Device Similar To Ground Bloom Flowers?

[R7T]

I need some help trying to make a device similar to "ground bloom flowers" I will be using 2.5 inch long 4oz rocket tubes for this project.

I understand colors and compositions can be totally different of course, for now I just want to start out with 1 or maybe 2 colors possibly.

I am going to go for Silver sparks either to Pink Color or just Silver Sparks with Pink Color as it is spinning.

I have Titanium Sponge -10+20 mesh but have not yet used it so I am not sure how this would look yet.

So maybe that or Aluminum, possibly Magnalium. Not quite sure just yet on the sparks aspect of the device but wanted to ask for safety reasons and otherwise

since I am new to the pyro hobby, how can I construct this device.

 

I have seen on "Jumping Jacks" as well as Ground Bloom Flowers" that the fuse is at the top of the device and then there is a vent hole near the bottom of the device.

This is how I would like to construct mine as well. So let's say that I have the tubes, black power ingredients, and the color star formula for Pink Stars.. as well as Titanium for the sparks.

What size fuse do think I should use for this size tube/device and also what size for the vent/hole? How should I make the hole with a drill bit and then add the comp to the tube?

This would be dangerous if I drilled the hole with the composition in the tube already since there will be metal in the composition, so how can I do this in the safest way possible?

 

I have fireworks books but since this is somewhat of an original idea as far as effect/color goes, I need to ask for advice on how to make these..

I do not want the device to fly up into the sky or be too under powered to where it does not spin enough to look like a flower, trying to emulate the old Red Lantern ones

from the 80's. Those were so great, lasting a good duration and hopping playfully all over the place.

I am hoping to capture some of the magic of those classics that we all used to know and love.

 

Hoping you guys/gals can help guide me on my pyro journey.

 

[pyrokid]

I think the trick to tuning these devices is getting the nozzle geometry correct. Observation of commercial examples indicates that a small ~1.8 mm fuse is used, so that is a good starting point. I was curious about how the nozzle is oriented. This video:

 

(look closely at the frames from 0:30 - 0:32)

 

shows that the nozzle is

1) close to the end of the tube, ostensibly on the boundary between the end plug and the composition

2) tangential to the diameter of the tube (evidenced by the rotation about the long axis of the tube)

3) angled toward the close end of the tube, probably as a means of stabilization

 

It's probably best to make a drilling jig to ensure consistency. A few notes: I've heard comments that the end of the tube opposite from the nozzle contains some empty space. I'm not sure if this is a cost cutting measure or something critical to the device performance. You may try to apply some sodium silicate solution to the nozzle after drilling before inserting the fuse to increase nozzle life. I would press the plug into place, drill the nozzle, apply the waterglass, insert the fuse, then press the composition on top of it. There are people and even commercial operations that drill into live composition. It has its risks and here it is easy to avoid it.