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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 6, 2014 1:47:46 GMT -5
Time for me to ask questions on how to light up my fireworks safely and properly. I'm a perfectionist and want my homemade shows to be the best I can possible make (and also safe). First of all to avoid confusion in my questions, I will be using COBRA Remote Firing System with Talon Clip. So nothing will be fired by hand besides the sound warning before the show. I apologize if the questions I ask may sound dumb but I'm a newbie 
Question #1 When setting up my fireworks, how do I make sure they don't ignite each others? Should I use Duck Tape, Tin Foil or Foil Tape? And what about fireworks where the fuse is on top? If I need to cover it, won't the Foil Tape or whatever I put on it obstruct the launch of the shell?
Question #2 What is the safe distance between each cakes, roman candle, barrage, etc? Can some of them be stick together? I'm asking because I want to build racks to make patterns for multiple roman candle, comets, cakes, etc.
Question #3 Next year I will probably buy the Audio Box from COBRA and COBRA Show Editor. When I will set up the show on the program, how do I make sure there is no delay when synchronizing fireworks with parts of the beat? I mean, I know I need to cut the fuse in a 45 degree angle as close as possible to the tube (with enough length for Talon Clip of course) so it lights up faster. But what I mean is once it fires, the shell in the air takes some time to blow up. I hope I'm explaining this properly  I guess the answer to that is knowing the fireworks well in order to time it right... Am I correct? If so, I need to test what I use before or are the videos accurate? (Dumb question I guess )
Question #4 What equipment do you suggest me to get? It could be for safety, fireworks, construction... Anything an aspiring pyro like me needs to have
Question #5 I saw some consumer fireworks show setup where the top of the cake was cut to expose the tubes. Is this necessary for better "performance" of the cake? I never used a cake before so maybe the instructions says to do it... I'm asking anyway
Question #6 Any DO's and DON'Ts I should be aware of?
That's what I can think of right now. If something else comes to my mind later, I'll post it on this topic. Again, I'm really sorry if these questions sounds stupid to you guys or if it has been covered already. If so, don't hesitate to delete my thread I found some answers on Google but some say "Do This" and others "Don't Do That". Also, they are from other countries and it could be different from us in Canada. In the end, it's gets confusing knowing who's right or wrong. Since MANY of you here have experience and know what you are doing, my opinion is that it's the best place for me to get my knowledge  Thanks guys! |
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Post by Lumadue on Sept 6, 2014 8:24:06 GMT -5
I'll just word it for generalization.
For a cake, if the fuse is on top. Usually it will run to a side an down to a entry in the tube, so you could Slice at the top where you can see it comes down. Rip it a little and have the fuse extend to the side. They normally don't have to be covered, maybe place the fuse on opposite directions to how you're firing. Such as one facing up a board, the next item down a board and vice versa. Adds a little separation.
The distance for a racking system for consumer is a little gray area. But you can look into what some people have crafted as a device for a 5 way fan. And if you make multiple. Then use those to make directions with 3, make a ! /. \ ! / \ ! Like pattern.
Most people just cut off the top to prevent it from catching fire and not have to pick up the paper after. But the pressure from that paper over the top will penetrate through like nothing and does not effect it's trajectory.
The force of a 3 inch shell with a 3/4 sheet of plywood over the tube will go through it like nothing, just leaves a nice 3 inch hole in the plywood.
For cobra and audio box, can't help you with that. I use ematchs.
Always wear safety glasses, hard hat and ideally a fire retardant jacket of some sort.
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Post by Pyro Boss on Sept 6, 2014 9:34:06 GMT -5
Remember that no question is stupid here. Post whatever questions you have and don't feel that they shouldn't be posted, we are here to help. Question#1 Don't worry about taping on top of cakes, the shells will blow through. I never covered my cakes to protect others not going off, there is no need to. Question#2 You can space them out as much as you want for multiple angles or you can duck tape them together for more support. I hot glue mine down on plywood sheets. I flip the cake over, expose my tubes so the glue will be in good contact with the tubes rather then the paper. Question #3 No is nothing like using ematch connected right in the shell, no delay at all. But you are a beginner and using ematch, for know use the talons. Cakes that have fuse coming from the top has the fuse coming from the bottom. Carefully cut the paper and follow the fuse down to where it goes into the first shell. Place your ignitor there first then cut the left over fuse that is not needed, then tape over talon to secure it to the cake. No need to cut on a 45 unless your fusing together with fuse. Talon Install videoQuestion #4 See Lumadue safety tips. Question#5 No need to expose tubes, makes no difference in performance. Question#6 Do and don'ts, always use your head and common sense, everything will be okay. Always have an extinguisher near by. Let us know if there is anything else! We are here to help. |
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 7, 2014 7:58:41 GMT -5
Thanks a lot guys! If I want more "instant" firing to have better control over my shows, should I start getting used to E-Match right away? I'm in the learning process anyway so starting with either one wouldn't make much difference no? Is it "legal" for consumer like me to buy them in Canada? If so, where is a good place to buy these? I will buy both Clips (already have these) and E-Matches to learn to work with them if you think it can be a good idea. For E-Match, how do you call that Brass Tool to enlarge the holes? And from what I see and read, I should NEVER use scissors to cut fuse right? Friction could ignite them? About racks, I'll first make them for Roman Candles, Mortars, Barrages. I was thinking about building adjustable angle racks. I like the idea that I could play around with them depending on what I need. On top of that, the design I came up with would make it collapsible thus making it easier to store. Is there a maximum "safe" or "recommended" angle like 45°, 55°, etc? Again thanks for the advices guys I'll let you know if there's anything else. I read and check stuff about fireworks everyday to further improve my knowledge so new questions will be coming |
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Post by Lumadue on Sept 7, 2014 9:57:12 GMT -5
I won't sell ematches to the general public, only those with a license that I know ha experience with them.
