wet noodle and the wildcat

[Richard]

Hello.
For us that do not have access to quick match, there is an alternative.You can buy leader pipe and insert the quick burning gray cover paper fuse. My first experience was less than thrilling.For short length of two feet or less it can be done.However my experience tonight in trying to do 10 foot sections was like the wet noodle and the wildcats southern end. What did work somewhat was to fasten the fuse to a steel nail( yes I know DANGER) and use a magnet to pull the fuse through the tubing. I will admit that we have had lots of rain and the tubing was was soft and floppy. I will report back when I can dry things out.
Anyone out there who has better results, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Richard

[copper acetoarsenite]

really nothing replaces quickmatch...you may get a slightly faster burning rate..but quick match is quick match- it's very special stuff...rather than trying to overcome the limitations of the fast fuse use it artistically to your advantage...in fact sometimes a slower finale is better artistically..when you get lemon make lemonade!!!...or get some BP cotton string and make it...I wont tell...lol

[copper acetoarsenite]

In fireworks and many other fields [aviation, engineering, medicine ]...remember-for better or worst...new ideas are ALWAYS dangerous QED!

[Richard]

Hi. Thanks for the input. While the faster burn rate was one goal I was looking for, the fireproofing aspect was another. The Chinese visco fuse with it's cellulose nitrate coating can take fire easily and I wanted to eliminate having use lots of aluminum foil and it's clean up mess.

[Richard]

No guts.......no glory!

[copper acetoarsenite]

Ah I see, I have heard of fast fuse I'm very unfamiliar with commercial fuse, in general, or the characteristics of fast fuse ...regarding the steel nail- I'm guessing since it's not metal to metal contact the risk should be very low...but it may be easier to wrap it with paper tape in a spiral fashion...and then use a spray 'lacquer' which might also assist with water proofing--- this wont help with speed I don't think but it may reduce the early ignition risk..it may also interfere with the burning characteristics...the admonition about 'new ideas' applies in general to firework though..but I really may have gotten carried away...lol...try it, it may work or you can pull it through the paper tube with that discarded copper telephone wire I always find in a manner similar to how electrician's thread long conduits...I don't really know if any of this would work...in fact I've never seen fast fuse 'live'...but making quick match is relatively easy-aside from many books there are instructions all over the internet...most states allow one to purchase a little BP...I just would store it outside or in a detached structure in a metal safe box, or even better make black match and pipe it as needed--- just to be careful...you don't want QM lighting up in your house, though highly highly unlikely...good luck with your experimentation..i hope you can acheive some of your stated goals in part, please let us know how it went I hope I helped a bit...:-)

[copper acetoarsenite]

Between my obsessive nature and my upbring...I do actually sometimes get a bit carried away actually...ignore me sometimes..hehehe

[Richard]

Hi, Thanks for the input. The fast paper fuse is three pieces of black match wrapped lightly with a tissue paper and a light glue. It is easy to remove the wrapping and there you have three pieces of black match for cross fusing or any other need for black match. It burns in the open at 1/2 second per foot and in the tubing at quick match rate.The leader pipe is a paper tube with an inner liner of waxed paper, just like the old fashion quick match wrapper. The problem is that it is shipped flattened and it must be opened and made round again to insert the fast fuse.
As far as black powder, I am a black powder shooter. Pistols, long rifles and yes a cannon and a mortar. I have made my own black powder for a long time. It sure beats $14.00 per pound and $25.00 HAZMAT charges.
Now go light something.
Richard

[Richard]

Hi. Where is New York do you live. I grew up in Syracuse and worked for a while for North American Fireworks Co. in Schenectady.

[copper acetoarsenite]

Richard I was born in Queens, and I lived in the South Bronx for two years, but I'm currently on the Queens/Nassau border, near JFK in and unknown town called 'Inwood'...my best friend moved to OK after years in NY and he loves it..North American Fireworks...that company was listed in George Plimpton's great book Fireworks-A History of Celebration...I do follow the industry as best I can...well It seems like your an old pro regarding BP and quickmatch...lol thankyou for the further information on the fast fuse sounds like nice stuff...do you shoot anvils too?

