Im a pyrotechnician. I set up and shoot class b and c shows and im also a member of a club where we manufacture and make our own from scratch. Its a lot of fun knowing you can make something not only explode, but do it with color and literally paint the sky with your handmade, personal design. I consider it artwork and its a huge passion of mine. I love this video. Its very well put together and very educational. A cutaway of a shell is really neat to see. You should make a video of a cutaway of some large cylinder shells to show the complexity of some of them. Those are very fun to make as well. Thanks again for the video!
@@Mental_Illboy You mean consumer or professional? IN professional there are probably no limits for that... I guess like 1000g salutes? But idk, im not a pro. In consumer fireworks the loudest one is not a shell, its a firecracker called Funkenschlag 10 by Funke. Ofc its not as loud as 1000g salute, about 100x less loud lol XD. Neh maybe not that much, but its still powerful. Its legal in all countries.
@Shawn Stafford Stars, burning by themselves on the ground, look a lot like match heads burning -- only bigger and more energetic. They are usually laced with barium (green) or strontium (red) and so on for color. It's basically the colorant, black powder and a binder, usually gum arabic.
@Shawn Stafford Star charges burn slowly with bright colors. Loud cannon with bright white explosion is the aluminum powder based "thunder" charges. These produce the bright white flashes without stars that we've all seen. Pop open a star charged mortar shell and light up one of the stars and you'll see what I mean. :-)
this video is more educational than most! This video gives a very good description of the difference between wicks professionals use ("quick paper burns way faster than I was expecting!) and the thicker, green wicks they use for consumer fireworks! I also didn't know they could use gunpowder-coated husks instead of just full black powder, nor that the arrangement of the stars could change the "petals" of the firework! Great video!
First off. Great video Hawk. Like your models. Everything is so well made. The most dangerous comp I can think of is Armstrong's mixture. Makes flash look mild by comparison. Really scary stuff. Not many people that have messed with it carelessly have survived with all their appendages.
@st1dinoh The reason a pile of black powder might burn for slightly longer is not because it is burning slower than the same BP on hulls, it is because the granules have a duration of burn time just like a tiny star. If two piles are measured by volume of hulls and BP and ignited at the same time, for the first fraction of a second both piles will put out an equal amount of gas. Since the hulls only had a thin coating of BP they run out of it quickly, the granules continue to burn to the core.
@TomashPL58 A blob of hot glue around the fuse on the outside of the shell works just fine. String and paste is the traditional method, but it is not necessary. Because the size of the hole into the shell is so small, though the pressure inside a mortar may get up into 100 psi, the pressure exerted onto pushing the fuse inward is less than 10 lbs.
@spamento It's easy to fill it with stars after it's been cut, the tricky part is creating the canisters to begin with, one on top of the other, spiking, pasting, then cutting down the middle. I would want some pasting cut away to expose the spiking also. I know how to get it done, but it will certainly be just as much work as building a real multibreak.
Thanks for the reply. I've noticed many of the big fireworks actually do look like a big 3D spheres when they burn, in contrast to just a ring. How do they do that?
The way the stars are placed in the shell so you could place the stars in a ring inside the shell and the stars will explode in the shape you place the stars
That's right. The heart shape should be made instead of the circle. On the outside of the heart shape there doesn't need to be any more burst charge, so the extra space between the stars and the walls of the shell can be packed with inert filler, like sawdust.
@matiam92 Yes, they are aligned inside the shell in the shape you want them to come out in. Often they are lightly glued to a piece of cardboard that is bent in the shape of a star or heart or whatever else.
while in the Navy we did port calls in Guatemala. for a dollar you cold get a local kid to go get you a "boomba" they looked pretty much like these. we used to roll them inside of bars or toss them thru windows. Seemed like a perfectly logical thing to do at the time after several cases of beer. When it was time to leave town, we would all meet up and pay for any damages we caused. They usually ended up with better furniture and decorations than when we got there.
@st1dinoh This is why hulls are good in shells. If you used granulated BP it would break just as hard, but then after the shell had exploded the granules would have only burned up their outer layer leaving the rest to be wasted by burning away in the air.
