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How to Make Fireworks

by pudi.dk on September 7, 2007

Table of Contents

How to Make Fireworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: How to Make Fireworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Shell parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 2: Shell Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 3: Filling with stars/burst and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4: Pasting the shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5: Lifting charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 6: Almost done... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 7: Finished aerial shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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

1. Loop 1. Is a kind of fuse, which burns extremely fast (up to 100m/sec!) Since an aerial
2. Lifting cup containing lifting charge shell is at the bottom of a “mortar” tube, you will need to be able to light the aerial
3. Quick match (or in this case a shooting-wire) shell without reaching your hand to the bottom of the tube. The quick match will
4. A "rising comet" which will ignite from the lifting charge, and will trace a line go from outside the "mortar" to the black powder lifting charge.
where the aerial shell is. It is actually just a big star glued to the shell. 2. Not really an important thing of the aerial shell, but it keeps the quick match on
5. The shell itself, containing stars and bursting charge. 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 it’s 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 Image Notes
1. 10 mm pumped "Tiger Tail" stars 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 Image Notes
1. Hot glue around spolette 1. Both hemispheres placed on a stand
2. Spolette inserted half-way in 10 mm hole and hot glued 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 Image Notes

1. Attaching lifting cup to shell using hot glue 1. Cutting half-way all the way down the strip

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Glued strip in place 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?

Related Instructables

How to roll stars Poor-man's

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fireworks by pyrotechnic Show by ifixit igniter lighter by Fireworks
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pyrotechnics by
larsjet

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 273 comments

projectguy says: Mar 16, 2011. 7:24 PM REPLY

Just saying, pyrocreations.com is a good place to buy fuse and other supplies.

rayrayell14 says: Feb 27, 2011. 9:09 AM REPLY

this is pretty awesome im gonna try and make it wit my cuzins and my little 8 year old sister

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

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

iloveairsoftstuff says: Jun 18, 2010. 9:33 AM REPLY

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

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: Jun 19, 2010. 7:31 PM REPLY

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

cdousley says: Jul 6, 2010. 10:50 AM REPLY

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

iloveairsoftstuff says: Jul 7, 2010. 9:01 AM REPLY

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

cdousley says: Jul 7, 2010. 4:40 PM REPLY

do you keep all of your guns in your room?

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: Jul 11, 2010. 2:51 PM REPLY

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

cdousley says: Jul 13, 2010. 3:37 PM REPLY

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

Kryptonite says: Jun 29, 2010. 2:34 AM REPLY

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

pudi.dk says: Jun 29, 2010. 5:00 AM REPLY

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

Kryptonite says: Jul 11, 2010. 8:57 PM REPLY

Yeah I did notice that!

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/
 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: Jul 6, 2010. 10:48 AM REPLY

Kentucky united states.

drwizbang says: Jun 30, 2010. 9:29 PM REPLY

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

baseball05 says: Jun 7, 2010. 10:07 PM REPLY

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

ph1lt3ch says: Jun 28, 2010. 5:38 AM REPLY

You kill yourself and everyone else around you.

mojarabm2 says: Jun 30, 2010. 4:51 AM REPLY

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

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: Jun 29, 2010. 8:49 PM REPLY

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

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: Jun 29, 2010. 2:09 PM REPLY

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

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: Jun 29, 2010. 10:32 AM REPLY

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

popscott3 says: Jun 29, 2010. 7:43 AM REPLY

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

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/
 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 shell’s burst charge – yes that’s 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: Jun 27, 2010. 12:15 PM REPLY

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

dkfa says: Jun 27, 2010. 12:11 PM REPLY

This instructable is very old guys.

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.

92033 says: 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. ' ' '

maxpower49 says: Jan 19, 2009. 3:09 PM REPLY

how is the rising comet lit

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: Aug 28, 2009. 7:04 PM REPLY

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

Arano says: Jun 27, 2010. 9:23 AM REPLY

the explosion might destroy it before it leaves the mortar

hossmonkey says: Jun 27, 2010. 8:43 AM REPLY

That is the "bomb"! " :-)

baseball05 says: Jun 7, 2010. 10:05 PM REPLY

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

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: Jun 9, 2010. 2:03 PM REPLY

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

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Fireworks/
 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: Mar 15, 2010. 6:20 PM REPLY

that was AWESOME!!!!!1

kNeXFreek says: Jan 21, 2010. 5:56 PM REPLY

COOOOL 5 stars

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