I do have a few firecrackers maybe I'll just go set them off-now that you're forcing me to...hahaha !!!

[copper acetoarsenite]

if it's easier call me Neil

[Richard]

Hi. It is neat to learn that I am had a part in fireworks history. Sure, go shoot a firecracker. I was 7 years old when world war II ended. My family was outside enjoying car horns, factory whistles and church bells when someone lit a firecracker and threw into the yard. Now fireworks manufacturing in the USA had stopped because of the war effort and fireworks coming from the east was also curtailed so this firecracker most likely came from someones treasured stash. My Father explained what a firecracker was and so was my introduction into fireworks. I to this day thank that person for sharing his treasured firecracker with me.
The fast paper fuse can be found online at cannonfuse . com in small quantities. I however purchase mine from Skylighter in 100 ft. rolls.
I have not shot anvils ,however I would love go to an event somewhere where it is done.
Richard

[copper acetoarsenite]

Very interesting story...my introduction to fireworks was the fiery Fourths we used to have in Queens and the old style professional displays...although I remember this one green microstar fountain, that was just oustanding...litterally green sparks I have not seen a fountain like that since...

The first time I saw fireworks I thought [and still think] that they were pure magic and I just had to know more, so I began reading extensively about them...at first I understood nothing, but my obsession led me to force myself to figure out what those books were really talking about...eventually I began to learn chemistry and got the bravery to try to make my own, I had but a limited selection of materials and chemicals, but that did not bother me and in the process I learned about electrolysis,charcoal making, ball milling-with a cheap rock tumbler, screening, weighing, case rolling, hemisphere making, spiking and other fundemental pyro skills, later I got into really high explosives...when I later studied real chemistry--- as I was a double major biology with a concentration in molecular biology and biochemistry and chemistry---my earlier very extensive pyrotechnic studies made my classes and labs quite easy, even the 8 hour long physical chemistry labs...I have a few other passions that hold equal weight in my heart..but fireworks are very very special to me, much more so than even high explosives...
One last story is I recall being very young and bragging about my festival balls and roman candles and ground bloom flowers and jumping jack until my mother took me to a Grucci display...I was totally blown away and to this day I remember this gorgeous blue peony...so a green microstar fountain and a blue peony were my two biggest inspirations in fireworks...just as your firecracker was...I really loved your account of your intro to fireworks, as I understand how such a little event could lead one down this road...he who hath smelt the smoke ne'er be free again...please keep sharing your stories with us

Stay Green
Neil :-D

[Richard]

That is fascinating. I too loved chemistry alto I never had any advanced education in that direction, mine was electronics. As you know consumer fireworks are a no
no in new york.When I was in my early teens my family moved to a newly formed community called Westerlea. It was located out in the country west of Syracuse and had an RFD address. I could go into Syracuse and purchase KNO3. I had to sign for it and when the pharmacist saw my RFD address there was no problem. My sulfur came from a piece of history. A few miles from where I lived there was an old limestone quarry called Split Rock with caves that us kids often went to and explored. Up on the hill west of the quarry were the remains of what appeared to be some large buildings. Exploring I found some huge vats. The insides were tiled,the outer walls were concrete. In-between the was lining of pure sulfur.
Here is a link to what I found. I believe that the vats were used to either make nitric or picric acid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_Rock,_New_York


There is such a huge variety of 1.4 material and with cakes up to 500 grams you can make a great display. My Grandson has shot for me for the last 3 years and now that he is 13, we are getting into making out own fireworks. We are starting with mines and he made his first chrysanthemum 6 star mix a week ago. After we were done I placed a small amount of the powder in the walkway, attached some fuse and let him light it. As it burned and sparked his eyes lit up and said "I made that", Grandpa smiled.
I am making a 30 Q remote firing system and that is why I am getting into the fusing aspects of our show so one Q can light many items with various timing.

