 4: Pasting the shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 5: Lifting charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 6: Almost done... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 7: Finished aerial shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) Intro: How to Make Fireworks
There are many types of fireworks, where one of the most common in firework displays is the aerial shell. The aerial shell is used in fireworks displays, and can be either a round or a cylindrical shape. These aerial shells are loaded into tubes, called "mortars." Once lit, the aerial shell will fly into the air and once the aerial shell is at the higest point (apogee), it will explode and shoot pyrotechnic stars in all directions. In this instructable I will be talking about the procedure of assembling a round aerial shell. Note: I do NOT recommend the average person to try this! This will be illegal to do without licensence in many cases, it is on your own response wether you do this legally or not. When working with fireworks it is very important to use proper safety gear while making. It is recommended to wear faceshield or safety goggles during the making. While making the shell, one should do it away from heat souces, such as candles, cigarettes, stoves etc. If I somehow throw around with a lot of foreign words or have any questions, feel free to ask me. First, let's see what a typical round aerial shell looks like:

Image Notes 1. Loop 2. Lifting cup containing lifting charge 3. Quick match (or in this case a shooting-wire) 4. A "rising comet" which will ignite from the lifting charge, and will trace a line where the aerial shell is. It is actually just a big star glued to the shell. 5. The shell itself, containing stars and bursting charge.

Image Notes 1. Is a kind of fuse, which burns extremely fast (up to 100m/sec!) Since an aerial shell is at the bottom of a mortar tube, you will need to be able to light the aerial shell without reaching your hand to the bottom of the tube. The quick match will go from outside the "mortar" to the black powder lifting charge. 2. Not really an important thing of the aerial shell, but it keeps the quick match on the north pole of the shell, which might come handy when you load the aerial shell in the tube. 3. These are pellets made from a compressed pyrotechnical composition. Generally there are three types of stars: 1. Rolled stars (Round stars, made by rolling round cores in a star rolling machine, and alternately adding water and pyrotechnic composition.) 2. Pumped stars (Cylindrical stars made by pressing dampened composition in a star pump, think of it as pressing play-doh in a syringe) 3. Cut stars (Cubical stars made by dampening a pyrotechnical composition, flat it out on a surface and cut out squares) 4. This will make the shell explode in the air. Often fine grained black powder (known as meal powder), is coated around rice hulls and used as bursting charge. 5. The outer layer of a shell consist of two things: The two hollow hemispheres which are connected to a sphere, and the pasting which are many layers of brown kraft paper with a layer of thin glue, that is glued many times around the sphere. This will create a more powerful explosion once the aerial shell explodes. 6. This is the fuse that will ignite from the lifting charge, and later ignite the bursting charge, and make sure the aerial shell explode at the exactly the right time. A time fuse too short will make the aerial shell explode on its way out of the mortar, and a time fuse too long will make the aerial shell explode on the way down, or even land on the ground. 7. The lifting charge will ignite from the quick match and send the aerial shell flying out of the mortar. It will also ignite the time fuse. The lifting charge is in a lifting cup which is nothing more than a cup connected to the shell. The lifting charge is often large grains of black powder.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Image Notes 1. This is a 3" fibreglass mortar, which is the one used to fire the shell in this instructable.

