Here are some new angles on making blue, green, and other fireworks stars using copper powder. Through the years I've collect some interesting firework star pyrotechnic formulas, which you can see below. But even more interesting are the green firework...
Sugar rockets? If you haven't heard of sugar rockets, you're probably not a teenager cruising YouTube. But sugar rockets aren't just for kids. You can also see sugar-fueled rockets at high-power rocketry events where large models are launched thousands of...
What is Thermite? Thermite is a pyrotechnic composition usually consisting of metal powder and a metal oxide. It is not usually explosive, but it does create extremely high temperatures in a very small area for a short period of time....
Introduction Homemade fountains, called gerbs by pyro-folks-in-the-know, are very versatile devices. They can be used as stand-alone fountains shooting sprays of sparks skyward, as drivers on wheels, as downward spraying tubes in a homemade waterfall, or as line rockets. I'll...
"4-ounce" rockets? What does that mean? How can I make a rocket? Well, if you're interested in the history of the term and some further background information on rockets in general, you can find it in the Introduction to Rockets...
Here's Your Next Ball Mill What is a ball mill? What is it used for in fireworks making? From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_mill, (this article contains an animation of what the contents of a ball mill do during operation): A ball mill,...
Introduction This project shows you how to make an electric match. The electric match gives you more control over how your fireworks appear in a display. And having invested a significant amount of money and time in a fireworks display,...
Introduction In the past, I've kiddingly told fellow pyros that, at one time or another, I've made, or at least have tried to make, every kind of fireworks device except for snakes. That was before I heard about Senko Hanabi,...
Introduction At some point fairly early in every pyro career we realize we need to be able to make good black powder (BP) from scratch. BP is used in aerial fireworks shells as lift and burst powder. It is also...
Why make your own Estes black powder rocket engines? "This here's a story about a man named Ned, His grandson Jake called, and this is what he said, Pap, I've got an Estes rocket and a question for you, Can...
Can mere mortals make sky lanterns? I gotta admit, I've seen sky lanterns around for several years. I've seen 'em advertised right here by Skylighter. Have seen them at displays and club events. But, honestly I never gave them much...
Black powder (BP) is an almost ridiculously simple pyro ingredient. Mostly just three chemicals, blended together in simple ways, but producing wonderful results. Black powder exemplifies for me the endless learning, experimentation, and creativity that fireworking holds for us. If...