Never use scissors for cutting, invest in anvil cutters, it has a plastic or rubber base with a blade that comes down on that surface.
If you're making angles for a rack, always sure it has a steady base for te pressure to go in that direction. Not something where it is just held. Remember pressure if it's standing straight up is always down.
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 7, 2014 10:15:43 GMT -5
The racks, even though they would be adjustable angles, are gonna be built solid. I'll try to post the plan of it this week when I'm gonna be off from work. Ok so I'm gonna wait to have my license to use E-Match igniters then Thanks Lumadue |
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Post by Lumadue on Sept 7, 2014 10:20:33 GMT -5
Found the rule in the guideline for authorization
1.2.3 Class F.4
Class F.4 comprises fireworks accessories, such as electric matches or portfires. Such articles may only be purchased by persons with a valid fireworks certificate.
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Post by Pyro Boss on Sept 7, 2014 13:22:22 GMT -5
Thanks a lot guys! If I want more "instant" firing to have better control over my shows, should I start getting used to E-Match right away? I'm in the learning process anyway so starting with either one wouldn't make much difference no? Is it "legal" for consumer like me to buy them in Canada? If so, where is a good place to buy these? I will buy both Clips (already have these) and E-Matches to learn to work with them if you think it can be a good idea. For E-Match, how do you call that Brass Tool to enlarge the holes? And from what I see and read, I should NEVER use scissors to cut fuse right? Friction could ignite them? About racks, I'll first make them for Roman Candles, Mortars, Barrages. I was thinking about building adjustable angle racks. I like the idea that I could play around with them depending on what I need. On top of that, the design I came up with would make it collapsible thus making it easier to store. Is there a maximum "safe" or "recommended" angle like 45°, 55°, etc? Again thanks for the advices guys I'll let you know if there's anything else. I read and check stuff about fireworks everyday to further improve my knowledge so new questions will be coming You will not be able to buy e-matches unless your licensed, don't worry about it, get used to the talons as they only have a bit of a delay (Make sure you put the talon closest to the tube). Just make sure you know the timing of your firework then you can fire a couple of seconds before the other fires the last shot. The tool used for making the holes larger in the lift charge is called an Brass Awl. Keep on reading and you will learn a lot, but nothing is better then real time experience. |
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 8, 2014 3:01:18 GMT -5
Is a regular Ratchet Utility Knife ok to cut fuses?
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Post by Lumadue on Sept 8, 2014 7:50:32 GMT -5
It is, but try and avoid grinding if its dull, it should be a simple slice.
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Post by markhampyro on Sept 8, 2014 15:35:10 GMT -5
The Cobra has a setting for ematch and talon. Just choose the right setting and system will delay automatically for
Talons.
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Post by Xplode on Sept 8, 2014 16:49:16 GMT -5
The cobra setting for talon doesn't affect timing in any way. It simply changes how long the 18m keeps applying power to ensure ignition. (2 sec instead of.1 for ematches)
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Post by Xplode on Sept 9, 2014 0:25:46 GMT -5
Time for me to ask questions on how to light up my fireworks safely and properly. I'm a perfectionist and want my homemade shows to be the best I can possible make (and also safe). First of all to avoid confusion in my questions, I will be using COBRA Remote Firing System with Talon Clip. So nothing will be fired by hand besides the sound warning before the show. I apologize if the questions I ask may sound dumb but I'm a newbie
Question #1 When setting up my fireworks, how do I make sure they don't ignite each others? Should I use Duck Tape, Tin Foil or Foil Tape? And what about fireworks where the fuse is on top? If I need to cover it, won't the Foil Tape or whatever I put on it obstruct the launch of the shell?
