2 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

I've seen some lovely and unusual designs consisting of shells or cakes that fire bengals or strobes out onto water where they float gently in the breeze either strobing or just burning. Does anyone have any wisdom on how these are made?

[Mortartube]

I would imagine each Bengal has the composition pressed in one end, an empty airspace in the middle of the tube and a plastic or wooden bung in the other end, so the centre portion of the tube is hollow. They probably float on their side. Once the composition is lit, such as a red Mg composition it's going to burn even underwater.

I would think the tubes may be wax coated card. You could coat the outside of the tube with candle wax after it is made.

[minalth]

I would imagine each Bengal has the composition pressed in one end, an empty airspace in the middle of the tube and a plastic or wooden bung in the other end, so the centre portion of the tube is hollow. They probably float on their side. Once the composition is lit, such as a red Mg composition it's going to burn even underwater.

I would think the tubes may be wax coated card. You could coat the outside of the tube with candle wax after it is made.

If the burning end was held underwater, a different effect might be achieved... but be careful before putting any fireworks into a water body - they aren't good for wildlife! (lots of (mild?) toxins and fertilisers - eutrophication anyone?)

Off topic, I saw some really beautiful water shells in Japan; golden palm and must have been 12/15" - they were huge!

Minalth