How Fireworks Work

[@stebstebanesier6205]

Thank you, there is so much crap on KZbin, but this is the kind of stuff that keeps me going. A great video with industry information presented in an understandable manner by a guy that is obviously at the top of his profession. And let's not forget, no annoying music, thank you for that as well.

[@PyroInnovations]

@Steb Stebanesier, thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

[@briefcaseblues6061]

Right. I hate annoying music

[@MG-uf8jn]

Spot on with this comment. Couldn’t agree more

[@FoST3boi]

I couldn't have said this better. Completely agree

[@stanstanly3812]

I was a nuclear weapons specialist in the Air Force. Thank you for the video. Always wondered how the little guys worked.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for your service!

[@SD45-ET44AC]

I don’t have any questions, but I do want to thank you, as one individual among many, who have positively impacted my life: mine, my wife, our families, friends and loved ones over the year. Thanks!

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@TheEnglishRedneck45]

This is such a great educational video - so clear, nothing overdramatised and simply explained. Thank you for teaching me something I had assumed completely incorrectly all these years!

[@PyroInnovations]

@TheEnglishRedneck45 Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiwikiwi2483]

This makes me really appreciate the work that Disney puts into their firework shows even more

[@PyroInnovations]

@Kiwi Kiwi, you might appreciate this video then: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZm6oZygjM-EedE

[@PyroInnovations]

@kiwi kiwi, our pleasure.

[@kiwikiwi2483]

@@PyroInnovations He definitely changed how the public sees pyro displays forever!

[@jeffreystern7381]

Worked as a tech for over 40 years and this is the best explanation i've ever seen, short of watching a shell being built.

[@PyroInnovations]

Appreciate the kind words! Always good to hear from a fellow pyro.

[@JF-em6hr]

No waste of time. Just good info. Thanks.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@Devin4202]

For the shells that have designs like the happy face, is there a way to know which way everything will fly out once it explodes, that way it wouldn't be sideways from the crowds perspective?

[@PyroInnovations]

Only for one of two dimensions. You could theoretically configure it as a "rocket" by lowering the center of pressure down below the shell (think a stick like a sky rocket), but that would only control one dimension. It would still be able to rotate around its center axis. So long story short, no, which is why when ever we do a happy face or other pattern shell look, we send multiple shells up so that statistically one or more will likely break with the proper orientation to the audience. Great question!

[@middletnpyro]

I've seen pattern shells blow every possible angle it just depends which way it tumbles before reaching apogee and the Burst charge ignites

[@Pyrokartoffel]

You can build shells Like parosol shells, that is in the right direction

[@butternutbestboy1251]

The shell spins in the air so no not really

[@nrs10001]

For the most part no and for this reason I've always looked at this effect as kind of gimmicky. At the end of the day though if people enjoy the effect theres no harm in it.

[@janewang647]

Thanks for sharing, explained very clearly and simply.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it!

[@CLIPZC3NTRAL]

Im 14 years old and i always wanted to become a pyrotechnic. Thank you for this informational video!!!

[@PyroInnovations]

You’re very welcome! Once you turn 18 and if you reside on the west coast of the USA, you can apply to join our team here: www.pyroinnovations.com/becomecrew2.html

[@jimmyboy630]

Brilliant! I'll have to show my son this video tomorrow after he asked me how fireworks work at tonight's public display. Now I know how they work too! Thank you

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words. We hope your son enjoys it too!

[@bamsyn]

Thank you something I wish there was more of these days on KZbin and that's videos that are informative, not dumbed down, nor highbrow either that are presented by someone who knows what they are talking about! And not only that but then someone that is willing to take the time to share some of what he knows without music that makes you want to dig your ears out lol So thank you on many fronts! I have always thought that I would love to do what you'll do for living and after hearing all that you just explained I think I wood be quite capable of and enjoy doing so..... now if only I'd been born into one of the families in my part of the world that seem to control the larger end of the market.... Ohh well I can dream 👍 Keep up the amazing work! Cheers

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for all the kind words! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@vendright]

This is one of the very best explanations of how a shell is constructed. Thanks for sharing

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks Jackson, glad you enjoyed it, appreciate the kind words.

[@scummymummy2548]

that was so worth the view

[@gordonfischer8484]

Great video! Much better than many other explanations of fireworks online. I really like that you don’t over simply and get into the details. Making fireworks is very impressive especially at the scale your doing it. Thanks for sharing!

