25 replies to this topic

[SwissTony]

Only my uncle, but he doesn't have any.
May end up going with him to festival fireworks again and get some then.

[parabolic]

SwissTony, If you can pay me via paypal, then I can help with what you want, PM me if so.

Para

[crystal palace fireworks]

The sticks they dish out now are so thin (3mm) its almost impossible to light stuff without standing around ages, blowing on the end of it, to get it hot enough.

Sparklers I guess would work, but wouldn't last a huge amount of time.

SwissTony, type-in the following number into Ebays serch box: 220152137252, this is what I would use!

[SwissTony]

SwissTony, type-in the following number into Ebays serch box: 220152137252, this is what I would use!

Thanks for finding that.
Hopefully got some portfires sorted now, but going to order one of those blow lamp things to.
Boys and their toys as my mates wife always says, she dissappears when I start asking her about her toys though

Edited by SwissTony, 23 September 2007 - 10:55 AM.

[David]

Stick with portfires, if you can. Cig lighters are a bit dangerous, because you need to get up close to use them sometimes.

The drawback of blowtorch type things is that you might burn too much of the fuse with it, leaving little time to get away.

[BrightStar]

The drawback of blowtorch type things is that you might burn too much of the fuse with it, leaving little time to get away.

I was testing some fireworks over the weekend and tried a jet flame lighter. The problem is that they give out almost no light so it's impossible to find the fuse in the dark. I had to go back and set a torch on the ground to see what I was doing - less than ideal for a show.

A butane torch works better for rapid firing of the small consumer stuff - just remember to keep yourself low, in gloves and goggles and with the pyro at arms length, in case the fuse burns up faster than you think. For a real display good portfires or e-firing are the only ways to go.

Edited by BrightStar, 23 September 2007 - 11:47 PM.

[crystal palace fireworks]

I was testing some fireworks over the weekend and tried a jet flame lighter. The problem is that they give out almost no light so it's impossible to find the fuse in the dark. I had to go back and set a torch on the ground to see what I was doing - less than ideal for a show.

A butane torch works better for rapid firing of the small consumer stuff - just remember to keep yourself low, in gloves and goggles and with the pyro at arms length, in case the fuse burns up faster than you think. For a real display good portfires or e-firing are the only ways to go.

Thats good advice by brightstar, just to add - I also use a "divers headband light" which you can wear with or without a safety helmet to help you see (hands free) when lighting fireworks with a blow torch!
There only a couple of quid, should be able to get them off of Ebay!

[David]

If using a butane torch and the like, be sure to light the fuse at right angles, so you only catch the tip of the fuse.

[pyrotrev]

I've gone over to using a professional blowtorch when doing Cat. 3 displays, if you get one with a fine nozzle it's probably better than a portfire, very directional and no smoke - and likely cheaper too in the long run.

[broadsword]

I think the best advise is forethought!

When ordering the fireworks get plenty of portfires! I still have about 2 packs left over, i always overbuy portfires just incase you get through a few more than you expected!

[SwissTony]

That's the problem, I didn't order the fireworks.
A friend of my dad's granddaughters birthday is around bonfire night, so they put on a big party and have some fireworks.
Their garden looks out onto the Staplecross bonfire field, so we watch them straight after.