step 1: Shell parts

Let's start making the aerial shell (from now on it will be mentioned as 'shell') Shell hemispheres You will need two 3" paper hemispheres to make this shell. Note that the hemispheres themself are actually not 3", but smaller, since there must be room for pasting and quick match to make the shell fit in the 3" mortar tube. Stars A batch of 75 grams of 10 mm pumped "Tiger tail" stars were made for this shell, however only 70 grams were used. Remember always to make more than you need. It's better to have a bit more, than be needing. The stars were primed in meal black powder to ensure ignition. Since Tiger tail stars ignite easy, you might find that this might be unnecessary. If a 'rising comet' is desired, a 20 mm or 3/4" comet is pumped with the compostion. Make sure that the comet has a burn time equal to the time fuse or spolette (3 seconds). Tiger tail stars: Potassium nitrate..................44 Charcoal (Pine airfloat)........44 Sulphur....................................6 SGRS or Dextrin.....................6 Chemicals can be obtained at: Skylighter.com Bursting charge 'Meal coated rice hulls' was used in this shell. Time fuse A 'spolette' is a small tube, where black powder is confined in it. This will act as a time fuse, however one can also buy time fuse from such sites as: Skylighter.com Pasting 30-40 lbs kraft paper in ~70x15 mm strips are used for pasting the shell using the 3-strip pasting method. If another pasting method is desired, the strips might have to be longer or wider. A glue is needed to paste the strips to the shell. Wheat paste is a cheap solution that works well. Find out how to make it at a tutorial I made: Wheat paste tutorial Wood glue thinned with water can be used, however it is much more expensive. Lift charge A lift charge is needed to shoot the shell out of the mortar. Approximately 15 grams of good granulated or corned black powder works well. More or less might be used depending on the quality. Ignition For igniting the shell either a piece of visco fuse and quick match or shoothing-wire and an e-match can be used. In this tutorial a piece of shooting wire and e-match was used. Note with this way you will need a power supply, and that you can not light the shell with a lighter Other You will also need lifting cup, paper tape, scissors, drill, "gummed paper tape" or kraft paper, tissue paper, brush, hot melt glue gun, cotton twine and string.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Image Notes 1. 10 mm pumped "Tiger Tail" stars

Image Notes 1. A "spolette" is a simple type of fuse. It is made by a simple paper tube containing rammed black powder. Spolettes are often used as substitutes for time fuse and is commonly used in Italian fireworks, mainly shells. The more black powder rammed into the tube the more of a delay you will get. They can be finished off by placing some "black match"-fuse in the tube end which will be to the inside of the aerial shell and then gluing some paper around the tube and tying it off with string.

Image Notes 1. Different sizes of hemispheres 2. 3" is the size used in this instructable

step 2: Shell Construction

Start by drilling a hole in the pole of one of the paper hemispheres. The diameter of the hole must be the same as the diameter of the time fuse or spolette. Insert the time fuse or spolette about half way in the hole, and hot glue it on both sides. Make absolutely sure that there are no air holes, this will likely result in a flower pot . Place each hemisphere on a stand, which can simply be made out of an empty toilet roll cut in half. This will prevent the hemispheres from rolling around when you are filling them.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Image Notes 1. Hot glue around spolette 2. Spolette inserted half-way in 10 mm hole and hot glued

Image Notes 1. Both hemispheres placed on a stand 2. Stars 3. Paper tape 4. Tissue paper 5. 'Meal coated rice hulls' bursting charge

step 3: Filling with stars/burst and closing

Arrange the stars around the wall of the hemispheres to the rim. The stars should be sticking a bit over the rim. If the shell is underfilled it will result in a visible area of no stars when the shell is launched. Next cut two pieces of tissue paper, one of them with a hole to go over the time fuse or spolette. Put the pieces in each hemispheres against the stars and fill tighly with burst charge to the rim. A bit of "booster", such as whistle mix or flash powder is added in the center of each hemisphere and spread loosely in the burst charge with fingers. Not much should be used, maximum 1g. Quickly snap the two shell hemispheres together. This is not as hard as it sounds like, but if done too slowly, the stars or burst charge might rearrange or fall out, and the previous steps will need to be repeated. If the rim each paper hemisphere touch eachother at this point, the shell is underfilled. However if done correctly there should be a small gap of around 1 cm at equator. Place the shell on the stand time fuse-side down, and use a wooden dowel to gently hit the upper hemisphere on different places. The stars will then arrange inside the shell and hopefully the two hemispheres will reach eachother. Seal up around the equator with masking tape to close the shell temporarily. Also put a piece of masking tape around the end of the time fuse or spolette to protect it from being damaged during the next steps.