[@PyroInnovations]

We appreciate the kind words!

[@thephideaux]

One of the best YT videos I’ve seen in a while. Thank you!

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words Kevin, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ljre3397]

Excellent video. Great explanation. I learned something.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks! Glad we could be of service!

[@nicktatters7523]

No wonder fireworks are so expensive, all that handmade work that goes into making them. Amazing video 👍

[@PyroInnovations]

You are in deed correct! Thanks for the kind words!

[@America-ev4rk]

That was a really good educational video. I learned alot.

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Gator_Bait_Motorsports]

Nice commentary...thanks

[@PyroInnovations]

Our pleasure!

[@TheSuperhoden]

The video i didn't know i needed

[@md-1186]

Underrated video

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@rahul3287]

Please make some videos on making small shells like these and instruments and ingredients used in a shell. And i really liked your videos Thanks for sharing such beautiful information ❤👍

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

It's good to see a professional video on how fireworks work, by someone who is in the industry.

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danielwmwolf]

Thank you. 🎈

[@BudTheDrummer]

I think this was a great and informative video! I enjoy learning about how things work and have been watching Workers assembling shells. Their work is so intricate!

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words John!

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

I miss the years doing shows with Bartolotta Fireworks. Back then ... late 70 - mid 80's shot our shows by hand .. electrical systems hadn't been perfected yet.

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

Farthest I travelled was N. Tonawanda maybe S Tonawanda NY. I was past 16 because I could drive. I remember digging in the mortars, back then they were still steel, and man what a bitch we shot from an old landfill. I swear they only had put like 6" of topsoil ... I remember being behind the Summerfest Mainstage and George Thorogood was the headlining act. He was supposed to do a couple encore's and then the Stars Spangled Banner for his final song. The fireworks were just a succession of salutes that were to be played in time with the music. I remember watching them feverishly loading salute after salute after salute and trying to keep time with the music using a flare ... While I left for the military at 18. I was given the honor to shoot one show for my dad, RIP pop, I tell ya the fun of pulling the cap off the match touching the end .... and watching it burn slowly and then when it hit the paper the whump of it going up. Or .... someone yells ... pick up the pace and ya touched it at the paper .... and the shell was gone before you could actually look down. Ahh the fun. I remember Bartolotta's early years in trailers behind the back barns at the chicken farm. Out of the family I really only remember Tuffie and Jeanie. Couple of years ago saw Jeanie and pretty sure it was mom bartolotta out in Palmyra at a stand there. Oh by the way .... where did all those ground set pieces go. Seems like the last time I saw show that had ground pieces was at the shows in Genesee Depot's park. Ah the memories.

[@ftswarbill]

So friggin kewl. I should have chosen that as a career path.

[@willwitner121]

Not too tough to do on the side actually. In normal times, when there are more shows and the aerial display companies need more assistance, keep an eye out for trainings. This is NOT the same as getting your pyro license. I attended a one day training advertised on Facebook run by one of the large companies. It was half a day of classroom training (mostly safety related) and a half day of hands-on setting up different types of shells out in the desert and firing them. Since then, I’ve probably done a dozen or so shows in 2 years fit 3 different companies. The time commitment fit a show is fairly low, usually 1 or 2 days. It’s tough work out in the elements and the pay is usually pretty low, but it’s a lot of fun. There is a federal background check done, so keep that in mind as well. Also your wife will be pissed that you never see 4th of July or NYE fireworks with her. 🙃

[@CMMWest]

Great display! Thanks for the info. Loved understanding how that works.

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the kind words!

[@warwickpoole]

This was so good, I would watch this fellow teach us about anything at all. Peanut butter? Snakes? World War 1? I'm in.

[@PyroInnovations]

Peanut butter it is. 😜

[@rappeezy]

this should be on KZbin front page

[@PyroInnovations]

Best comment ever! 👍👍👍

[@rmarty550]

Very informative thanks!

[@PyroInnovations]

You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!

[@haidershah3554]

Thankyou for defining internal structure of it. I was wondering since childhood about effects of it.

[@PyroInnovations]

Great! Glad we were able to provide some insight. Thanks for your comment!

[@haidershah3554]

Mp

[@davidgraham2673]

Great job on this video.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks!

