New Year is associated with a good mood, a plentiful festive table, tangerines and, of course, sparklers. Nothing creates an atmosphere of comfort, a real holiday, and a bright belief in magic like these unusual and bright sparklers. They are always easy to find in any store on the eve of the holidays. But if you want to create unique sparklers of your own thickness and shape chosen by you, it will not be difficult. To do this, we will need your perseverance, some materials and the desire to do something extraordinary.
How to make sparklers with your own hands?
To create sparklers you need:
Starch.
. Pyrotechnic mixture.
. Bertholet's salt.
. Metal shavings.
. Several wires.
. A vessel or any container.
1. First you need to boil the starch and get a special paste for our sparklers. In order to make the sparks brighter, we use a pyrotechnic mixture. If you have noticed various beautiful colors in the process of lighting sparklers, we hasten to inform you that this is the effect of different types of salts. Let's use bertholite salt as an oxidizing agent.
2 . We erase all the above elements into powder, but at the same time we will remember that it is very dangerous to mix bertholite salt with metal shavings, so be careful and do not forget about the peculiarities of chemical processes.
3. You need to add paste to the resulting mixture and mix everything thoroughly.
4. After this, you need to pour the mixture into a deeper container so that it is convenient to work with metal wire.
5. It is necessary to gradually and slowly dip the wire into the mixture, allow excess amounts of this mixture to drain off and leave to dry for a while.
6. Repeat this type of dipping so many times until the thickness of the mixture on the wire reaches 5-6 mm.
7 . After this, let our sparklers dry thoroughly, and feel free to use them.
Sparkler- a pyrotechnic product, which is a metal rod coated with a flammable mixture, which, when burned, gives a beautiful sparkling flame. The main advantage of this pyrotechnic product is the possibility of using it indoors (at festive tables), because When fuel burns, no harmful substances are released into the air.
Who invented sparklers
In ancient India (5th – 6th centuries AD), on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, religious ceremonies were held in the temples of Bengal. For many years they were carried out using fire. The clergy wanted to attract as many people as possible to the rituals. To do this, it was necessary to come up with something bright and effective. And so they gave the task to pyrotechnicians to invent such a fire that it would fascinate all people with its flame. It is unknown who exactly invented sparklers, but such a fire appeared at one of the ceremonies. It was of extraordinary brightness and beauty; hundreds of sparks emanated from it, which did not cause any burns. This made a huge impression on people and word of the miracle fire quickly spread throughout the Bay Area. In total, two types of fire were developed: “Evil” and “Blessed”. The first one contained sulfur, which released an unpleasant odor when burned. The second type of fire did not emit an unpleasant odor; apparently, rosin was used instead of sulfur.
In the 8th century Pyrotechnicians invented colored lights: yellow, blue, green. In addition, a way was found to increase the burning time; plant stems and wide leaves twisted into a tube were used for this. Merchants brought sparklers to Europe after trade routes between Europe and India were opened. This type of pyrotechnics quickly gained popularity, and not a single festive event was complete without sparklers.
Modern sparklers do not contain harmful substances. Components: barium nitride, magnesium or aluminum powder, starch or dextrin, oxidized steel filings.
How to make a sparkler
This pyrotechnic product is quite easy to make at home, you just need to acquire the necessary components and mix them in certain proportions.
We present to your attention three compositions described in the book by G.A. Platov “Pyrotechnician. The art of making fireworks." All these recipes are free of sulfur, sodium and potassium salts. Thanks to this, you can use them without fear for your health.
First composition:
- Barium nitrate 50%
- Blued steel filings 30%
- Dextrin 12 - 14%
- Aluminum powder 6 – 8%
Second composition:
- Barium nitrate 50%
- Cast iron burnished sawdust 30%
- Dextrin 12 – 14%
- Aluminum-magnesium powder (PAM) No. 4 6 – 8%
Third line-up:
- Barium nitrate 50%
- Blued steel filings 30%
- Dextrin 12 – 14%
- Magnesium powder No. 4 6 – 8%
These compositions allow you to make sparklers with your own hands.
We will show an example of manufacturing using a different composition (without using barium nitrate).