Image Notes 1. Masking tape around spolette to prevent it getting damaged during next steps 2. Shell closed and hold together by a piece of masking tape around equator Image Notes 1. Fill with stars 2. Add bursting charge (optional: booster)

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

step 4: Pasting the shell

The next step is pasting the shell, which is the hardest and most time-consuming part of round shells. The pasting method descriped here is the socalled 3-strip pasting method. Unlike the "normal" pasting method (pasting strips with a length of half the equator around the shell) the 3-strip pasting method does not "build up" near poles. To make your pasting strips sticky before you paste you will need to add a glue to each 70x15 mm kraft paper strip on one side. This can be done quickly by arranging some strips on a wide wooden board. Next apply a thin, even layer of wheat paste with a brush. These strips are now ready for pasting, but you will need to repeat this step many times, since you will need a lot of strips to complete your shell. The shell is pasted as showed on the picture. A strip is pasted from the "northpole" pointing towards the "southpole". Then a strip beside is pasted from the "southpole" pointing towards the "northpole". A strip is then pasted between these two strip. This pattern is continuously pasted around the shell. Press out the airbubbles under the strips, this will result in a nice-looking shell. Everytime you finish a way around the shell (layer) make sure to write on the shell how many layers you have pasted so far, you might forget it. When finished pasting the shell, multiply the layer-number by two, since each layer with this pasting method counts for two actual layers. While pasting the shell, cut a ~8 cm piece of cotton twine and make a loop on it. Hot glue it to the top of the shell (the opposite hemispheres of the one with the time fuse in it) and paste like before, just making the strip covering the twine. This shell needed 10 layers of pasting (=20 layers) to complete. The ideal is to make the shell ~5 mm smaller than the mortar tube, in this case the OD of the shell should be ~7 cm. Making it this diameter might take hours for beginners to complete. After the layers of pasting, let the shell dry completely.

Image Notes 1. 3-strip pasting method. Continue this pattern all the way around the shell many times

Image Notes 1. Looped cotton twine hot glued in place.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

step 5: Lifting charge

Peel of the making tape that protected the time fuse. Cut two lengths of black match and bend them over the exposed end of the time fuse. Wrap a line of string numerous of time around the black match to secure them to the time fuse. Then either secure the string with a dot of hot glue or tie a knot. The black match will be a prime for the time fuse and make it easier to ignite. Without it the time fuse might fail to ignite and make it a dud shell. The next step is the lift. Take your desired lifting cup and poke a hole in the bottom, big enough to put the quick match or shooting wire through. The quick match or shooting wire should be long enough, so that when the shell is loaded in the mortar, there will stick a bit out of the mortar. If you use quick match insert a piece of visco fuse it. This will be the delay between when the shell is ignited, till it shoots out of the mortar. Next put the quick match (not the visco fuse end) or shooting wire through the hole punched in the lifting cup. If using quick match, tear a bit of the paper off the end, so that the black match will be exposed. If using shooting wire, attatch your e-match. Next slide the quick match or shooting wire back, so it centres in the middle of the lifting cup. Secure the hole with a bit of hot glue or gummed paper. Add you lift charge in the lifting cup, in this example 15.3 grams of pulverone was used. The amount used all depends on the quality of your black powder. The rule of thumb is to use approximately 1/10 lift of the shells weight. The shell's final weight (everything included) was around 150 grams.

Image Notes 1. Pieces of "black match-fuse" bended over the end of the spolette, and secured with string

Image Notes 1. If using shooting-wire instead of quick match, attach an e-match to the end of the shooting-wire 2. Inserting shooting-wire or quick match through hole poked in lifting cup

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Image Notes 1. Filling black powder in the lifting cup

step 6: Almost done...