[@robertnewman4105]

Great explanation, we enjoyed your video. Thank you!

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@TonywithaT]

Wow… I love the creativity behind this. I’m looking into getting my 1.3g

[@Kribby2k6]

Great video and insight

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ukrainian_girl1113]

Watching this as the 4th of July firework show across the street keeps me awake! “What’s going on out there?” 😂🎉

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad we could both entertain and inform! Happy 4th!

[@Merrymangos]

Very interesting, thankyou

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tylerdurden639]

Several fireworks displays made an impact on me during my 55 years in America. The first was going out to an amusement park on the 4th of July and having the winds carrying the firework shrapnel straight back down onto the crowd watching the show. Not good. The second was at a friend of a friend who was doing his LAST personal firework show as he was in the final stages of cancer and wanted one last great show. It lasted almost an hour and blew away literally *EVERY* fireworks display I have ever seen before or since. Even national 4th of July displays pale in comparison. Rip Jonas, your show was literally the best I will ever see.

[@commanderphilbo1471]

I've allways wondered...thanks

[@PyroInnovations]

You're very welcome!

[@ArnoldVeeman]

Great to hear about all this. I was really amazed by the fact that pro fireworks are actually mortar shells instead of rockets.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for your comments, glad we could help!

[@eamh2002]

Theyre safer because there isnt a big rocket hauling at anyone sideways if things go wrong. Mortars throw everything up and there is no big stick to drop from the sky afterwards either :)

[@AtomicSleuths]

Loved the video, recently started working at a fireworks store that also does display and have gotten very interested in becoming a pyrotechnician.

[@PyroInnovations]

Well, you have come to the right place. Make sure you check out our other videos, including our training video section.

[@HotasChillis]

2:24 i like how you say STRAAAAW

[@justdoingitjim7095]

You talk about the safety aspect of the mortar shells and it reminds me of the fireworks show put on next to the Trinity River near downtown Dallas in the 1980's. We were all scattered out in the grass and the wind was blowing from the same predictable southern direction in the summer. Then halfway through the show the wind changed and started coming from the north. Shell fragments were falling into the crowd and hurting people. We got up and ran for our cars parked a short distance away because they never stopped the show. Fragments were even falling in the parking area hitting cars. Either the people putting on the show just ignored the wind change and the crowd or they just didn't care. Either way that was the last time I ever watched a fireworks show up close.

[@ljre3397]

That’s about the best information I’ve seen on the subject. Really well done. Thank you.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words LJ, glad you enjoyed it!

[@AnitaBetterScreenname]

Great video showing the inner workings of those fireworks. I've always been curious.

[@luisdominguez2048]

Thank you! This was delightfully informative, and reminded me of the old episodes of Modern Marvels.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it!

[@bodeine454]

I noticed that in this video the launch charge was very loud but at a professional fireworks show it sounds very subdued. Sometimes you can hardly hear it and I've always wondered how they are launched into the air and why it sounded that way. It sounds like a big puff of air and my guess is it's not very loud because it's down in a tube.

[@PyroInnovations]

It sounds subdued at a professional display (if you can hear it at all) because the audience is a good distance away from where the shells are being fired, a safety requirement outlined by federal and local laws. The mortars are very loud, it is literally like a cannon firing a cannon ball. The pyro crew is much closer, which is where the footage you are referencing was shot from. The larger the shell caliber, the louder the mortar is. Some of the ones you see in this video are 8" shells, so those are pretty incredible when they fire. That is one neat thing about being a pyrotechnician, we get two "bangs" for every one bang the audience gets, one when the mortar fires, and another when the shell explodes. Thanks for the comment!

[@bodeine454]

@@PyroInnovations Very interesting, thanks for replying 👍

[@memolano100]

This was very interesting. Great explanation. Thank you.

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad you enjoyed it, you're very welcome!

[@kevp9601]

This is Awesome

[@YouMockMe]

4th of July baaaaaaaaby!!!!!!

[@PyroInnovations]

‘Mercia! 🇺🇸🤘

[@reggierendert6494]

I actually saw a comment elsewhere that said he wanted to get firework shows banned in favor of..."Drone shows" 🤣 let's hope that doesn't catch on. I get the concern of wildfires and such but professional shows? These guys know what they're doing and God Bless them. I hope they have a long "brilliant" future in America! 🇺🇸💥💥

[@spuriousjohn6720]

Fascinating! Thanks.

