why the aluminum foil? other rack/setup inquiries

[dfluke]

As someone new to rack building (I've only made one, and the design wasn't that great - http://www.dustinfluke.com/blog/archives/000022.html) I'm not even sure I'll continue to use it since discovering fiberglass mortar tubes and I've found a hole bit that will be the right size to make plugs. Without the plugs, I can't do any angle racks. But I digress.

My question is about the foil. I've seen photos posted here and there of display setups with foil on the tops of the racks/boxes. Is there a purpose for this other than preventing accidental ignition?

I also noticed a lot of racks use sticky match (tape with powder). I'm going to be making some fuse for this year and wondered what's better, quick match or sticky? (does it depend on if one also wants black match?)

Hopefully I'll be a lot smarter and more informed at Don's thunder in the plains event I'm planning on attending.

Thanks.

[Colin]

Haha...now I wince when I look back at that first rack design, knowing how much work went into each one (since I made five of them). Plugged tubes have made rackbuilding a lot easier!

The purpose of the foil is, as you suspected, to prevent stray sparks/stars from igniting other fuses prematurely. It also protects the shells from light rain.

I'd say that if you can get stickymatch, use it. I personally believe quickmatch is a bit more reliable, but it's a pain to make, and there's the whole legality issue of manufacturing/using it without an ATF license.

[dfluke]

I suppose the foil is left on when fired?:confused:

[SkiingPyro]

Yes, the foil stays on when fired. The shells blow right through it.

I like to use commercial sticky match because, from my experience, it burns at a much more consistent rate than quick match does. This is because it doesn't kink like quick match does, and also due to the nature of its manufacture, it is better protected from moisture. Sticky match also comes in various burn rates so you can get fast or slow finale, or whatever else they have. It may sound silly, but very subtle timing makes a world of difference.

[JoeRatman]

I use foil a lot in my S&S shows. It allows me to put items closer together, but cuts down premature ignition of items by other items. Even a lowly 5" tube fountain will blow through aluminum foil. But it does give out stray sparks.

Although, most of it stays on the pyrotechnic item, I find I end up with little pieces of foil laying about the fire zone after a show.

I like SM (commerical) over QM because it is easier to use. If you have a whole line of fuses to ignite, you just roll out the sticky over them.

[MrX8503]

I feel dumb for asking this, but how excatly is the tin foil covering the tubes before lighting it? Is it individual or over the whole thing?

Can someone show me a picture?

[Deweycoon]

Take a whole sheet over the mortars and hold it in place with a few pieces of tape stuck to the side of the mortars.
Here is a link to a good example.
http://www.pyroreview.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2652/sort/2/cat/504/page/2