Attach the lifting cup to the shell. The time fuse should be pointed directly down the lifting cup and the quick match or shooting wire should be put inside the loop on the top of the shell. Add a line of hot glue around to secure the lifting cup. Cut either a strip of gummed paper or kraft paper. The strip should be long enough to fit all the way around the lifting cup plus a little more. Cut the strip halfway all the way down with a distance of ~1" as shown on the picture. If you're using gummed paper activate it with water, if using kraft paper, brush with layer of wheat paste. Wrap the uncut part around the lifting cup and the cut part around the shell as shown on the picture. Again, make everything as tight as possible. If you want to add a rising comet to your shell, attach it the same way as the lifting cup was attached: Cutted-up strip with glue and hot glue. About 2 mm of the comet should be exposed to ensure ignition.

Image Notes 1. Attaching lifting cup to shell using hot glue

Image Notes 1. Cutting half-way all the way down the strip

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Image Notes 1. Glued strip in place

Image Notes 1. "Rising comet" attached to shell same way as lifting cup

step 7: Finished aerial shell

The shell is now finished. It is a good idea to attach label in case you keep the shell over a longer time, so you will know what type of shell it is, which stars, amount of lift etc. The shell can now be fired, but please note that this is obiously the most dangerous part of it all, so proper safety gear must be used. First of all your eyes, fingers and ears are the most important thing to protect. Wear safety goggles/face shield , fireproof gloves and ear plugs/earmuffs during firing (as a minimum!) When firing, you can either use a mortar stand to hold your mortar tube if you have one, or you can bury the mortar tube in the ground about 2/3. Next the shell is loaded to the tube with the quick match or shooting wire sticking out - the shell should fall freely, without any help to make it reach the bottom. Also please take care of your surroundings: The shell should be fired a long distance away from people, houses and flammable objects. Run a good long distance after igniting the fuse. If you want to film the shell, it is recommended to be at least two persons: one will be filming, the other will ignite the fuse. If the shell should somehow fail to lift properly and explode on the ground, you will be glad you did wear safety gear. Sometimes a "flower pot" happens (mainly if the shell is not sealed well around the time fuse, or if the spolette is not rammed solid enough), which is simply the shell explodes in the mortar, shooting stars into the sky. The mortar may or may not fracture when this happens, but this is where burying the mortar comes in handy: the surroundings of the mortar will arbsorb most of the shock, and the fragments may not fly very far.

The shell was fired in front of a small audience (consisting of my family) I excuse the annoying voices/laughs/whatever. Hope you enjoyed this instructable, which is my first one. To find out more about pyrotechnics go to: PyroGuide.com -pudidotdk

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Image Notes 1. Beautiful isn't she?

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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 270 comments

cory.smith says:

Aug 11, 2010. 9:44 PM REPLY I think you've got some really great information, but there are some things I wish you would have covered. It is a no brainer that people would keep black powder away from heat, but rarely do they think of sparks or static electricity. That is the biggest risk when working w/ pyro like this, because it is very hard to control, and will ignite very easily. Keep the ventilation up and the air damp. Ground yourself to the area, and DO NOT sit in a rolling chair. Shell making enterprises in the US can't use nails in the construction of their wooden work tables, and use a fully sealed, and triple grounded electrical system. Every building has a copper plate which is grounded, which everyone touches on their way in and out of the building. Same thing on the storage magazines. Also have a ground chain and spike on the trailers, which get grounded at the site... Seriously, static sucks... Also, read NFPA 1123. Pretty much the gold standard on this. Pyro certification can be had by passing the PGI exam, our regulating body. www.pgi.org

iloveairsoftstuff says:

Jun 17, 2010. 11:15 AM REPLY i have some left over black powder pellets from my inline muzzleloader from failed deer hunts were i didn't get a shot. would this work for lift charge/stars/bursting charge if i ground it up or something?

pudi.dk says:

Jun 17, 2010. 4:11 PM REPLY It would be possible to use for lift charge without grinding it up. However, stars should consist of a slower burning composition where traditional black powder is simply too fast burning. Also stars are a lot bigger than the granules. It could however be ground up and used for other applications such as coating on rice hulls for bursting charge, but always proceed with caution, and omit mixing with unknown substances. For instance a mixture containing chlorate and sulfur (from the black powder) will be very sensitive with friction and impact and may go off unexpectedly.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

iloveairsoftstuff says:
thanks. also i was wondering how to make stars. ive seen where you can roll bb's in powder, but yours look different.

