If you want to make fireworks like rockets and fountains, your success rate improves dramatically if you use fireworks tools designed especially for that device. No fireworks maker can do an effective job without the right tools. Skylighter carries a variety of tools for making fireworks and pyrotechnic devices. Check out the rocket tool kits, screens, fountain tools, star guns, screens, and rammers. More resouces on making fireworks and using pyrotechnic tools. If you need a tool for making fireworks that we don't have, let us know. We may be able to get it for you or direct you to someone who makes it.

Machines and Scales

Item No.	Description	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL5010	Ball Mill, One Gallon Heavy duty ball mill designed by a fireworks maker for fireworks makers. Use it to make high quality black powder in 2-3 hours, or to grind any chemicals. Ships in two boxes. Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$397.00
TL5021	Pocket Scale, 333 Gram Capacity Pocket scale weighs up to 333 grams (about 8 ounces, 1/2 lb.) within 1/10 gram accuracy. Backlit LCD Display. Weighs in grams (g), ounces (oz), or penny weight (dwt). Has tare function. This scale comes with batteries already installed and ready to go. Snap-on plastic cap to protect the scale. 3-1/2" x 2-38" x 5/8" thick.	ea.	$18.91
TL5030	Scale, 7000 Gram (15.5 lb.) Capacity Versatile digital scale weighs up to 7000 grams (or 15.5 lbs.) within 1 gram (or 0.10 ounce) accuracy. Backlit LCD Display. Tare function, and switches weighing modes in an instant. This scale comes with batteries already installed and ready to go. 6" wide, 8" deep, 1.25" high; weighs about 1.5 lbs. Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$82.16
TL5030A	A/C Adapter for TL5030 Scale Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$14.29

Aluminum Rods (Rammers)

Whenever you are making fireworks rockets and fountains, you should do everything you can to prevent accidental ignition. When you are pressing or ramming a pyrotechnic mix into a tube, you want to use a non-sparking rammer. Our rammers are cut from aluminum bar stock. They have flat tops and bottoms. You can use them either with a hammer or a press, hydraulic or arbor. They will outlast wooden or plastic rammers in making rockets and fountains, and can withstand greater pressures.

Item No.	Size (inches)	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL1010	1 x 12 Rammer	ea.	$40.66
TL1009	7/8 x 12 Rammer	ea.	$31.85
TL1008	3/4 x 10 Rammer Temporarily out of stock	ea.	$22.95
TL1006	5/8 x 8 Rammer Temporarily Out of Stock	ea.	$15.95
TL1004	1/2 x 6 Rammer Temporarily out of stock	ea.	$11.35
TL1002	3/8 x 6 Rammer Temporarily out of stock	ea.	$9.58
TL1000	5/16 x 6 Rammer	ea.	$9.95

Fireworks Shell Building Accessories

If you're making fireworks shells using our plastic components, these are other useful accessories.

Item No.	Description	Unit	Price	Qty.
MS0100	Microlite Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 ea.	$23.20
TL4000	Solvent Applicator Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$7.15
TL4001	Wool Dauber Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	10 ea.	$7.95
TL4002	Hole Punch Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$1.95

Fountain Tooling

Our Fountain Tools are designed to help you make fountains, gerbs, and wheel drivers quickly and consistently. They are machined from aluminum stock and sold as a set. Each set consists of: a round base, a removable spindle/nipple that forms the nozzle, a hollow rammer, and a solid rammer. The hollow rammer has a tapered tip to form the nozzle from clay, which eases gas exhaust and reduces the chances of an explosion. The solid rammer is used to compact the composition above the nipple. Both rammers have been machined down a few thousandths in their midsections which makes it a lot easier to remove them from the their tubes. The base and the rammers are knurled, which also makes it easier for you to remove them from the fountain tubes. The nozzle former nipple thickness is approximately 1/3 of the inside diameter of the fountain casing.

Item No.

Description

Tube ID

Use Tube No.

Unit

Price

Qty.