Making sparklers
To make 6 - 8 pieces, you will need:
- Cast iron sawdust (medium grain) 5-6 gr.
- Aluminum powder 5 gr.
- Dextrin 2 gr.
- Steel rods (thickness 1 mm.)
Aluminum powder We produce according to a recipe optimally suitable for pyrotechnic products.
To do this, mix:
- Potassium nitrate 50%
- Aluminum powder 35%
- Sulfur 15%
The mixture must be thoroughly ground in a mortar.
Since gunpowder contains sulfur, manufactured sparklers cannot be used indoors.
Dextrin made from starch. Sprinkle starch evenly onto a baking sheet and place it in the oven preheated to 200ºC. We bake it for about an hour and a half, stirring occasionally (make sure that the starch does not melt or roll into lumps). As a result, the powder will turn yellowish-brown in color.
So, all the components are ready and we can start making the sparkler.
We cut the steel wire into pieces 12 - 15 cm long. At one end, we bend these pieces (making a hook). Important! It is necessary to use steel rods; aluminum or copper will not work; they will simply melt when burned.
Pour 5 grams of aluminum powder and 2 grams of dextrin powder into a glass. Mix well, then add 6 grams of metal filings to the mixture (you can add cast iron, they give yellow sparks; aluminum or titanium, they give white sparks). Mix.
Pour the composition into the flask and add a little water or alcohol. Bring the mixture to the consistency of condensed milk.
Now we immerse the prepared steel rods into the substance by 8 - 10 cm. Let the composition adhering to the wire dry. It will take about 15 minutes to dry.
Then apply a second layer and let dry again. Thus, you need to apply 5 layers. During drying, do not forget to cover the flask so that the liquid does not evaporate from the composition.
This is what DIY sparklers will look like.
It's time for testing.
As you can see, homemade sparklers (specifically these ones) produce few sparks. The reason for this is the fact that during manufacturing only 3 grams of cast iron filings were added to the composition. But if you strictly follow the instructions described above and add 6 grams of sawdust to the composition, then there will be much more sparks (as in real lights).
Based on materials from the site: vzrivpaket.com
The main difference between sparklers and other pyrotechnic products is their ability to be used indoors. They are used to create a festive atmosphere at birthdays and other celebrations.
Today, sparklers can be of different sizes, have different shapes, and create not only light but also sound effects. A large selection of pyrotechnics is presented on the website http://www.bah-bah.ru/rzd-9.html.
What is a sparkler
This pyrotechnic product was invented in ancient India on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, which is why these flying sparks are called “sparklers”.
Today, several varieties of sparklers are produced in factory conditions, for each of which a special recipe has been developed. The basis of a sparkler candle is steel wire coated with a mixture, the combustion of which produces a white fire with sparks flying in different directions.
During the combustion process, no smoke or other harmful substances are generated. This is due to the absence of sulfur and sodium and potassium salts in the mixture. Thanks to this feature, we can light sparklers indoors and decorate cakes with them.
What is a sparkler made of?
There are several recipes for producing beautiful fiery sparks. The simplest of them is the following:
- aluminum gunpowder. You will need 5 grams of it. When burned, this substance emits acrid smoke, so such candles can only be used outdoors;
- dextrin is introduced into the composition as an adhesive, ensuring the bonding of the combustible mixture with the wire;
- Cast iron filings should be medium in size, do not use fine powder. The presence of metal filings in the mixture ensures the appearance of sparks;
- thick wire. It is necessary to use steel wire, since other metals and alloys may melt during combustion.
To make candles, we will also need a flask or other tall container.
Manufacturing process
First, all ingredients are mixed in a container of suitable size. After the metal filings have been added to the gunpowder and dextrin glue, a small amount of water must be added to the mixture. The result should be the consistency of thick sour cream or condensed milk.
The finished mixture is moved into a narrow flask, and blanks of the same length are cut from steel wire. At the end of each wire stick you should make a small hook, from which candles will be hung for drying.
Each metal stick is dipped into the solution and sent to dry. This action should be repeated several times to ensure that the layer of the combustible mixture is sufficiently thick.