[copper acetoarsenite]

Another fascinating set of stories, especially about the sulfur, my chemicals and paper came from an art supply store where ceramics supplies were sold and stolen from both high school and middle school science lab, they had tons of stuff they did not use becuase my school was a dump...trust me getting an education was not easy, due to a rather difficult life,in fact I spent my early years in special education becuase someone looked at me, with no test or evelauations and said that I'm incapable of learning, so I rarely went to school and was left back twice!!! but education is only a small bit of the story, it's how you use your learning that's important...I've met many brilliant people who did not have a formal education, also I'm self taught in many of my other passions, I with the mathematics and physics background required for chemistry, taught myself aeronautical engineering and aerodynamics, and although legally I had a flight instructor, I taught myself how to fly airplanes...but it was hard work..the first time I'd ever flown an airplane I did the preflight, the start-up, the radio, taxied took off went around the pattern and landed! after my second flight my instructor said--'you fly to commercial standards...I've also extensively studied medicine...I can read EKGs MRIs, X-rays, my aunt is an nurse in the ER for 40 years and she comes to me for medical advice, in fact her new duaghter in law's father is a pulmonary specialist and when his daughter required open heart surgery he actually asked me about it!!! no lie...I've been held back in life for various reasons..but nevertheless I feel blessed, I don't regret anything whatsoever..I'm not bragging I just hope I can inspire someone too...no one who did not witness my life first hand will believe a word I say...lol
my biggest passions, in no particular order are Fireworks/explosives, aerodynamics, engineering, aviation, drums, science, and clinical internal medicine...mostly all self taught with the one exception of math and advanced chemistry..even taught myself bioology way before college not bad for a slightly dyslexic person who was labeled as mildly retarded...lol ...in fact I struggled for years with math until chemistry taught me...now I do crazy differential equations and multivariable calculus in my sleep!

I'm glad you are introducing your grandson to pyro Shimizu's C6 is a classic and beautiful formula...where would any of us be without Dr. Shimizu!!!

I'm really enjoying this dialogue!!! keep'em coming!

[Richard]

Hi.
That is a fantastic background that you have, I feel honored to have met you. As I type this I am getting my Grandsons C6 powder out from my fingernails. I am trying to learn the art of cutting stars. Still too wet but better than my first batch that went back into the mixing bowl with some more dry mix. As a C6 cut star does not normally ( I will never say never) need to be primed when shot from a tube like a mine, I just cut the rolled patty down to the waxed paper in both direction and waited for it to set up and then just broke the stars apart for further drying. I know the science, It the art that has to be learned and practiced over and over until just right. I feel that if a day goes by that I have not learned something, I have wasted a day.
It is a joy to talk with you.
Please enjoy this fall week.
Richard

[copper acetoarsenite]

Aw shucks...really the pleasure is all mine...we shouldn't allow what society says about us to limit us we are so much more complex than the 'models' predict...when I was faculty at a community college I taught many many students, some with learning disabilities, some with language difficulties chemistry and biology...and they excelled...I never judge a book by its cover...people have much more potential than usually assumed, but we try so hard to classify and box people in...this is wrong IMHO!!!

As far as cut stars...just a few points, as their are several methods depending on their ultimate purpose...I wont go to far from the simplest case

With resect to stars in general, it is always best to use the miminum amount of solvent..for two reasons 1. drying time can be a pain in the butt and two excess solvent [water] can change the ratio of the components and possibly ruin the effect...the order or increasing water is as follows...pumped [which I did not do] rolled and then cut...one of the best ways I've found to add the solvent is to use a spray bottle and wet a small portion of your composition then add dry composition until it becomes crumbly, then spray again,until you have the consistency of bread dough and repeat..although this method seems time consuming at first it's the best way to assure you are using mimimal solvent, for the desired effect...also like making bread you want to keep some dry composition on your rolling board...once you have a nice 'loaf' it's simply a matter of quickly cutting your stars...although priming is not really necessary...for me I found that a little black powder or prime helped with the cutting although I may have just been imagining that...lol...for more consistent cut stars one can use a frame made of wooden 'rulers' so as to get an exact sizing..but that's really only necessary if one is using the cut stars as cores for round stars..let me know if this helps...of course feel free to ask further questions...I love talking about this topic and I could go on and on until told to can it..hehehe

[copper acetoarsenite]