TL1110

1 pound Fountain Tooling Kit

Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available

3/4 inch

TU1065

Set

$89.95

TL1160

3 pound Fountain Tooling Kit

Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available

1 inch

TU1101

Set

$114.27

Stinger Missile Rocket Tools

Whether you are a rocket nut or not, you will probably get a hoot out of Stinger Missiles. Stinger Missile? This is a hot-rod version of the Class-C (1.4G) item called Warhead Launcher, a spin-stabilized rocket. The rocket flies by first spinning (on a nail) rapidly to achieve gyroscopic stability, then takes off vertically. They don�t need sticks or fins. You can make them with headings (a shell, a report, flying fish fuse bursting out, or whatever) or without. Fuel is generally black powder plus some metal for sparks, but can be any rocket fuel. They are easy to make and all you need is some chemicals, the Stinger kit, and some parallel tubes.� Click here for instructions.

These things are the closest to instant gratification you can get. I made about 10 of them in 30 minutes on back of my pickup�s tailgate recently. We currently have them in two sizes, 3/4 inch and 1-inch diameters (called "One Pound" and "Three Pound" rockets, respectively). Shoot �em "neat" or jazz �em up with spark tails, rising comets, or headings.

Each kit consists of a base and spindle, a hollow rammer, a solid rammer, a drill bit, and a drill guide.� One rammer forms the nozzle from clay and rams the composition around the spindle. The second rammer is used for ramming composition above the nozzle. The drill guide is used to precisely align the side hole off-center in the tube where the rocket is ignited and which causes the spinning. The drill bit we supply makes exactly the right sized hole for our standard 3/32 inch visco fuses (GN1000, GN1001, and GN1004). Use parallel tubes only for these rockets. Since Stinger tubes are shorter than our standard, pre-cut tubes, I suggest you get the longer tubes and cut yer own to size. Stingers can be rammed with a hammer; you do not need a press as long as you stick to black powder based fuels.

Item No.	Description	Tube ID	Use Tube No.	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL1610	1 pound Stinger Missile Kit Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	TU1065	ea.	$112.43
TL1630	3 pound Stinger Missile Kit Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 inch	TU1101	ea.	$117.95
TL1684	1 pound replacement spindle Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	N/A	ea.	$35.95
TL1686	3 pound replacement spindle Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 inch	N/A	ea.	$39.47

Black Powder Rocket Tools

Each rocket tool kit consists of a knurled base, a spindle, one or more hollow rammers, and a solid rammer. The first hollow rammer forms the 63.2 degree, angled nozzle from clay and is used to ram the first increment of fuel composition around the bottom of the spindle. The second and third hollow rammers are used for ramming composition up to the top of the spindle. The fourth, solid rammer is used to ram the remainder of the fuel above the spindle and the flat clay plug at the top. The base is turned and knurled from 2-1/2 inch diameter 6061 T-6 aluminum round stock. The spindle is made from 304 stainless steel which resists galling and erosion from grog, titanium, and other hard materials. All rammers are custom turned to our specifications from 6061 T-6 aluminum round stock, and knurled to make them easier to hold. Use parallel tubes only for these rockets. There are no instructions provided with these rocket tool kits. There are, however, several articles on making black powder rockets in our Newsletter Archive. More information on making black powder rockets .

Item No.	Description	Tube ID	Use Tube No.	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL1211	1 Pound CORE-BURNER Black Powder Rocket Tool Kit (includes two hollow and one solid rammer) Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	TU1068	set	$149.40
TL1270	1 Pound END-BURNER Black Powder Rocket Tool Kit (includes one hollow and two solid rammers) Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	TU1068	set	$110.95

Whistle & Strobe Rocket Tools

Always press whistle composition (using a hydraulic or other press); never ram (hammer) whistle composition (it can and will explode if rammed). There are no instructions provided with these rocket tool kits. For more information, see the article on making whistle and strobe rockets . Use only the strongest possible parallel tubes when making whistle and strobe fireworks and rockets.