[@PyroInnovations]

Our pleasure!

[@RideTheTeacups]

This was so fun to watch! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@PyroInnovations]

Our pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

[@383mazda]

Im impressed that the shell casing is strong enough to withstand all the g- forces at launch, but then "weak" enough to allow for a uniform explosion.

[@PyroInnovations]

You are correct in that the shell strength plays into surviving the lift, but a uniform break is more dependent on shell strength consistency (no weak spots) and a rapidly burning burst charge that produces a lot of hot gas in a very short period of time.

[@levidansky613]

I have a question. Thanks for the great explanation but there are some affects at the very end of the explosion which cause tge stars to travel or move if you get what i mean. How is this done?

[@PyroInnovations]

Levi, what you are describing could either be an insert or flying fish fuse. An insert is exactly that, a small stand alone device that is inserted into the shell. Think of a small cardboard tube with composition in it, which ignites after the shell breaks. The insert could be a whistle, tourbillion, or a number of other effects. Flying fish fuse is a special type of fuse that gives a self propelling spreading in random directions spark effect. So for fish fuse, imagine a bunch of tiny pieces of fuse inside the shell that are designed to produce that effect. Thanks for the comments and question!

[@bradfordwetmore]

Here's some more info/visuals on what Mike is describing: www.skylighter.com/blogs/how-to-make-fireworks/stars-shell-inserts

[@johndejong8119]

Thank's man voor the clear explenation. What is de ration between de size of the shell and the blackpowder undernead the shell?

[@mrcat3493]

This was so informative. Thanks for posting

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nyamjunie]

Thank you so much for this explanation!! I'm from Germany and saw a few fireworks that contained hearts, absolutely loved them but kept wondering how that would be made! Interesting!! I had just assumed they would be rockets but i see why mortars are better for professional shows :o Today I saw a show where they constricted cats and that looked so damn cool in the sky so i had to find out how that works and I'm glad i came across this explanation with examples! what happens to the mortar shells? do they burn up? do they explode into small enough pieces? i read through the comments and found that it is possible to find shell fragments sometimes! they come down in a zone where none of the viewers are allowed to be, only the protected crew. do they have to be round? (to have a precise angle and speed etc probably yes, right?) for example what would a mortar look like that shows up as a star shape in the sky? the outer shell a circle and in the front and back half more filling material and then around the midsection of the ball a star shape arranged with only the tips of the star close to the edge of the shell? and how would one make a mortar that shows up as a round circle that changes colour twice (so three colours in one explosion)? what makes the shrill whistling sound sometimes used? "Great question. The whistling effects are generated by Potassium Benzoate packed into a resonator tube." thanks 👍

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words! Great questions, let's answer one at a time. What goes up, must come down. The cardboard shell casings just fall down to the ground after the shell explodes, the pieces varying in size. This is one reason we have a "fallout" zone where no one other than the crew is allowed during a show. No, they do not need to be round. Traditional Japanese style shells are round and a majority of what we typically use, but there are also Italian style shells that are cylindrical and can contain a variety of different effects and are a great compliment to round aerial shells during a show. Pattern shells are made by simply laying the stars out in the shell, exactly how you want them to appear in the sky. Burst charge would fill the remaining portion of the shell. A number of different laws of physics contribute to this capability, but the law of conservation of momentum is the main driving force behind the ability to make a simple pattern shell. Color changing stars are made by layering different compositions in appropriate thicknesses as you build the layering of a rolled star. The large shells, which can accommodate larger stars, can have a number of different color changing layers. Thanks for the questions and comments!

[@XavierKatzone]

Thanks! I don't like fireworks at all, but it's very interesting to understand their mechanics.

[@PyroInnovations]

You are very welcome!

[@TheUnvarnishedTruth-]

You don't like fireworks at all!? OMG! You're the first person in my whole entire life that I've ever heard of that did not like fireworks! Unbelievable!

[@owl1873]

Cool👍

[@garyheaton9926]

A VERY interesting video, and very informative as well sir. I really enjoyed it.👍😁✌️

[@PyroInnovations]

Awesome, thank you!

[@mtjsrc1]

Very interesting, thanks!

[@PyroInnovations]

Our pleasure!

[@iralosttwo5569]

At first I thought he was holding a huge onion.