Just out of interest here's one of my post from a different forum on the subject of aerodynamics, in the 'flight testing section...my two primary specialties in aerodynamics are 'compressible flows' and 'wing section theory'...now I am showing off just a little...lol

Sonic velocity:
Small pressure disturbances within a specific control volume [a discrete region within an open thermodynamic system i.e a local environment enclosing your wave] propagate at sonic velocity 'a' in air [generally sonic velocity in any medium is 'c'] this discussion does not apply to blast waves and strong shock waves

if one were to imagine themselves as a stationary observer, observing the control volume that contains the propagating wave front within a pipe one would see a steady state process and would one see that sound waves move as a longitudinal wave comprised of a series of rarefactions and compressions....

Now if one were to travel with the wave--- assuming that wave propagates left to right then the air [fluid] at the right of the control volume would appear to be moving toward the wavefront at sonic velocity 'a' and the air to the left will b moving away from at a speed a-dv ( were 'v' is the velocity at which the wave moves to the left away from the observer)---a rarefaction

Since fluid is composed of matter and matter has mass....and matter cannot be created or destroyed.... the mass at the left of the wave must equal the mass at the right so we achieve as mass balance of ml=mr

I can write this as rhoAa=(rho+drho)A(a-dv) A is the cross sectional area of the control volume within the pipe...since it appears on both sides, it cancels and one is left with...a*d(rho)-rhodv=0 ....1

So, one assumes that no heat or work crosses the wavefront boundary so there no change in potential energy within the propagating wave... so we achieve energy balance...if you recall the quantity 'H' from thermodynamics which represents total energy (U+e) where U=internal energy e is other types of energy and work---without going into the math--- energy balance Uleft =Uright...this is represented by dH-adv...which solves to H+a^2/2 =(h+dh)+(a-dv)^2 ...2

due to negligible changes in pressure or temperature...the wave propagation is adiabatic AND isoentropic (assumed)....if you recall that dG =h-TdS where 'S' in the entropy...then you'll see that for an isoentropic flow TdS=0....one ends up with dH =dP/rh0....3...the d is a script delta indicating partial differential equations...which I can't write here

Combining relations 1,2 and3 one obtains a^2 =(dP/dRho)s the little 's' indicates an isoentropic process ....using "Maxwell relations" I can actually write this as a^2=k(dP/drho)T where k=ratio of specific heats, so and of course recalling that P=rhoRT and using that to solve the highlighted differential equation a^2 =k(dP/drho)T =k[ drhoRT/drho]T.=kRT..note because this involves partial differential equations, I did not show the intermediate steps.... solving it one finally obtains

a =(kRT)^.5

this explains not only why the speed of sound depends solely on temperature but it also explains why an isoentropic flow is assumed...it really doesn't get any easier than this...QED!

[PyroJoeNEPA]

On the original question of making your own quick match with the grey fast fuse & paper pipes: before I got my BATF 54 I made my own in a similar way--but I did not buy the pipes--I made them myself with brown kraft paper in 3 foot lengths simply folding the paper over twice & sealing it with a glue stick. I spent many nights during the winter months making these up. They were flattened out, but I used a 3 foot steel rod 3'16" dia. with a long piece of string taped on the end to fish through the tubes--and then pull the grey fuse [I used two pieces] through the piping. I taped the 3" sections of piping together with brown kraft tape. It was not waterproof, but it did work very well for everything from lances to shells. I vaguely remember an old post from a year or so ago addressing this.
I may have some pics of the tubing, fuse, & push rod--if I can locate them I will post them. It does work well & is an inexpensive alternative to quick match--especially when you eliminate the cost & shipping for the pipes.