Nice job NHIL! I like how the shells turned out and how you used plain English to present the terms we use in pyrotechnics. Now, all we need is a multi-break cylinder shell :-)
hey great vid, verry informative and a great heads up for any kids( or adults) who find them selves in possession of a larger version w/ the quick fuse. as well as just in general. thanks
@spamento Thanks! I would love to make a multibreak cutaway, I've been thinking about that for a while. It would be a lot trickier than these ball shells were, but worth it. We'll see if I get around to it.
The most dangerous composition isn't the most sensitive one, it's whatever composition a person grows more comfortable handling than they rightly should be. No pyro worth his salt makes a batch of armstrongs in more than a pinhead quantity and thinks it's safe to treat carelessly, but people forget to keep a healthy apprehension about other compositions that are equally capable of harm, and in doing so have accidents involving huge quantities. Armstrongs hasn't been used in fireworks for 60yrs.
@WhatAreYouBuyen Yes, it is a full sphere inside the shell. If the stars were only in a one layer ring that is the same shape you would see in the sky, not a full sphere.
Yep. Small shells require a faster burning break charge than larger ones because there is less volume inside. Smaller grains burn faster than larger ones.
@marcomovies97 You do not need whistle or flash for any size shell. If you use quality black powder as burst and do a good job pasting it will work fine.
@Nighthawkinlight Wind the fuse with a little of string & glue from outside of shell to avoid fuse getting pushed inside when launched. Great work tough...
@gabrielleb74 The shaped fireworks literally have the shape they make laid out on the inside of the shell. The stars would look like a smiley face rather than circles. I did not cut these shells in half, I made them like this. They also do not contain anything flammable, it is all inert material so they can safely be used for demonstrations.
I had help in setting up for fireworks shows, but this was a very informative video. I now know some of the dynamics on how this all works. Wish I could participate in doing shows again. Thanks
They do that because many Chinese companies use really lousy time fuse that has an above average likelihood of going out. Two fuses are also sometimes used on very large or complex shells, where there's enough money or work into the shell that a fuse failure shouldn't be risked even if using quality fuse.
@st1dinoh That has not been my experience. They don't burn any faster, or slower than granulated BP. There is plenty of space between granules for fire to pass through when not using hulls. I frequently break canister shells with granulated BP, which is what is traditionally done in such shells. The break is certainly just as hard if not harder than hulls.
excellent video. you are my favorite youtube channel you share so much information and must spend hours creating these videos for our enjoyment. thank you
So metal tube for mortar, short quick match fuse (since it's what the pros use) and some nitroglycerin soaked wood shavings. Got it! Can't wait to make my own fireworks! Just gotta find my hot plate for doing the nitration.
Something I've often wondered about. Would have liked to see an animation, or maybe just some footage of this type of shell at the end, just to kind of satisfy that desire to see it blow that builds while watching.
No, flash powder is used only in small amounts in most fireworks, if at all. It is the most dangerous of all fireworks compositions so it is not used by professionals unless it is critical for a specific effect. It is easy to make which is why it is used so often by amateurs, but in doing so they are too inexperienced to realize the danger they put themselves in.
True. Armstrongs is not used in fireworks but is still used in toy paper caps to this day. On the other I can see where you are coming from. Kind of scary seeing some folks handle pyro comps as if they were throwing around bags of concrete. Being that cavalier can assist one in taking a dirt nap for sure.
Im a pyrotechnician. I set up and shoot class b and c shows and im also a member of a club where we manufacture and make our own from scratch. Its a lot of fun knowing you can make something not only explode, but do it with color and literally paint the sky with your handmade, personal design. I consider it artwork and its a huge passion of mine. I love this video. Its very well put together and very educational. A cutaway of a shell is really neat to see. You should make a video of a cutaway of some large cylinder shells to show the complexity of some of them. Those are very fun to make as well. Thanks again for the video!
What's the hardest loud salute bang on the market?
Do you sell your crafts ?
