Making roman candles in China video how do they work

[PyroAce]

I've always admired watching the Chinese go about mass manufacturing fireworks, in this video I am a bit confused though because I can't see how fire is getting to each powder charge, I see him adding the lift charge, saw dust, inserts etc. and what appears to be micro-stars (presumably to give it a mine effect with each shot as well) but I don't see any visco coming out of the end of the tubes as most roman candles have visco running the entire length of the candle to give fire to each shot, unless he's making them upside down, or maybe the visco does not go all the way to the top so you can't see it, any ideas?

 

[Seymour]

Back when I was younger and used to dismantle consumer fireworks both to see how they worked and to re-assemble them somewhat more excitingly than one was able to buy (not one to recommend) I found that some candles had a bit of visco like fuse of one type internally, and a separate fuse sticking out of the top. In the empty space above the fist shot both the fuses met and abundant and thick black match was shoved down there, presumably to help pass the fire.

 

Why did they do this? I have no idea! It seems like adding work that does not need to be added to me. It was not a feature of most candles that I sliced to death.

[Bobosan]

Perhaps these Chinese use a modified production method based on the construction technique described here;

 

http://www.skylighte...es.asp#streamer

 

Is that a "he" or a "she" in the video?

[mikeee]

The name of the person making the fireworks is Pat.

[Shadowcat1969]

It looks like there are little green things at the tops of the tube. I think the fuse has already been run down the length of one side of the tube and bent over at the top and run back down between the tubes, kind of to anchor the top while (s)he's working.

[mikeee]

Cheap visco fuse is ran from the top down to the bottom, that is used for the timing of each shot.

All of the stars and powder comp and saw dust loads are rammed along side the fuse.

[Col]

the visco is neatly arranged so its out of the way

[Bobosan]

yeah, I see it now. Thanks Col.

[Arthur]

Chinese consumer candles have visco down the tube with a star/lift/sawdust packing order the visco does the timing.

Traditional candles have a star, lift, timing comp packing and the timing comp control the timing.

Modern UK market pro candles have a felt wad with a core of time fuse as the timing element with the usual star and lift charge - these can be more accurate for timing which makes big patterns easier to design BUT there is a LOT of clearing up -all the felt wads have to be found

[PyroAce]

the visco is neatly arranged so its out of the way

 

Wow you have really good eyes Col!, thanks for the still shot

[PyroAce]

After the lift charge goes in, it looks like something else is put in on top of the lift charge, are these micro stars to give a mine effect as the insert is shot out?

[Col]

Looks like they use a different bp comp on top of the lift, i guess its purpose is to guarantee the insert lights as the visco burns past. It could be microstars for added effect

The loading scheme in the vid from the bottom upwards is: lift, ignition powder (or whatever it is), cardboard disc, insert, cardboard disc and then the sawdust to provide the fireproofing and delay between shots.

Edited December 7, 2013 by Col

[a_bab]

We should also add that these look to be "professional" candles rather then consumer ones (due to their ID size and the inserts).

 

Consumer candles are thin and contain rolled stars.

[MrB]

Is this really candles at all? Looks to be the equivalent of multishot "bangers", airboms, thunderkings, what ever they all came named. What i mean is, it launching (tiny, but still) shells. As such, do they really count as candles? There is no "fountain" stage, with delay composition, and while they may have a rizing effect, like a comet, the "effect" is what ever is inside the tiny shell... No ?

 

B!

[Col]

If they shot single stars they would be a candle even without a delay comp. A large bore candle would use a lot of delay comp which costs more and takes longer to ram than a bit of sawdust. Tube burn through can be an issue with big candles.

[dan999ification]

2 years ago I had some 12 shot 28mm candles with pressed delays and bombettes, that were 3ft long, consumer nice thump on lift especially the last few and not bad breaks for the size.

There was also a good one called blockbuster in Europe, cat 3.

 

Dan.