| Using The Proper Black Powder For Your Project | | | | There are four simple steps in making black |
| Black powder, the key component in all fireworks, | | | | powder, once you master these, it will all be |
| consisting of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and | | | | second nature allowing you to concentrate on |
| sulfur. All put together in the proper percentages | | | | manufacturing your product. |
| will produce the desired effect. There are | | | | Setting Up Your Fireworks Display |
| different grades of black powder, all used for | | | | You should set up a small pre-show, nothing to |
| specific applications. For example the two types | | | | spectacular leading up to the main display. This is |
| are sporting, which consist of your FG, FFG, FFFG, | | | | usually done a half hour before the show. Kinda |
| FFFFG Grades and so on. Then there's blasting, | | | | wetting the audiences appetite for whats to |
| which are your "A" grade powders, most | | | | come down the road, it will also build anticipation |
| frequently used in fireworks. 2FA, 4FA and | | | | for the main display. |
| Meal-D, these are the grades that make it all | | | | You can set off some smoke cakes, they look |
| happen. So you see, the proper black powder is | | | | pretty good against the twilight sky and a couple |
| needed as per your project. | | | | of parachute cakes which will give the children |
| Making Quality Black Powder At Home | | | | something to chase and collect. But make sure |
| Being that you need a BATFE license to buy | | | | these parachutes do not come back to earth with |
| commercial 2FA black powder in bulk {50 or 100 | | | | anything hot attached to them as to not injure |
| lbs at a time}at the current price of $7-8 per | | | | the kids. Then we can launch some sky lanterns |
| pound, you can see how the costs can add up. So | | | | at dusk. They only take a few minutes to launch |
| making your own is the most cost effective way | | | | and fly away. The crowd always gets quite as |
| to go and the good news is that it is federally | | | | they watch them disappear. |
| legal to make your own without an ATF license. | | | | You will save time, money and effort by doing all |
| But check your state and local laws first to make | | | | these steps yourself. Making your own materials |
| sure you comply. | | | | to make your own fireworks can also be a lot of |
| Many would argue the very first most important | | | | fun. You'll have control over the quality of the |
| step to learning the art of fireworking is tackling | | | | product so that will never be an issue, and the |
| the skill of making high-quality black powder. Once | | | | ability to set up your own pyro display with |
| this is achieved, the sky is the limit. You'll be able | | | | confidence. |
| to go in any direction you want, experimenting in | | | | This of course are just a few things covered in |
| ground effects, sound effects and most | | | | making fireworks. Every aspect of the process is |
| important sky effects at next to no cost... You | | | | covered from different types of fireworks to the |
| can also accomplish all of this with store bought | | | | steps used to make them to the materials used |
| powder but then your money would be going up | | | | in the process. |
| in smoke, {literally} because of the cost involved. | | | | |