Awesome! When the kids get older and I have time for more hobbies and clubs that’s something I truly have a passion for. 🍻🤙🏽
Art is an Explosion!
-Deidara
@@Mental_Illboy You mean consumer or professional? IN professional there are probably no limits for that... I guess like 1000g salutes? But idk, im not a pro. In consumer fireworks the loudest one is not a shell, its a firecracker called Funkenschlag 10 by Funke. Ofc its not as loud as 1000g salute, about 100x less loud lol XD. Neh maybe not that much, but its still powerful. Its legal in all countries.
Took me 7 years but I finally made it, thanks for the upload!
We've been here a long time waiting for you to turn up.
I think I've got one of the 6" versions in my shed. I'll just grab my angle grinder and see....
And that's the last we heard from him..
Bring a few candles or lighters, so it's bright enough to see in the shed... safety first... You wouldn't want it too dark in the shed.
[ loud explosion ]
Just grab the cutting torch
@@chriswesney Bet me to it lol, was just about to say grab a oxy torch then saw your comment
I would like to see how one of these black spheres burn, when ignited on the ground. :)
tsavorit52 this would be cool to see in slow-mo as it burned
@Shawn Stafford Stars, burning by themselves on the ground, look a lot like match heads burning -- only bigger and more energetic. They are usually laced with barium (green) or strontium (red) and so on for color. It's basically the colorant, black powder and a binder, usually gum arabic.
@Shawn Stafford Star charges burn slowly with bright colors. Loud cannon with bright white explosion is the aluminum powder based "thunder" charges. These produce the bright white flashes without stars that we've all seen. Pop open a star charged mortar shell and light up one of the stars and you'll see what I mean. :-)
This should be on the discovery channel. Thanks very much :D
This video was very well presented. Thank you.
This was a good video to me. Not too long not too short just the right amount of information and depth for me. Thanks
this video is more educational than most! This video gives a very good description of the difference between wicks professionals use ("quick paper burns way faster than I was expecting!) and the thicker, green wicks they use for consumer fireworks! I also didn't know they could use gunpowder-coated husks instead of just full black powder, nor that the arrangement of the stars could change the "petals" of the firework! Great video!
i have seen many videos but never got a video like this thanks
this is the clearest , best,and most informative video i have ever seen good job
First off. Great video Hawk. Like your models. Everything is so well made. The most dangerous comp I can think of is Armstrong's mixture. Makes flash look mild by comparison. Really scary stuff. Not many people that have messed with it carelessly have survived with all their appendages.
by far the best explanation of firework shells on youtube!
Thank you for making this forty forevers ago. It is VERY fascinating and educational, indeed!
I had often wondered how the shell's were made, thank's very much.
@imnotrlly18yrsold drq40 is correct. The fuse is not extended because it does not need to be in order to reach the center of such a small shell.
That shell is a thing of beauty, fantastic job!
@st1dinoh The reason a pile of black powder might burn for slightly longer is not because it is burning slower than the same BP on hulls, it is because the granules have a duration of burn time just like a tiny star. If two piles are measured by volume of hulls and BP and ignited at the same time, for the first fraction of a second both piles will put out an equal amount of gas. Since the hulls only had a thin coating of BP they run out of it quickly, the granules continue to burn to the core.
I’ve always been interested to know what’s in there. Thanks, homie!
Much more instructive than the usual "how to make ...... fireworks" on youtube. Well done!
@TomashPL58 A blob of hot glue around the fuse on the outside of the shell works just fine. String and paste is the traditional method, but it is not necessary. Because the size of the hole into the shell is so small, though the pressure inside a mortar may get up into 100 psi, the pressure exerted onto pushing the fuse inward is less than 10 lbs.
@spamento It's easy to fill it with stars after it's been cut, the tricky part is creating the canisters to begin with, one on top of the other, spiking, pasting, then cutting down the middle. I would want some pasting cut away to expose the spiking also. I know how to get it done, but it will certainly be just as much work as building a real multibreak.
Thanks for the reply. I've noticed many of the big fireworks actually do look like a big 3D spheres when they burn, in contrast to just a ring. How do they do that?
