Methods of IGNITION
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Methods of IGNITION |
There are many different methods of lighting fireworks, some better than
others. When it comes to lighting off your display, you need something
that is fast and reliable in order to keep things moving. The weather will
not always be favorable - at some point, you will probably have to fire a show
in rain, wind, or other crappy conditions.
Electrical
| The most ideal method of lighting fireworks is electronic ignition. It eliminates any need for an open flame, and allows the user to stand a safe distance away while he ignites the fireworks. Fireworks in multiple locations can be ignited simultaneously or in any desired order/pattern - there is no stumbling around in the dark trying to locate fuses. Since all items are prepared and wired beforehand, you don't have to worry about trying to stabilize or brace items in the dark. Unfortunately, electrical control systems can difficult to obtain - they're quite expensive, and can require a lot of time and patience if you plan on building your own. Plus, there's the added complications of dealing with electricity, stringing wires, and hooking up e-matches. |
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Propane Torches
| Since the majority of people don't have access to electrical firing systems (or don't want to use them), propane torches are the next best thing. The searing blue flame cannot be put out by wind or rain, and ignites fuses with a single pass. Newer types have a sparking unit built into the nozzle, so all you have to do is open the valve and press the button. The only downside is that propane torches can be somewhat expensive, and they don't product a lot of light - you'd need a flashlight at night to be able to find your way around and locate an item's fuse. |
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Road Flares
| Road flares have long been used by professionals to fire displays because of their effectiveness - they are inexpensive, produce a large amount of light, and they easily ignite fuses. Since flares carry their own oxygen in a bound (powdered) form, they can't be put out by wind or rain. However, flares aren't a good idea to use when firing a consumer fireworks display. They create a tremendous amount of red light, which can distract from the fireworks by overwhelming the light that they create. The brightness of the light makes it nearly impossible to see the fuse of the firework you're trying to light, unless you're wearing sunglasses. They burn at extremely high temperatures and can cause nasty, painful burns if they aren't used carefully. The burning reaction also creates a large amount of "dross" (hot, liquid waste products) which periodically burst out in a geyser-like fashion, which could burn you or start things on fire. |
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Mini-Butane Torches
| These devices are supped-up lighters that burn their fuel at a faster rate to produce a hot, often bluish-colored flame that usually makes an impressive "whoosh" sound. They're good at lighting fuses (or punks). Most torches are refillable, and have adjustable flames. On the negative side, though, they don't produce much light, so they're not good for finding fuses in the dark. For some reason, they don't work well in cold weather conditions, and they always break down after a couple hundred lights. And despite how hot the flame is, it is easily blown out by wind. |  |
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Punks
| Punks are sticks of compressed sawdust that resemble sparklers. When lit, they burn slowly down their length, allowing you to light fireworks. Most fireworks assortments come with several punks, but they can also be bought separately for a few pennies each - or even for free. They last a long time (up to an hour), and since there's no open flame, they can't be blown out by wind. However, they aren't very reliable: the burning ends constantly go out and need to be re-lit with matches or a torch. Even the slightest amount of moisture or rain will soak into the wood, making it unable to burn. Ash also builds up on the end that's burning, requiring you to blow on the punk right as you're trying to light a fuse with it. |
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Matches
| Though matches are cheap and easy to obtain, they aren't the best choice for lighting fireworks. They get blown out easily, which means that you usually have to carry around several books of them if you plan on lighting off any significant number of fireworks. They can, however, be useful if you use them correctly: when a match ignites, the head flares up briefly before the flame dies down and begins burning normally. During that split second period, the match is impervious to moderate wind or even rain, and can ignite fuses quite easily. |  |
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Butane Lighters
| I've found that regular butane cigarette lighters are worse than matches. Though they're easier to carry around, they're unreliable and awkward to use. The flame is usually small, weak, and can't be adjusted (since it was designed to light with no wind), making it vulnerable to even the slightest bit of wind. After a couple dozen or so lights, your thumb will start to get sore from trying to spin the wheel against the flint. They're difficult to ignite in cold conditions, and at some point will stop working altogether. | |||||
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Safest method
Can be complicated to set up/learn to use