[@trp]

Anything can be done, anything can be anything if you believe it hard enough

[@Coecoo]

It is an onion.... Of explosives.

[@tomtom1484]

You think that’s something, you should see the hamburger it goes on! 😯

[@You-bored-too]

😂😂😂

[@alexanderkatsuleas6259]

I thought the same thing 😂😂😂

[@jamesslick4790]

Great video! I had a bit of the casing from a ball shell that landed near me at the1975 (too bad it was not the Bicentennial!) 4th of July display in Pittsburgh, PA. Pretty cool souvenir for a kid back then! It also led me to look into how fireworks, well. worked. I had before also assumed they were rockets. (Rockets ARE cool, but I can understand the danger of a rocket with a pro level payload!).

[@PyroInnovations]

We make sure we are far enough from the crowd so that doesn’t happen now-a-days, but… as a kid, I remember going to a firing site of a professional display the day after a show looking for a souvenir (i.e. shell fragments!), but since the crew cleaned up well, I didn’t find any. 😩 Thanks for the comment, it brought back some memories!

[@jamesslick4790]

@@PyroInnovations To be fair even though this was almost 50 years ago 😳and I'm sure safety has been long improved, the fragment wasn't burning (or even hot at all) just a partial cardboard sphere that gently landed about 15 feet away from me at Point State Park (the park AND the now famous fountain were NEW then.) It's still the go-to place to see the annual Pittsburgh 4 of July fireworks. (Along with the West End Overlook). Today I live on the North Side close to "Heinz Field" (Right across from Downtown) so, from my street I see the display from BEHIND, But CLOSER! (They are shot from barges in the river...) I get the smell of burnt powder in my apartment if my windows are open. It's awesome!

[@davidmckirdy4063]

That was very educational 👍

[@angelwhite376]

The shell shock... Nice.. Large. Like a s550 luancer

[@LuigiLBL]

Amazing explanation, just what I was wondering to know. But until now I still am intrigued on how do they made a cubic form on Disney Fireworks some times, that must be a little more tricky to do because of the circular explosion... 🤔 Or is it simple to do?! Ps. Once i saw this open model you used to show in the video, I imagined how cool it would be if someone film the open model exploding on a SuperSlow camera. It would be amazing. 🙂

[@PyroInnovations]

Luigi, thanks for your kind words and comment. A cube can be made in the exact same way as the other pattern shells, maybe a bit more tricky in arranging them and keeping them in place, but ultimately the same physical principles apply. Don't think of it as a "circular" explosion, think of it as a "symmetrical" or "uniform" explosion due to Pascal's law which describes how pressure is equal in all directions within the confined space. Someone actually did that exact experiment a couple years back, can't remember where we saw it, but they basically glued a half built shell to a piece of ploycarbonate, and watched it burn and explode from the time it was ignited. Although very cool and able to provide a little insight, there were some flaws in their setup that would prevent a very accurate representation, especially since the glue would not hold with the same strength that a fully built shell would, causing leakage, lower pressures, and premature failure. Thanks again for your comment!

[@LuigiLBL]

@@PyroInnovations thank you very much for the reply and the explanation. I think I got it. 🙂 I wish you health and sucess. Thanks

[@PyroInnovations]

@Luigi, no problem, same to you!

[@AzothTheGuildRat]

Great video. So much work goes into making a professional show. I do a yearly personal show from cakes I buy locally or online, but have always wanted to do large professional shows.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it!

[@shnibby69]

Well explained! Consider me your newest subscriber!

[@PyroInnovations]

😃 Thanks!

[@juliolujambio4565]

Thanks Give me a good deal of information to my desire of know how it works.

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad we could help!

[@spliffgod5941]

Here on the 4th in 2021 god bless y’all

[@PyroInnovations]

Same to you! Happy 4th!

[@AlexAlexon3897]

Waited years for a video like this - thank you. Is black powder simply a very refined version of gunpowder? Sulphur, charcoal, potassium nitrate, but calibrated perfectly?

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Gunpowder is really just a generic term. When guns were first invented, gunpowder and black powder were one in the same. Today however, nitrocellulose based "smokeless" powder is what is used in modern guns, so in that context gunpowder means something entirely different and is unrelated to black powder. Thanks for your question and comment!