Master class on making sparklers - in this video:
Sparkler- this is a manual pyrotechnic
a product consisting of a mixture of substances spread on a wire, which
when burned, it produces a bright and sparkling white or colored fire.
Bengal
fire was invented by the ancient pyrotechnicians of Bengal - part of India,
located along the Bay of Bengal. That's where the name comes from
"sparkler". Sparklers, or sparklers, from India
spread throughout the world.
Purchased (factory)
Bengal candles consist of steel wire on which is applied
flammable mixture, and usually produces a white fire with branching sparks.
Main
The difference between sparklers and the main part of pyrotechnics is
the ability to use them indoors, on holidays
tables Such products do not emit hazardous substances to human health.
combustion products.
Compositions of sparklers have long been
invented and tested, the reagents are relatively accessible.
I will provide you with the compositions of sparklers by Platov:
Composition No. 1
Barium nitrate…………………………50%
Dextrin……………………………12-14%
Aluminum powder……………….6-8%
Burnished steel filings……30%
Composition No. 2
Barium nitrate…………………………50%
Dextrin……………………………12-14%
PAM No. 4……………………………6-8%
Burnished cast iron sawdust……30%
Composition No. 3
Barium nitrate…………………………50%
Dextrin……………………………12-14%
Magnesium powder No. 4………….6-8%
Burnished steel filings…….30%
(PAM – Aluminum-Magnesium Powder)
How
you see, in all compositions there is no sulfur and salts (sodium, potassium),
due to which the composition does not emit smoke or substances harmful to the body.
U
Unfortunately, I do not have access to Barium Nitrate (which in most
cases can only be purchased in chemical stores), so I will describe to you another
composition and method of making sparklers that can be safely
use outdoors, just like factory products.
My sparkler composition is as follows:
Aluminum powder – 5g
Dextrin – 2g
Cast iron sawdust – 5-6g
The specified quantity is enough for 6-8 pieces.
Aluminum gunpowder was used in the proportion for pyrotechnics - 50:15:35.
This is the main flammable composition that will produce a bright white fire.
Gunpowder contains sulfur, which will produce smoke when burned, so
Sparklers with this composition can only be used on fresh
air.
Dextrin
homemade was used, it binds our composition, provides
good fastening of it with wire, reduces the burning rate of al.
gunpowder
Crushed cast iron filings were also used,
which form flying sparks. They should be average
grainy, not powder!
Instead of cast iron filings, you can also use iron, titanium, steel, and possibly aluminum.
From
We will need a small container for mixing the composition and
a tall narrow vessel, a glass flask is best, but you can
use a blank thick marker.
How
Practice has shown that the composition can only be mixed in a plastic case
from vitamin “Revit”, in a jar from vitamin “Undevit and Pikovit” composition
becomes very bad and may not light up at all. In a jar from
vitamin “Hexavit” it is not recommended to mix the composition, as it
may detonate from excessive mechanical stress, and ready-made
sparklers will fly out of your hands like rockets. I described this
a very important point, because beginners often neglect technique
safety! And you need to know every nuance.
And so, it's simple:
1. You already have your aluminum powder ready, pour 5g into a container and put it in there
pour in 2g of dry dextrin, mix well, then 5-6g
metal filings. Cast iron produces the most beautiful, branching yellow
sparks. Aluminum and titanium produce white sparks.
2.
First you need to prepare steel (!) pieces of wire length
12-15cm, 1mm thick, and make curved hooks on all of them at one end.
The wire must be steel, not copper or aluminum,
because the combustion temperature of al is high. gunpowder can literally
melt and burn.
3. Now pour the composition into the flask and add a little solvent (water or alcohol) to the consistency of condensed milk, mix.
(The composition is then very easily washed off with water from any dishes and hands.)
4.
At the next stage we need to soak and coat the wire in liquid
composition (if there is little composition and it is all at the bottom, then just turn it over
flask horizontally so that the composition sticks to the desired piece of wire -
about 8-10cm.)
Shake the excess mass (droplets) into the flask so that they do not drip onto the floor later.
5. There should be 5 layers in total, after the first layer the wire will only thicken a little, this is a primer, so to speak...
Then we hang it by the hooks and dry it on a line for about 15 minutes.