The King of Random not sure
@@user-yo6wt2uk9o rip kor
The way the stars are placed in the shell so you could place the stars in a ring inside the shell and the stars will explode in the shape you place the stars
Rest in peace Grant T.
Late to the game, but you are looking at a 2D cutout of a shell. A real shell has stars in a sphere all around the shell.
That's right. The heart shape should be made instead of the circle. On the outside of the heart shape there doesn't need to be any more burst charge, so the extra space between the stars and the walls of the shell can be packed with inert filler, like sawdust.
Awesome video! Simple, short, and educational. Well done and thanks.
though i saw lot of videos i was never satisfied with them , but i am really really satisfied with your video thanks once again
@rakoonpunk The black powder charge that is attached under the time fuse is what fires it into the air. A 6" shell can be 5 lbs or more.
wow,i learn something new every time i watch one of your videos!
Great to see you doing fireworks again :)
@matiam92 Yes, they are aligned inside the shell in the shape you want them to come out in. Often they are lightly glued to a piece of cardboard that is bent in the shape of a star or heart or whatever else.
while in the Navy we did port calls in Guatemala. for a dollar you cold get a local kid to go get you a "boomba" they looked pretty much like these. we used to roll them inside of bars or toss them thru windows. Seemed like a perfectly logical thing to do at the time after several cases of beer. When it was time to leave town, we would all meet up and pay for any damages we caused. They usually ended up with better furniture and decorations than when we got there.
@st1dinoh This is why hulls are good in shells. If you used granulated BP it would break just as hard, but then after the shell had exploded the granules would have only burned up their outer layer leaving the rest to be wasted by burning away in the air.
They are regulated by weight. A lightly packed 3" would be acceptable, but there's a reason I said "approximately" in the video.
Excellent, clear and instructional. Thank you.
Very interesting to see how the star shells are made as you see them at all firework show and can only guess on the more complex ones are made.
Very nice looking cross-sections and very good explanation of the workings!
Nice job NHIL! I like how the shells turned out and how you used plain English to present the terms we use in pyrotechnics. Now, all we need is a multi-break cylinder shell :-)
you should do some ball shell tutorials.
awesome vids, keep them coming.
@dannydude77 Glad to hear it, thanks for your comment
hey great vid, verry informative and a great heads up for any kids( or adults) who find them selves in possession of a larger version w/ the quick fuse. as well as just in general. thanks
you have done clear job on this keep it up
This video was very informative and entertaining. Thank you
Fascinating. Thank you. 👍
The best firework video ever seen. Thank you
@spamento Thanks! I would love to make a multibreak cutaway, I've been thinking about that for a while. It would be a lot trickier than these ball shells were, but worth it. We'll see if I get around to it.
The most dangerous composition isn't the most sensitive one, it's whatever composition a person grows more comfortable handling than they rightly should be. No pyro worth his salt makes a batch of armstrongs in more than a pinhead quantity and thinks it's safe to treat carelessly, but people forget to keep a healthy apprehension about other compositions that are equally capable of harm, and in doing so have accidents involving huge quantities. Armstrongs hasn't been used in fireworks for 60yrs.
@WhatAreYouBuyen Yes, it is a full sphere inside the shell. If the stars were only in a one layer ring that is the same shape you would see in the sky, not a full sphere.
Yep. Small shells require a faster burning break charge than larger ones because there is less volume inside. Smaller grains burn faster than larger ones.
@marcomovies97 You do not need whistle or flash for any size shell. If you use quality black powder as burst and do a good job pasting it will work fine.
@Nighthawkinlight Wind the fuse with a little of string & glue from outside of shell to avoid fuse getting pushed inside when launched. Great work tough...
@gabrielleb74 The shaped fireworks literally have the shape they make laid out on the inside of the shell. The stars would look like a smiley face rather than circles. I did not cut these shells in half, I made them like this. They also do not contain anything flammable, it is all inert material so they can safely be used for demonstrations.