Jun 18, 2010. 9:33 AM REPLY

pudi.dk says:

Jun 18, 2010. 1:26 PM REPLY You can read a little about the different types of stars here: http://pyroguide.com/index.php?title=Stars The one you are referring to are called round or rolled stars and are a little hard to get right when starting out, so I suggest the cut stars or pumped stars which are pretty easy.

iloveairsoftstuff says:
thanks. that really helps alot. i really wish i could make these. ugh parents :(

Jun 19, 2010. 7:31 PM REPLY

cdousley says:
wait you play with black powder but cant make fireworks? Strange parents.

Jul 6, 2010. 10:50 AM REPLY

iloveairsoftstuff says:
the black powder is stuff i saved from my muzzleloader after failed deer hunts.

Jul 7, 2010. 9:01 AM REPLY

cdousley says:
do you keep all of your guns in your room?

Jul 7, 2010. 4:40 PM REPLY

iloveairsoftstuff says:

Jul 8, 2010. 11:34 AM REPLY no and why does it matter. i have acces to them whenever i need them but we do keep them locked up. also, lets try to keep comments related to the ible.

cdousley says:

Jul 9, 2010. 4:37 PM REPLY ok so speaking of black powder could you use the muzzleloader powder since its in those solid chunks?

iloveairsoftstuff says:
ya i used it to make a firework i just ground it up and it worked fine for what i did.

Jul 11, 2010. 2:51 PM REPLY

cdousley says:
cool you could also salvage some things from small cheap artillery shells

Jul 13, 2010. 3:37 PM REPLY

Kryptonite says:
Ahh, good memories. This is how I found Instructables, and now I see that it's featured. *sniff* Good times.

Jun 29, 2010. 2:34 AM REPLY

pudi.dk says:
It gets on the frontpage every year because of popularity. Oddly, it's always right before 4th of July ;)

Jun 29, 2010. 5:00 AM REPLY

Kryptonite says:
Yeah I did notice that!

Jul 11, 2010. 8:57 PM REPLY

cdousley says:

Apr 12, 2010. 7:47 PM REPLY Question ! Is firework making illegal (where i live there are no laws about setting of fireworks) I'd be afraid of losing a finger or a hand at this but it looks cool!

Arano says:

Jun 27, 2010. 9:18 AM REPLY with no information where you live we can't answer your question... but a little help: it is possible that making fireworks could be seen as production of weapon or production of explosives... and both might be illegal where you live

cdousley says:
Kentucky united states.

Jul 6, 2010. 10:48 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

drwizbang says:
All is fun and games until you poke your EYE OUT!...love, mom.

Jun 30, 2010. 9:29 PM REPLY

baseball05 says:
What happens if i just fill a 3 inch shell with flash powder, and use flash powder as a lift charge?

Jun 7, 2010. 10:07 PM REPLY

ph1lt3ch says:
You kill yourself and everyone else around you.

Jun 28, 2010. 5:38 AM REPLY

mojarabm2 says:
i don't think so! every thing you have to run , probably has a spicial danger. just take care of your math!

