Make Fireworks

How to Make Fireworks Safely

Most states have laws against making homemade fireworks, and pyrotechnics experts strongly advise that you do not make your own fireworks. However, you can still create some homemade excitement by making your own sparklers and glow worms. These fireworks burn and sparkle rather than explode, and they are quite safe when you use them correctly and follow all safety precautions. Does this Spark an idea? 

Things You'll Need

• Sparklers: 12 wooden sticks 300 tsp. potassium chlorate 60 tsp. aluminum granules 2 tsp. charcoal 10 percent dextrin in a water solution Plastic container Wire rack Glow worms: Lighter fluid 1 tsp. baking soda 4 tsp. powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Make Sparklers

   • 1
     Combine the dry ingredients in a medium plastic container. Add the water and dextrin solution to the dry ingredients to make a thick slush, about the texture of oatmeal.
   • 2
     Coat 3/4 of the wooden sticks with the mixture. The easiest way is to dip the sticks into the mixture and leave enough of a handle to hold comfortably.
   • 3
     Lay the dipped sticks on a wire rack and let them dry thoroughly, about 6 hours.
   • 4
     When dry, you can light the tip of the homemade sparkler with a lighter or match and watch the sparks fly.

   Make Glow Worms

   • 5
     Mix the sugar and baking soda together in a small plastic container.
   • 6
     Find a clear area in the driveway, street or other safe area away from flammable vegetation.
   • 7
     Place a scoop of the soda and sugar mixture in a little mound on the driveway.
   • 8
     Pour lighter fluid on the soda and sand mixture.
   • 9
     Use a match to light the mound, and watch as the puffy black glow worm appears, twisting and turning as it grows.

Tips & Warnings

• Add 60 parts of barium nitrate to the sparkler mixture to make them glow green. Keep a bucket of water nearby and toss the expired sparkler sticks into it when they have burned out.
• Sparkler sticks can be extremely hot. Be careful where you wave them. Adults should always closely supervise children playing with sparklers and glow worms.