Question #2 What is the safe distance between each cakes, roman candle, barrage, etc? Can some of them be stick together? I'm asking because I want to build racks to make patterns for multiple roman candle, comets, cakes, etc.
Question #3 Next year I will probably buy the Audio Box from COBRA and COBRA Show Editor. When I will set up the show on the program, how do I make sure there is no delay when synchronizing fireworks with parts of the beat? I mean, I know I need to cut the fuse in a 45 degree angle as close as possible to the tube (with enough length for Talon Clip of course) so it lights up faster. But what I mean is once it fires, the shell in the air takes some time to blow up. I hope I'm explaining this properly I guess the answer to that is knowing the fireworks well in order to time it right... Am I correct? If so, I need to test what I use before or are the videos accurate? (Dumb question I guess )
Question #4 What equipment do you suggest me to get? It could be for safety, fireworks, construction... Anything an aspiring pyro like me needs to have
Question #5 I saw some consumer fireworks show setup where the top of the cake was cut to expose the tubes. Is this necessary for better "performance" of the cake? I never used a cake before so maybe the instructions says to do it... I'm asking anyway
Question #6 Any DO's and DON'Ts I should be aware of?
That's what I can think of right now. If something else comes to my mind later, I'll post it on this topic. Again, I'm really sorry if these questions sounds stupid to you guys or if it has been covered already. If so, don't hesitate to delete my thread I found some answers on Google but some say "Do This" and others "Don't Do That". Also, they are from other countries and it could be different from us in Canada. In the end, it's gets confusing knowing who's right or wrong. Since MANY of you here have experience and know what you are doing, my opinion is that it's the best place for me to get my knowledge Thanks guys! Most of this was answered already, but heck I've got 10 minutes so I'll weigh in to try and help out. Q1 - Tin Foil is a great tool to help prevent cross-firing of effects. If you wrap a small chunk of foil around the fuse/igniter to prevent stray sparks from landing on it, that will help. My shows are primarily ematch, so this works well for quickmatch and our setups... consumer visco, you could probably also get away with just putting a piece of wide tape over the igniter/fuse so that sparks can't land on it. Paper/Masking tape should work well. Just stick it right to the side of the cake, or put a big piece over the top of a barrage. Q2 - Fan cakes are the only ones that really need extra care taken for spacing. Make sure the fanned portion won't hit anything, and consider the fall out from the spraying sparks when each effect lifts so you don't increase chances for cross-firing something you didn't want to light. Depending on how you're setting up your cakes, taping 4 of them together in a square with a few wraps of duct tape will help prevent them (especially the small ones) from tipping over, but you do run the risk of some collateral damage to the other cakes if one decides to blow up. In my experience, consumer stuff doesn't usually have enough force to break a second cake apart, but its possible. Maybe put a wrap of good tape around each cake before you wrap them together. That all said, I usually prefer to affix each cake to a board (plywood usually) with a few inches between them. Q3 - This is VERY hard to do with consumer fireworks and talon igniters unfortunately. Since you can't have the near-instant ignition/lift times of professional products and ematches, you'll have to just test and guess a little. I've played with the talon igniters, and the cobra units do seem to perform fantastically with them. Ignition of the fuse is very quick, but you don't really know how long the fuse will burn before the effect actually happens. As was suggested, cakes with top fuses often run the fuse down the side of the cake beneath the paper label, so a quick slit with a utility knife and you can attach the igniter right beside the first tube. (some i've seen recently even have a form of black match fast fuse, so you could potentially get near-instant ignition/lift). In the CSC software, you can specify the Pre-Fire-Time (PFT) and that should cause the software to automatically adjust the ignition time back far enough in your music so that the actual firework effect is visible about when you want. You just need to know how much time to put in based on how long the fuse will be burning. I'd suggest buying a few practice cakes/barrages, and scripting something and then just playing with it. If you have a GoPro, set it up to film the remote AND the firework, and you can see how long the difference between button and effect is. Q4 - Fire Extinguishers (At least one dry chemical, and one pressurized water can is great), Leather Gloves, Safety Glasses or a Face Shield (That choice is a whole other thread debate in itself), Large Zip Ties, Wood Stakes, Hammer, Duct Tape, Paper Tape, Saran Wrap, Tin Foil.... The list goes on. If you're standing near the fireworks while shooting them, then i'd add a hard hat and non-synthetic or flame-retardant treated clothing. Q5 - They do this to held reduce the mess on the shoot site after the show. If you cut the paper off, then the paper doesn't end up in 100 pieces all over the ground. It DOES however, increase the chances of cross-fire, since often the tubes in cakes are spread apart to help create the illusion of a larger cake, and that means exposed fuses between the tubes... If you want less mess, then cut them off. Otherwise I just leave them as is. Q6 - DO make sure you're legally allowed to shoot your show in your area, DON'T assume you are. Do secure your fireworks more than "that should be good enough" as they do malfunction and you will get some interesting results. DO make sure you follow safety guidelines and have your spectators back far enough to be safe in case that malfunction does occur (I see about 1 in every 70 cakes blow apart these days, similar numbers on barrages) DO wait a little while after you finish shooting before approaching and handling the "spent" fireworks articles. They can (and do!) misfire or not fully fire, and then start up again randomly without warning. 