Jun 30, 2010. 4:51 AM REPLY

92033 says:

Jun 27, 2010. 12:30 PM REPLY To all curiosity seekers...Potassium Nitrate is Saltpeter, available at any Pharmacy Store off the shelf. Saltpeter is used by farmers and cattle growers to control their herds or stock...adding it to their feed. The bulls eat it and get temporarily 'not interested in the ladies'...no hardons until it wears out of the blood system. Furthermore, US Army/Military adds it to food in Mess Halls during the 13 week training at Boot Camp for basically the same reason. To keep your mind on Military stuff and to dehumanize you for that period of time. If anyone thinks this is BS...join the Army and discover it for yourself. It lowers your sexual drive to nada.

spiceyweasel says:
.....I must be immune to it, I guess. It didn't work on me. About six weeks in, it was driving me crazy.

Jun 29, 2010. 8:49 PM REPLY

ArcticNemo says:

Jun 28, 2010. 5:42 AM REPLY Military chow does not lower sex drive. Being yelled at 24/7 and living around a bunch of other guys does that. Stress, not chemicals. So, to all curious truth-seekers, a reference below, you're welcome. http://www.snopes.com/military/saltpeter.asp

mikeeve says:
@ArticNemo: good post, amazing how maliciously ignorant some people are.

Jun 29, 2010. 2:09 PM REPLY

skidoo says:

Jun 29, 2010. 10:12 AM REPLY @ArcticNemo: Thumbs-up! Fight the BS! @pudidotdk: Great Instructable! I'll probably never make one, but it was a well-presented, interesting read. Thanks!

Quester55 says:

Jun 29, 2010. 3:40 PM REPLY Great Idea, Now for the rest of the story; Most U.S., A.T.F. & Homeland Security Laws Carry Extremely stiff Fines for Unlicensed Construction of " Fireworks " of any type. Fines raging from $ `100.00 to $ 50,000.00, are not uncommon. Jail to Prison from 30 days to 20 years, can also be granted. In cases of Minors, Their Parents Pay the Price. Think before you build.

Chikote says:
Just perfect!!! Congratz! Amazing job u did here!! :)

Jun 29, 2010. 10:32 AM REPLY

popscott3 says:
That is the coolest! I have always wonderd how fireworks work. And the vid was AWSOME!

Jun 29, 2010. 7:43 AM REPLY

bettbee says:

Jun 27, 2010. 2:28 PM REPLY I would have liked to see some mention of proper mortar materials. From http://www.pyrouniverse.com/FAQ.htm#9 "Why shouldn't I use PVC pipe for launching shells and mines? PVC (polyvinylchloride) pipe should never, ever, under any circumstances, be used to launch aerial shells or mines. It is a very brittle substance, no matter how thick it is. It cannot withstand the force of a powerful explosion, like that of a shells burst charge yes thats right, even consumer shells. If a shell were to be loaded upside-down in the mortar (or for some other reason get stuck), the explosion of the burst charge will shatter the PVC into razor sharp pieces of shrapnel that fly in all directions. Anyone standing nearby could be seriously injured or killed. " From: http://www.pyrouniverse.com/FAQ.htm#10 "Okay, well what about ABS pipe? Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a different type of plastic, but it shatters just like PVC. Do not use it for mortars or mines, either."

harry88 says:
um there isnt anything wrong with it exept its illegal unless you live in an indian reserve

Jun 27, 2010. 12:15 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

dkfa says:
This instructable is very old guys.

Jun 27, 2010. 12:11 PM REPLY

wheelnawheel says:

Jun 27, 2010. 12:05 PM REPLY In the early 60's when I was in high school; we carried our 22's down the street on our way to the woods to plink. I also carried a small, yellow handled hunting knife on my belt everywhere I went; no one thought anything about it. Ladies and gentlemen, be careful out there; as a band named Golden Earring said. They don't write em like that anymore. Jun 27, 2010. 11:36 AM REPLY This is posted THREE YEARS LATER. Curious to know how many of these morons are looking up at the night stars from six-feet-under for being stupid. Ignorance is one thing...not knowing. Stupid is knowing and still doing. Don't be stupid. Superstar actor Charles Bronson once said: "Any man who makes a decision before knowing what it's all about, is Stupid". I concur. Good ole Charlie knew what he was talking about. ' ' '

92033 says:

maxpower49 says:
how is the rising comet lit

Jan 19, 2009. 3:09 PM REPLY

pudi.dk says:

Jan 19, 2009. 4:36 PM REPLY From the lift underneath the aerial shell. Basically when the lift goes off, it (besides creating a pressure underneath the shell) goes around the shell and ignites the comet on top.