Simple whistle tool kits are different then whistle rocket tool kits. Simple whistles use shorter spindles than whistle rocket tooling. The devices produced with simple whistle tools are not designed to fly. They are used to make:

* whistles used in rising effects
* shell inserts
* wheel and girandola drivers, or
* standalone sound and light effects (usually like fountains on the ground)

Each whistle rocket tool kit consists of a knurled base, a spindle, a hollow rammer, and a solid rammer. The hollow rammer forms the nozzle from the whistle composition (no clay or other non-whistle comp nozzle is used in whistle rockets). It is also used to ram the whistle composition up to the top of the spindle. The solid rammer is used to ram the remainder of the fuel above the spindle. The base is turned and knurled from 2-1/2 inch diameter 6061 T-6 aluminum round stock. The spindle is made from 304 stainless steel which resists galling and erosion from grog, titanium, and other hard materials. All rammers are custom turned to our specifications from 6061 T-6 aluminum round stock.

Strobe rocket tool kits are different from straight whistle rockets. The spindle is longer and there are more rammers. The metals used are the same as above.

Item No.	Description	Tube ID	Use Tube No.	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL1270	1 Pound Whistle Tool Kit (includes one hollow and two solid rammers) Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	TU1066	set	$110.95
TL1306	4 Ounce Whistle Rocket Tool Kit Out of stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1/2 inch	TU1028	ea.	$83.50
TL1308	8 Ounce Whistle Rocket Tool Kit Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	5/8 inch	TU1051	ea.	$89.95
TL1311	1 Pound Whistle Rocket Tool Kit Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	TU1066	ea.	$93.95
TL1310	2 Pound Whistle Rocket Tool Kit Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	7/8 inch	TU1077	ea.	$108.95
TL1330	3 Pound Whistle Rocket Tool Kit Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1	TU1100	ea.	$119.75
TL1361	1 Pound Strobe Rocket Tool Kit Tempoarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	3/4 inch	TU1066	ea.	$98.76
TL1363	3 Pound Strobe Rocket Tool Kit Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1	TU1100	ea.	$124.80

Screens

If you are mixing fireworks compositions, or need to screen your fireworks chemicals to a certain particle size, you need a good set of sturdy screens. You can buy pre-cut, squares of screen which you can frame yourself. The mesh sizes given refer to the number of wires in a one inch length of screen.

Square, unframed screens
The pre-cut, 11 3/4 inch squares of screen are very heavy-duty, highest-quality type 304 stainless steel. They come to you ready to be mounted into your own frames.

Round, framed screens
We are able to get a limited supply of round, framed Chinese stainless steel screens. These inexpensive frames are used throughout the Chinese fireworks industry. The steel is not as heavy-duty as our square screens, and the framing is irregular and hand-made, but you can't beat them for value. Ours average 12-1/2 to 13-1/2 inches in outside diameter. Sorry, but we are not able to keep these in stock all the time.

Item No.	Description	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL2000	Stainless Steel Screen, Unframed, 10 Mesh Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$24.55
TL2002	Stainless Steel Screen, Unframed, 20 Mesh Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$24.55
TL2004	Stainless Steel Screen, Unframed, 40 Mesh Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$24.55
TL2006	Stainless Steel Screen, Unframed, 60 Mesh Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$24.55
TL2008	Stainless Steel Screen, Unframed, 100 Mesh Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	ea.	$24.55
TL2010	Stainless Steel Screen Set, Unframed Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 set	$98.89
TL2100	Stainless Steel Nesting Screen Set (10, 20, 30, 60, 100 mesh), Round Framed Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 set	$75.83

Star Plates

Star Plates are used to produce large numbers of uniformly sized cylindrical stars quickly. Each set consists of a bottom, female plate and a top, male plate. To use star plates, you set the female plate on a smooth, flat surface. Then fill the holes in the bottom plate with damp star composition. Then, lower the heavier male plate onto the bottom plate, pressing and compacting the star composition down. Generally, a side to side rocking motion works best. Then, keeping both plates together, gently raise the two up, and press the top plate down so that the stars are gently ejected out. That's all there is to it.

Our plates are made for us in China of sturdy plastic with brass pins. They are about 8"x2"x1-3/4". These are the same plates used in hundreds of fireworks factories in Hunan province to manufacture commercial fireworks exported all over the world. They are inexpensive, and very serviceable. With some new plates, you may need to lightly sand the cut edges of the brass pins with fine emery cloth to "debur" the pins. This will help them slide more freely in and out of the bottom plate holes.