[@AlexAlexon3897]

@@PyroInnovations: Thank you! Have just seen a fireworks presentation video and learned about nitrocellulose and its accidental discovery. 🙂 Have learned lots today. Thanks again. 👍

[@YouTubeExplore777]

1 How do you get the biggest bang from the shell, with big burst high in the sky; what makes it louder than other fireworks? 2 how do you make the firework go higher in the sky? 3 how do you make low to ground ones? 4 do you light the fuse first then put it in the cannon? Or once fired the cannon lights the fuse? 5 I seen displayed that the explosion lights up the stars longer how do stars stat lit longer as they fall down

[@PyroInnovations]

1. The answer to this is complicated. Everything from the compositions used, if any burst charge boost was added, how rigid the shell casing is and if it was spiked or not, and if it is a color shell or a salute. Salutes are the loudest, as they have no color effects and are just flash powder. 2. The altitude a firework achieves is based on the weight of the shell, the amount of lift charge used, and the length of the mortar it is fired out of. Just like a pistol vs. a rifle, if you shoot the same caliber bullet out of each, the rifle round will come out faster and go further since the forces created by the gunpowder combustion have longer to accelerate the bullet before it leaves the gun barrel. 3. Same answer to number 2, if I understood your question correctly. 4. Check out our free online professional fireworks training website, it contains all the ins and outs of how we set up the different types of fireworks: pyroinnovations.com/fireworkstraining.html 5. The stars are larger and/or the composition that they are made from burns slower. The larger the shell, the larger the stars you can put in it.

[@YouTubeExplore777]

@@PyroInnovations also one last one, what gives fireworks it's whistle noise being shot before it ignites? And thank you for your help, I love learning safely about pyrotechnics. 🙂

[@YouTubeExplore777]

@@PyroInnovations this was from Google but I don't understand what it's saying, can you simplify it? "The mixture is commonly referred to in the pyrotechnics industry as 'dragon's eggs'. ... This creates a standing wave in the tube, and as the distance between the end of the tube and the burning mixture increases, so does the wavelength, producing the characteristic descending whistle sound"

[@PyroInnovations]

@@KZbinExplore777 The Google information is incorrect. Dragon's Eggs are a crackle-like effect and have nothing to do with whistle effects. The description above is correct for the whistle effect. This is a complicated phenomenon and difficult to explain in a few sentences, so we have added it to our list of video explanations to create! Thanks for your question!

[@johnschlather5849]

How are the two halves brought together without the contents spilling out?

[@PyroInnovations]

Great Question! The answer is, very carefully. :) Different shell builders have different techniques, especially when it comes to larger shells, and when you get to a certain size, say above 24" diameter, they are no longer two halves that are put together, it is a different construction process all together.

[@alanmumford8806]

As Pyro Innovations says, 'very carefully' but it often involves a layer of fine tissue paper on each half, to hold things in place for just long enough to close the shell. The contents of each half are usually pretty firmly packed anyway and the tissue is not substantial enough to affect the ignition or function of the burst charge or stars/effects.

[@cuhhwetes]

Made my first 3 and 4 inch shells last year. Some fails and some were good

[@syntaxerorr]

Great video.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks!

[@WobblyKitten]

Very informative, great vid!

[@StewieGriffin505]

Very well done. I've always wondered how these things worked. About how high does that 8" shell go before exploding? How much does a single 8" shell cost (on average, I realize they can vary)? How much debris falls back to the ground? The shell casing looks very thick.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words! Standard rule of thumb for height is 100’ per inch of shell diameter, so for an 8” shell it would be roughly 800 feet. Check out this video, it covers some of that sort of info in more detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWjPdKKIi9Srgq8. Cost can vary dramatically, best to look up price lists online, there are a number of vendors who publish them on the web. Yes, everything that goes up, comes back down. The entity of the cardboard shell casing is the bulk of what comes down, it can come down in small fragments to entire hemispheres depending on how it broke. This is why we have a “fallout zone” or exclusion zone when it comes to professional fireworks displays, where only the well protected crew is allowed. Thanks for the comments, great questions!

[@tmbpyrotechnics9490]

what a cool video!

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@3rdandlong]

Will you ever do a "yonshakedama"?