[Richard]

Thanks for the idea. I was able to get two 60 ft. bundles of leader pipe, as they called it, for $10. on sale and with the other items I ordered the shipping was minimal. However when I run out I certainly will try your idea.
This is the great thing about the pyro community.
Richard

[Richard]

I say ....HUH

[Richard]

Thanks. I like the bread making metaphor. I will give it try in the next day or so. Here is what I did and I hope you can tell me where I went wrong.
I started out just like I do when I make granulated power. The mixture is placed into a bowl and spritzed with water, mixed, spritzed mixed until I get a material that will clump but is crumbly. At this point when making granulated black powder I would put it between two sheets of waxed paper and roll in out into a thin "cow patty". Instead I added water gradually until it would ball and could be broken open cleanly. Now I took the material in my hands and rolled and compressed it. As I did more water appeared on the surface.Now I know that I should have stopped adding water earlier, but where? The bread making idea sounds like the answer to my problem. I will keep you updated.
As to the quick match. The humidity is low and the paper pipe is not limp. I have an electricians fish tape and a great local jazz band to listen to on a internet feed.
Later.
Richard

[copper acetoarsenite]

Yeah forget about all the equations, I'm crazy..lol
It's does sound like you added a little too much water, no biggie just add more dry composition if that happens..it's surprising how thin the line is between 'enough' water and and a FUBAR...it's happened to us all...once those stars get made the mine construction would be the easy part...your grandson is gonna flip after he's sees that...get the young kids addicted fireworks early...hehehe

[Richard]

I now have about three cups of stars(more by the weekend), 40 bags(re-loadable bag mines) , 40 20in. pieces of quick match, 40 pistons, and 8 mortar tubes.We will make and test fire mines this weekend.

[copper acetoarsenite]

Sweet!!!...a totally homemade display...maybe you can add some little shells to the mix...and that would be just beautiful...sounds like you've been reading Ned Gorski's articles too...I love his ideas...I learned about piston mines from him..I'm no 'novice' but still ideas from a master of that caliber are always great...he's updated me alot!!! also learned how to make shells the 'modern way' with hot glue and such...I used Elmer's glue and wheat past and epoxy resin...never hot glue, but it's good stuff...if I ever got to the point where I could compete though I would go back to my very old traditional round shell techniques...worked perfectly!

please if you can tape your display I'd really love to see it!!!

[Richard]

This weekend will just be a few test fires to check how we are doing and to see how different propelling charges work. This will be a lead up to our 4th display. It will be a hybrid display with a mix of consumer pieces and our own.With the 500gram upper limit there some fantastic cakes out there that I just could not duplicate at their prices.I am building an electronic firing system for a professional style display.
I think that we will make some D1 glitter star mix also this weekend. I want mines with stars of all kinds, mines with showers of snapping titanium, mines with comets and every other kind that I can come up with.I am shooting for 50 tubes for mines and 50 tubes for consumer re-loadable shells.YES we will make some of our own shells. I am itching to make some of the traditional shells that I knew so well. Nothing big,probably 3 inch. There will probably be some round ones as I like the symmetrical pattern.

[copper acetoarsenite]

Richard..you have to tape that...I can tell you were once in real industry, as you don't mind making large amounts of fireworks, once a fireworker always a fireworker...I wish I had the skills in electronics to do such a thing, my brother is an electrical engineer and I used to help him with his lab reports, as well I did some radioshack projects ...but I don't have the intimate knowledge required for to go off on my own like you...I miss seeing canister shells, I used to see them in the 80's and even up to the early 90's but now alas they seem to have disappeared, as several effects are unchievable in round shells, I actually found them to be quite labor intensive, and have made but only a few...I wish that being in commerce was easier, as I would love to make shells, commercially myself, it's not the laws, as I've dealt with Federal Air Regulations, or EX numbers that gets to me it's all of the huge brick walls that you run up against...they really really seem to hate fireworks , here in this country[or for that matter potential jobs]...pyrotechny is very sad in this country...I wish the founding fathers gave us the right to bear fireworks also...as you know from having been a professional, you can achieve great symmetry in cans also with proper spiking and pasting..I remember the pain in my fingers from spiking shells lol...sound like your going to do an excellent show...if I can ever make it down to OK I'd love to come see one of your shows...this conversation has really been fun for me, especially since you're one of the 'ol' skool pyros that I remember from my childhood...despite all of the advances, something about those old style displays is very special...right now I just hold them in my memory....please don't forget to tape, your show...sounds like a must see... if you have any questions that you think I may be of some assistance please feel free to ask away...you'd be surprised how obsessed I actually am with fireworks..LOL
:-D :-D:-D