Alignment. It is also important to know that the female and male plates only fit together one way. Before you take them apart, you will see alignment marks made on the sides of each plate (Click on the different pictures below to see some of these marks). Whenever you take them apart, and then put them back together again, you must use the alignment marks to reassemble the two plates. They will not fit together otherwise. The alignment marks are usually either holes drilled into the sides of the plates or diagonal "slices" across the sides of the plates.

Item No.

Description

Unit

Star Size

Price

Qty.

TL3004

Star Plate, 3/8 inch x 20 to 23 holes

Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available

Set

3/8

$62.37

TL3006

Star Plate, 1/2 inch x 12 to 17 holes

Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available

Set

1/2

$66.35

Star Pumps

There are 3 common methods for making stars for shells: roll them (spherical stars); cut them (square and random shapes); and pump them (cylindrical shape). One of the most simple ways to make stars is with a star pump. Pumped stars are fast and easy to make, and you can have a consistent shape and size every time. This means your stars will burn for the same length of time and perform consistently in the sky. Learning to use a pump is fast and easy. We have three types of pumps: standard, cavity, and crossette.

Economy Star Pumps These are made of brass for us in China. They differ from Standard Star Pumps primarily in having skinny "handles"--the long end of the pump used to hold on to. They are not fancy at all. The Chinese use very utilitarian tools in their fireworks factories. These are not polished, have no gnurling on the handle, and some of the handles have been ground with a bit of taper on top. You cannot beat the value. We do not always have them in stock.

Standard pumps make a simple cylinder shaped star.

Cavity pumps make a star with a hole in it. The hole can be filled either with a break charge to cause the star to break into pieces or with a different color or effect. For instance you could create a silver cavity star, and later fill the cavity with a green star composition.

Crossette pumps create stars that contain a break charge. The comet rises, then bursts into pieces; ours break into four symmetrical parts. Currently we offer brass crossette pumps made for us in China. They are not as "polished" as some American made pumps, but are well made, serviceable tools.

To use a star pump, retract the plunger till the pin clears the slot, or with the economy pumps, just retract the plunger all way up into the sleeve. Then, press the pump into the damp composition until it is full and simply eject finished star, prime and let dry. It's a good idea to use a sharp edged tool to smooth or the bottom of the star level.

Item No.	Description	Unit	Star Size	Price	Qty.
TL3010	Star Pump, 3/8 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	3/8	$19.34
TL3011	Star Pump, 5/8 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	5/8	$22.45
TL3012	Star Pump, 1/2 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	1/2	$20.95
TL3014	Star Pump, 3/4 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	3/4	$34.95
TL3015	Star Pump, 7/8 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	7/8	$36.95
TL3016	Star Pump, 1 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	1	$39.79
TL3020	Star Pump, 1-1/2 inch, Economy, Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	1	$50.69
TL3110	Star Pump, 3/8 inch, Standard, Aluminum or Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	3/8	$36.95
TL3112	Star Pump, 1/2 inch, Standard, Aluminum or Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	1/2	$35.60
TL3114	Star Pump, 3/4 inch, Standard, Aluminum or Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	3/4	$38.79
TL3115	Star Pump, 7/8 inch, Standard, Aluminum or Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	7/8	$43.18
TL3255	Crossette Pump, 11/16 in. (18mm), Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 Set	11/16	$56.95
TL3260	Crossette Pump, 3/4 in. (20mm), Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 Set	3/4	$59.71
TL3265	Crossette Pump, 1 in. (26mm), Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 Set	1	$72.95
TL3270	Crossette Pump, 1-1/4 in. (32mm), Brass Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	1 Set	1-1/4	$70.58

Mortars & Pestles

These are very reasonably priced, Japanese-made porcelain bowls (mortars) each with a hard, porcelain grinding tool (pestle).� These were made more than 25 years ago.� I doubt if we will be able to get them again in this quality and price, once these are gone.� Excellent for grinding small amounts of chemicals quickly.� Good in your kitchen, too.

Item No.	Description	Unit	Price	Qty.
TL2210	60 mm Mortar and Pestle Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	$37.95
TL2214	90 mm Mortar and Pestle Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	$45.28
TL2218	120 mm Mortar and Pestle Temporarily Out of Stock Order Mon-Thur by 12:00 EST - Use Tomorrow - Overnight Shipping Available	Set	$58.72