[@PyroInnovations]

One can only dream. 😄

[@KidDynamite6]

i am now at my kitchen table making one from his detailed articulate explanation of how it goes boom pop bang i much rather id he showed us a 60 inch shell split in half and held it like that

[@sierrabravo7368]

Do you have to clean your mortars after each display to reduce black powder fowling? Do you ever use smokeless powder or pyrodex as a propellent?

[@PyroInnovations]

Great questions. We only need to clean debris out of the mortars which would prevent a subsequent shell from sitting all the way on the bottom. Black powder fouling is a non-issue. Smokeless powders don’t burn fast enough out in the open to produce sufficient pressure behind the shell. Smokeless powders perform well in confinement which produce a higher pressure environment such as a firearm cartridge.

[@coachanderson2704]

I knew this when I was 12! Hahahah. Great video too!

[@siemenscs]

That was a great explanation and demonstration, thank you. Wish all you guys the very best of luck.

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks!

[@zulgadams5837]

Can you show us how a salute firework is made, those are my favorite because of the boom!

[@PyroInnovations]

A salute isn't much different, it is filled with flash powder instead of stars and burst charge, everything else being the same. Salutes break too hard to have stars, but sometimes titanium flakes are added, which give the ball of white sparks you see when a salute explodes.

[@parthoadhikary7601]

Hi sir, Please share a video on star roller, how to make a star roller, and what type of motor should i use for it???

[@KralikJR]

Amazing! I was today year old to find out.

[@PyroInnovations]

Glad we could help!

[@tehnixius]

okay... Random KZbin reco that i didn't mind watching. Now, i'm left with more questions.

[@PyroInnovations]

@Nixius, ask away!

[@gwynethrachaelcooper1957]

How much time does it take to put one firework together? What are the easiest and what are the most difficult? When you get to the event area where the fireworks are going to be shown, how much time do they take to setup?

[@PyroInnovations]

Great questions! Let’s take them one at a time: 1) This can depend on the size of the shell and what sort of effects are being built into it. So if we take a standard star shell, you have to fabricate the stars (and burst and time fuse, etc), allow time for them to dry completely, assemble the shell, paste it, and then again allow it to dry completely. This is a multi day process. 2) Standard star shells are fairly straightforward since they are the bulk of what is made. If you start making shells with special inserts, say, a “shell of shells,” which is a shell with a bunch of smaller shells inside, you essentially have to go through the shell making process with all of the small insert shells, making each of those the same way you would make the larger main shell, let them fully dry, then make the main shell will all the small shells inside of it. This compounds the time it takes to make a “single” shell. 3) This depends on the show size and complexity. A typical (emphasis on typical) 4th of July display will take a 6-10 person crew 1-2 days to setup, whereas a small high school homecoming show might only take a few people a couple hours to set up. Thanks for your questions!

[@gwynethrachaelcooper1957]

@@PyroInnovations Thank you. 🙂

[@PyroInnovations]

Our pleasure!

[@eamh2002]

What I really wanna know is how they compress those effect balls and what material they have. We all know the lift is black powder and hard salute breaks are titanium and potassium perchlorate+aluminium powder(flash) 😉

[@PyroInnovations]

There are a number of different methods of manufacturing stars, the three main ones are rolled, pressed, and cut. Compositions for each effect type vary quite a bit. We recommend getting involved with a local pyrotechnics club if you are interested in learning more.

[@eamh2002]

@@PyroInnovations Its not my "calling" so to speak but I'm a little bit of a fanatic still about having the best bang for buck and knowing what I'm dealing with when using fireworks :) So do the professional display shells ever contain flash as the break charge or are those shells mostly only black powder explosions? Anyways thanks for the reply!

[@PyroInnovations]

Burst charge used in shells isn't quite black powder, but somewhat similar. It produces a larger quantity of hot gas which allows it to overpressure the shell appropriately. Shells can have the burst charge "spiked" with a small amount of faster burning comp, but it is rarely flash powder. The most common we have seen used is whistle mix as it burns faster than burst charge, but not as fast or as sensitive as flash.

[@eamh2002]

@@PyroInnovations Yeah I was thinking theres no way BP could be "that" powerful. Ive heard some people use kno3 instead of KClO4 for bangers so I wouldve guessed its nitrate if not powder or chlorate :)

[@popscratchie3985]

Does the shell split down the center where the two halves are fastened together if not what stops this being a weak point

[@PyroInnovations]

Great question! If not pasted properly or burst charge is not fast enough, yes, but if pasted properly and the correct amount of burst it will be unnoticeable. Some shells also have a boost within the burst consisting of a small amount of flash powder or whistle mix (which burns very fast). Thanks for the comment!