30 minutes is the accepted standard "cool down" period, although I'm sure lots of guys don't wait that long with consumer fireworks. DO have an emergency plan in mind. Be prepared! I'm not trying to scare monger, but if you spend time thinking about what you'd do and how you should react in various circumstances, you will have an easier time actually reacting when those situations really do occur. Decide how you'll react if a cake catches fire mid-show. what will you do if something tips over? what do you do if something doesn't light properly or stalls out part way through? and what do you do if, heaven forbid, something goes wrong and someone gets hurt? DO overestimate how far things will travel - even after the visible light from an effect goes dark, there's often (especially in cakes) a smouldering cardboard tube flying through the air. If you set your effects on angles, keep in mind the trajectory and velocity means the fallout will land quite a bit further away than you think. Wind can make this much much worse. DON'T think that consumer grade fireworks can't hurt you badly. They're made of the same materials as the professional grade stuff. So treat them with respect. DO have fun. Its a fantastic hobby to have, and a tremendous amount of fun. Just keep safe, ask lots of questions (like you're doing) and I hope you enjoy the pyro addiction! If you have any other cobra questions, let me know. I'm getting pretty familiar with the system, and I'm in touch with Scott @ Cobra Firing Systems pretty regularly about updates/bug fixes/suggestions/etc... Hope this helped! |
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 9, 2014 1:31:58 GMT -5
Thanks a lot guys for your inputs. I really appreciate it Concerning dangers about fire and chemical stuff, I'm a part time Firefighter so I know a lot on that topic. I also have a formation as First Responder (hope this is how it's called in English ) so as far as injury goes, I also know what to do but I'll make sure I don't get to use it  I will buy a few cakes, mortars, etc and test how fast it reacts when I fire it. Thanks guys! |
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Post by markhampyro on Sept 9, 2014 11:27:38 GMT -5
The cobra setting for talon doesn't affect timing in any way. It simply changes how long the 18m keeps applying power to ensure ignition. (2 sec instead of.1 for ematches) Ya. That's what I meant. Hahahahaha |
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 11, 2014 18:21:56 GMT -5
Today, I prepared all my cakes for tomorrow. I installed all the clips at the entry point of the fuses, taped it and tested all clips with my multimeter to see if they all had continuity. Everything went fine, thanks to all of your advices guys Theoretical knowledge combined with field experience is the best way to go It's not a big show. I just bought 200$ worth of cakes (8 totals) to get use to preparing, installing and familiarizing with my COBRA Firing System. So this is my first time to homemade firework "show" with firing system! |
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Post by Xplode on Sept 11, 2014 21:37:47 GMT -5
Glad to help! Hope your show goes well. Watch out though... It's addicting!
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 12, 2014 10:33:39 GMT -5
Bought another 200$ of cakes today Couldn't resist the temptation to have more LoL Went to the town office too to get the license to launch fireworks as well. So I got all the permissions necessary for tonight as well as my fire extinguisher and garden hose ready XplodeI can feel the addiction already I'm screwed LoL |
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Post by Xplode on Sept 12, 2014 19:40:23 GMT -5
Haha. Doubled the size of your show already? Yup. You're screwed.. Wait till the day you get your pro license and get to fire the big stuff... I'm going to have to start going to meetings...
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Post by s1l3noz on Sept 12, 2014 23:54:16 GMT -5
I ended up buying 650$ worth of fireworks Everything went just as planned! The crowd was pleased with the show and the Finale. I love my COBRA That feeling to remotely launch my fireworks and being able to watch the show is just amazing! Again, I want to thank all of you guys for your help I've been struck by the firework fever |
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Post by exarmyat on Aug 11, 2015 20:28:28 GMT -5
Xplode
Thank you, that's is great advice. I have been firing for years and am always thinking safety your advice was a great reminder. thanks again.
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I guess the answer to that is knowing the fireworks well in order to time it right... Am I correct? If so, I need to test what I use before or are the videos accurate? (Dumb question I guess 
Thanks guys!