Mpntball2012 says:
Can't you just glue the Comet on the bottom so that the main charge of the lift ignites it?

Aug 28, 2009. 7:04 PM REPLY

Arano says:
the explosion might destroy it before it leaves the mortar

Jun 27, 2010. 9:23 AM REPLY

hossmonkey says:
That is the "bomb"! " :-)

Jun 27, 2010. 8:43 AM REPLY

baseball05 says:
Do you have to use black powder?? What happens if i use flash powder as a lift charge?...

Jun 7, 2010. 10:05 PM REPLY

pudi.dk says:

Jun 8, 2010. 2:36 PM REPLY Only black powder should be used for lift charge. With black powder, when you put too much in it doesn't explode. Rather, too much will just burn up. With flash powder you risk destroying the shell and the mortar, and you put yourself in danger.

baseball05 says:
Ok thanks... Does it matter what type of black powder i use? If so what kind and where can i buy it from?

Jun 9, 2010. 2:03 PM REPLY

pudi.dk says:

Jun 9, 2010. 2:50 PM REPLY Use the old fashion black powder, not smokeless. A fairly heavy grain such as 2FA grade is needed, finely powdered meal grade won't work.

baseball05 says:

Jun 9, 2010. 8:19 PM REPLY ok thanks man. Do i need to granulate the black powder? I see videos all over youtube showing how to grandulate black powder and make it a lifting powder by adding dextrin and rubbing alcohol. It that all neccisary or can i just look up 2FA black powder on google and buy some?

teslafan100 says:
that was AWESOME!!!!!1

Mar 15, 2010. 6:20 PM REPLY

kNeXFreek says:
COOOOL 5 stars

Jan 21, 2010. 5:56 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/

Mr. Tinker says:

Jan 14, 2010. 4:52 PM REPLY I've just stumbled onto this site through GOOGLE so I am using the free version for now. My new interest is producing my own fireworks and it appears I can benefit from the knowledge available on this site. I am an avid outdoorsman and am quite familiar with the safety issues involved in handling explosive materials as I have for a long time loaded my own ammo. Having a pound or two of nitro powder at my fingers is not unusual. Furthermore I can recall my father using true dynamite (ditching) to clear land/beaver dams on the farm and having me assist to various degrees. That being said, I am interested to learn how to produce "bottle rockets" and devices similar to what is known as a "mortar" at the local fireworks stand. I believe that would be enough to start. Any suggestions on how to begin? Oh, I am a mechanical tradesman, so such items as steel pipes (for launching purposes I would assume) and other related materials are readily available. I would think steel more reliable than cardboard tubes. Please knowledgeably advise.

pudi.dk says:

Jan 15, 2010. 1:43 AM REPLY Regarding the bottle rockets, there is a good tutorial for those here: http://pyroguide.com/index.php?title=Bottle_rocket The method is the same for bigger rockets, except one might use a hydraulic press to press them instead of ramming (3/4" or bigger). The so called mortars are also described in this instructable.They are not devices themselves, but rather works as the canon to guide the aerial shell upwards. I'm not exactly sure what you mean with the "colorful balls", but it sounds like aerial shells with colored stars instead of golden/charcoal that is described here. Colors are a bit harder to achieve and you will need to buy some more chemicals. Low cost and easy preparation makes charcoal stars ideal for beginners. You could head to skylighter.com for materials as well as tools, and if you look in their newsletter archive, you should find a number of articles that explains constructions and formulas for various firework items.

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http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/