[@NormanDilsen]

Good day! can i know why lift charge is confined in plastic? Is this for additional protection to prevent the Lift charge from spilling when the lift cup is torn? Thank you very much

[@isaacsatzman5610]

What happens to the outer shell casing? Does it burn up?

[@FireworkTutorials]

The bursting of the shell causes the paper casing to shred into small pieces, it does not burn up.

[@sethwatson8952]

Not always. Sometimes you get big chunks coming back down. That's why we need a fallout zone

[@jeffreysmith4586]

Great explanation! How do you get into this industry and what type of job opportunities are available?

[@PyroInnovations]

Thanks! How easy it is to get in the industry will depend on where you live. If you are on the west coast, you can apply with us here: pyroinnovations.com/becomecrew2.html If you aren't, then your best bet is to reach out to the local fire marshals office and see what companies do business in your area. Job opportunities can vary, but most are very seasonal, especially if you are just looking to become a pyrotechnic operator. The only full time positions are typically in roles such as sales rep, show producer, and other administrative positions, but those are fewer and farther in between.

[@johnwitte4798]

Is the height of the explosion entirely determined by the size of the shell (and thus not changeable) or can a professional company adjust this? I noticed the lift cup seems permanently attached and probably manufactured that way. Sometimes my local fireworks show seems too low and just wondering if that can be adjusted.

[@PyroInnovations]

Great question. Shells are almost always pre "lifted" (burst charge already attached) from the manufacturer. In most cases you have no reason to adjust this. If you needed the shell to go higher, more lift could be added, but an alternative is to just make the mortar longer that you are shooting it out of. Just like a pistol vs. a rifle, if you shoot the same caliber bullet out of each, the rifle round will come out faster and go further since the forces created by the gunpowder combustion have longer to accelerate the bullet before it leaves the gun barrel.

[@NangSatrio]

what color do you use for smoke? Trims

[@gooffy89]

How does the burst charge not damage the load/shell on the way out of the tube? The explosion of the charge always sounds pretty violent.

[@PyroInnovations]

Hi David, I think you are referring to the lift charge, not the burst charge, let me know if I misunderstood your question. The lift charge firing the shell out of the mortar is fairly violent; however, the hardened paper casing is more than enough to take the hit upon launch. The more common failure mechanism is not from the casing itself, but instead from a poorly sealed time fuse (time fuse is sealed to the shell casing). Any leak point can cause fire to leak into the shell during lift and cause a "flower pot" malfunction. Having said all that, it gets very complicated as you get above 12" shells, additional considerations like stand off distances and shell casing thicknesses become highly relevant in successfully getting the shell out of the mortar.

[@gooffy89]

@@PyroInnovations Thanks! yes I meant lift charge.

[@Es0terWreK]

in another video you said the height of detonation is 100 ft per 1 inch firework thickness so in this firework does the timefuse need to be 8 inch long to achieve the 800 ft detonation? or are there different timefuse burns?? thank you for all the information you provide..

[@PyroInnovations]

Great question! Short answer is no, the 8” shell used in the example would not have an 8” time fuse. The time fuse shown in the example is exaggerated and would not be that long in a real shell of that size. The time fuse would actually be much shorter, and terminate in a passfire tube that would have something like black match in it, which would flash very fast (like quick match) to the end of the passfire tube in the center of the shell. Great question!

[@b9y]

How does the black powder charge not blow the top of the shell off?

[@PyroInnovations]

Great question. The shell casing is actually very strong and can handle the forces from the lift charge. In larger shells, additional considerations have to be taken into account as the lift forces begin to become more troublesome. Shell casing thickness, stand-off from the bottom of the mortar (and the lift), time fuse sealing, are just a few of the additional considerations that are taken into account for much larger shells.

[@b9y]

​@@PyroInnovations Wow, that's a lot I didn't even think about! Not that I would as I'm just a layman, but this is fascinating stuff. I assume professional display companies buy their stock ready made? I'd love to build my own one day to experiment but legally speaking it would have to be absolutely tiny as hell so I don't have MI5 knocking at my door 👀 I should probably work on getting a sugar-rocket to fly first...