I had help in setting up for fireworks shows, but this was a very informative video. I now know some of the dynamics on how this all works. Wish I could participate in doing shows again. Thanks
They do that because many Chinese companies use really lousy time fuse that has an above average likelihood of going out. Two fuses are also sometimes used on very large or complex shells, where there's enough money or work into the shell that a fuse failure shouldn't be risked even if using quality fuse.
i really liked this. never knew how they worked.. i learned something and enjoyed it
Educational AND entertaining- thanks.
@st1dinoh That has not been my experience. They don't burn any faster, or slower than granulated BP. There is plenty of space between granules for fire to pass through when not using hulls. I frequently break canister shells with granulated BP, which is what is traditionally done in such shells. The break is certainly just as hard if not harder than hulls.
Excellent explanation.
@DIChronicAddict1 Cool, thanks for the comment. I hope you learned something.
Very, very well done. You put a lot of work into it!
Great video! Would really love to see a pile of that rice burn though..
go to any honda video
FANTASTIC INFO/INPUT
@Nighthawkinlight Do you know how to make the airburst effect they use indoors like at concerts and what not? if you do please make a video!
@Finch723652 I do. The video description has some information about how you can go about learning to build fireworks legally.
excellent video. you are my favorite youtube channel you share so much information and must spend hours creating these videos for our enjoyment. thank you
i'm not really into fireworks or anything, but this video was still very interesting!
Love your videos nighthawk, keep it up!
And I always thought a rice burner was a Honda civic with a fart can on the back.
Made me laugh
Around here we call 'em fart cannons...
@Shawn Stafford I like a sleeper: Quiet but quick
I died, thanks 😂🤣
@Shawn Stafford A stock looking civic of course lol
So metal tube for mortar, short quick match fuse (since it's what the pros use) and some nitroglycerin soaked wood shavings. Got it! Can't wait to make my own fireworks! Just gotta find my hot plate for doing the nitration.
i dig your videos, man. although i already knew how they work, it was still a good video! it never gets old.
@ras464 A Sanyo Xacti vpc-cg20. It's a great camera for the price.
Another great video
Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.
thats a really good video nice job and now im going to make one
Nicely done. Grate videos keep em coming
i have no idea about what is he talking about but that looks like delicious...
Superb description and examples.
Thank you!
1:44 the fuse is lit ;)
very educational, like every video of your's
beautifully explained
Not sure why this is in my recommended list but interesting video non the less :)
I would've liked to see a demo. Only because your explanation is right on.
I'm not even interested in the topic but the explanation was very concise and easy to follow, thanks.
i loved that video please make more ! 5/5! fav
OMG A DOCTOR WHO AD FINALLY waiting for it yeysysysysy
Thank you for posting this as a scientist I really appreciate this
Good explanation. However if you had shown the single petal and double petal shell exploding in the air it would be great .
what a brilliant video, thanks
Best explination I have heard. thanks for posting this.
Who would dislike this guy?!?!
@kevinmeehan71 Kraft paper. Similar to what paper grocery bags are made of.
Excellent video, I've always have wondered how it was done.
Did not know this stuff. Thank you.
Something I've often wondered about. Would have liked to see an animation, or maybe just some footage of this type of shell at the end, just to kind of satisfy that desire to see it blow that builds while watching.
No, flash powder is used only in small amounts in most fireworks, if at all. It is the most dangerous of all fireworks compositions so it is not used by professionals unless it is critical for a specific effect. It is easy to make which is why it is used so often by amateurs, but in doing so they are too inexperienced to realize the danger they put themselves in.
You should also show that in operation. Nice explanation!
@Nighthawkinlight Thank you, you are a very smart man
explained very well and answered my little 5 year olds question. thank u!
True. Armstrongs is not used in fireworks but is still used in toy paper caps to this day. On the other I can see where you are coming from. Kind of scary seeing some folks handle pyro comps as if they were throwing around bags of concrete. Being that cavalier can assist one in taking a dirt nap for sure.
Fascinating. Thank you.
Great Info Mang
Make more vids with more detail I’m sure you’ll get lots of views. This left me wanting to know more :)