Cover the flask with a lid during this time so that the water does not evaporate and the composition does not dry out.
This is what it looks like after the 3rd layer:
Hang to dry again for 20-30 minutes, during which time you can go about your business.
These are ready-made and dried sparklers after 5 layers of composition:
It’s not as smooth and beautiful as from the packaging, but we don’t need that, we’re not at the factory.
That's all, these sparklers are easy to light and burn beautifully:
Attention!
So that there are no questions. I made this composition for the first time and put everything
3g of cast iron filings, that's why there are so few sparks. There wasn't enough for a second portion
dextrin. Therefore, do everything as indicated in the proportion, put 6g
sawdust (it will be a very small pile in volume) and you will have
enough sparks, like in real fires.
Bengal lights are an indispensable attribute of any fun holiday - New Year, birthday (and not only children's), wedding. They cost pennies, are sold everywhere, and are absolutely safe for lighting indoors. However, people still continue to be interested; creating colorful joy with their children is both interesting and increases the anticipation of the holiday. Moreover, the process itself is simple, and the necessary substances are quite accessible.
Composition recipes
Craftsmen have come up with several ways to do it yourself. Depending on what is easier for you to get, you can choose any of the recipes. In one group we include compositions that necessarily include 50% of the total mass of barium nitrate and 12-14 percent of dextrin. Additional ingredients can be selected from the following list:
- From 6 to 8% fine aluminum powder plus 30% sawdust - always steel and burnished.
- The same amount of similar sawdust is added to the base, and the powder is replaced with PAM No. 4 - this is short for aluminum-magnesium powder.
All options are good because they do not contain potassium/sodium salts or sulfur, so the candles will not produce smoke, as well as various kinds of toxins. Result: lights can be used in the home without fear of poisoning.
Another composition has a radically different recipe. For 6-8 lights, take aluminum gunpowder weighing 5 grams, dextrin - 2 grams and sawdust, this time cast iron, which will take from 5 to 6 g. These lights will have to be used only in the fresh air.
Obtaining the necessary ingredients
It is not always possible to buy some of the necessary substances. So before you make a sparkler at home, you may have to start preparing the components. The simplest situation is with dextrin: it is formed when ordinary starch is heated in the oven. The temperature is set to 195 Celsius, processing is carried out until the original substance acquires a brownish tint.
If you decide on a recipe with aluminum gunpowder, you will have to do it outdoors. Aluminum powder and sulfur are ground in a mortar in proportions of 30:45:25.
Important: wire
It is worth paying attention to the base by which you will hold your “fireworks”. There are also several subtleties here. First, the length: cut the wire into pieces of at least 14 cm. This way you will protect your hand from sparks or hot metal. Secondly, thickness. Take wire with a cross-section of 2-3 mm. A thinner one may burn out and break. Thirdly, the material. Neither copper nor aluminum are suitable - the combustion temperature of the mixtures is high, and they will simply melt. Look and don’t forget, before making a sparkler at home, bend one end into a hook so that you can hang it to dry. If the bend bothers you, you can straighten it later or bite it off.
How to make a sparkler with your own hands: instructions
In addition to all the chemicals and rods, you will need a container in which to prepare the composition. First, aluminum gunpowder or barium salt is poured into it, then dextrin, and only after mixing - the remaining components of the selected mixture. When the dry powder is mixed until approximately homogeneous, a little solvent is poured into it (water is possible, but alcohol is better). The consistency should resemble boiled condensed milk. A piece of wire is lowered into the composition, leaving 5-7 cm for the “handle”. The future sparkler is hung to dry for a quarter of an hour, after which the manipulations are repeated twice more. Three layers will dry for half an hour, and then two more are applied in the manner already described. Final drying will take half a day, and you can set it on fire.
Another way
Often people use a slightly different technology on how to make sparklers at home. First, a strong paste is prepared from starch and tap water. Then an incendiary mixture is ground, which includes fine iron filings, magnesium powder (alternatively aluminum), kitchen salt and Bertoletova. The latter must be handled carefully and wetted a little before pouring. The mixture is kneaded in brewed starch until smooth. The rods are dipped into the finished product in the same way with time intervals between applying layers.
Loading...