We know full well the intense delight taken by boys in risking their
limbs or their lives, especially when such risk is accompanied with
noise. Boys always have done so, and always will do so in spite of the
very best of advice or precautions. As, therefore, it is impossible
to keep them from making noises, and endangering themselves, we have,
in this article, endeavored to show them how to make as much noise as
possible, with as little danger as possible.
What is there that makes the most noise, and is most dangerous?
Gunpowder, of course. Therefore, we have given descriptions of the
best methods of employing this material, feeling quite sure that of
accidents with gunpowder nine out of every ten are caused by ignorance.
We knew a boy who lost the use of a thumb, and took all the skin off
the palm of his right hand, by ignorant management of powder. He had
read of blasting rocks, and nothing would satisfy him but blasting
a bank. So he bored a deep hole in it with a stick, filled the hole
with gunpowder, and then poked a lighted lucifer into the powder. The
consequence was that his face was so scorched as not to be recognized,
all his eyebrows and eyelashes, and most of his hair were burned off,
while his right hand was injured, as has been already mentioned. Now
that boy had been studiously kept out of the way of powder by female
relatives, and was naturally profoundly ignorant of its effects. Had he
been taught to handle it, he would not now be forced to keep his right
hand closed, or to write by holding the pen between the fingers of his
clenched hand.
Gunpowder.
It will not be very advisable for the firework boy to make his own
powder, but still it will not be amiss that he should know how it is
prepared. Pulverize separately 5 drams of nitrate of potass, 1 dram of
sulphur, and 1 dram of newly-burnt charcoal; mix them together in a
mortar, with a little water, so as to make the compound into a dough,
which roll out into round pieces of the thickness of a pin upon a slab.
This must be done by moving a board backwards and forwards until the
dough is of a proper size. When three or four of these pieces are ready
put them together, and cut them off into small grains. Place these
grains on a sheet of paper, in a warm place, where they will soon dry,
but away from a fire. During granulation the dough must be prevented
from sticking by using a little of the dry compound powder. This mode
of granulation, though tedious, is the only one to be used for so small
a quantity for the sake of experiment. In making powder in a large way
it is granulated by passing the composition through sieves.
How to Make Touch-Paper.
Dissolve in a little spirits of wine or vinegar a little saltpeter,
then take some purple or blue paper, and wet it with the above liquor,
and it will be fit for use. When pasting paper on any of the following
works take care that the paste does not touch that part which is to
burn. The method of using this paper is to cut it into slips long
enough to go once round the mouth of a serpent, cracker, etc.
Cases for Squibs, Flower-Pots, Rockets, Roman Candles, Etc.
Procure a hard wooden cylinder, or, if possible, one made of metal,
whose diameter corresponds with that of the interior of the proposed
case. Roll round it several folds of cartridge paper, and paste the
edges well, so that it may be held securely. Tie it round until dry.
To Choke the Cases.
When the cases are thus made they will require to be tied at the lower
end. This is called choking them, and as much force is required it is
necessary. Fix a wire into a small solid cylinder. Take another short
piece, an inch or two long, with a hole up it to admit the other end
of the wire, fit it on, and pass it up the case. Then having fastened
a piece of whip-cord to a post, wind it round the part left hollow by
the wire, which should be about half an inch from the end; pull it
tight with the right hand, and work the case round with the left. Cut
out a piece of touch paper two inches long, and an inch and a half
broad, wind it round the choke, and tie it on with a piece of fine
string--twist it to a point. The cases are best choked while damp.
Composition for Squibs, Etc.
Gunpowder, half a pound; charcoal, 1 ounce; brimstone, 1 ounce, or in
like proportion; grind them in a muller or pound them in a mortar. Or
you may take 1 part steel filings, 1 charcoal, 1 sulphur, and 4 powder,
which is a very good mixture, and can be rubbed together in a mortar.
How to Fill the Cases.
Your cases must be very dry when ready, and should be put into an iron
or wooden mold; first put in a thimble full of your powder, and ram it
down very hard with your ruler, then put in a little more till the case
is full, ramming it down hard every time. If you have no mold, hold the
case in your left hand with the twisted touch-paper downwards, and fill
it after the same manner. When you have filled within an inch of the
top, fill up this with loose powder not rammed, for a bang, and fold
in the ends; after filling a dozen or two melt some pitch in a small
ladle, and smear the end of the case with it by means of a small brush.
To Make Crackers.
Cut some stout cartridge-paper into pieces three inches and a half
broad and one foot long, fold down one edge of these pieces lengthwise
about three-quarters of an inch broad, then fold the double edge down a
quarter of an inch, and turn the single edge back half over the double
fold. Open it, and lay all along the channel which is formed by the
folding of the paper some meal powder, then fold it over and over till
the paper is doubled up, rubbing it down at every turn; this being done
bend it backwards and forwards two inches and a half, or thereabouts,
at a time, as often as the paper will allow. Hold all these folds flat
and close, and with a small pinching cord give one turn round the
middle of the cracker and pinch it close; bind it with pack thread as
tight as you can, then in the place where it was pinched prime one end
and cap it with touch-paper.
When these crackers are fired they will give a loud report at every
turn of the paper: if you want a great number of these, you have only
to cut the paper longer, or join it on to a greater length; but if they
are made very long you must have a piece of wood with a groove in it
deep enough to let in half the cracker, which will hold it straight
while you are pinching it.
Roman Candles and Stars.
These are best made with the following ingredients: 1 ounce of powder,
1 ounce of sulphur, and 2 ounces of niter. Some persons, however,
prefer 1 part sulphur, 1 charcoal, 1 iron filings, 4 of powder, and 8
of niter. The composition being made, in filling the cases fill the
contrary way to a squib--stop up the choke by driving down a piece
of paper. Put in 1 quill of gunpowder loose and 1 star made in the
following manner: 1 ounce of camphor, 1 of sulphur, 2 of meal powder,
1 ounce of the colored fires, moisten them with oil of turpentine,
and work them into little round balls. Having placed a star within
the case, put in above it 3 quills of the composition, ram down, then
powder, star, and composition alternately, till the case is full. Paste
touch-paper round the top and twist to a point.
Rockets.
There are several recipes for making rockets, the best of which is
3 ounces of charcoal, 6 of sulphur, 8 of niter, 32 of meal powder.
Another very good one is, 3 ounces of iron filings, 4 of powdered
charcoal, 8 of sulphur, 16 of niter, and 64 of meal powder. If a
smaller quantity is wanted divide each proportion by 2, if a still
smaller divide by 4.
Rains.
Sometimes gold or silver rains are added to rockets, which give them
a very beautiful appearance. A gold rain is made of 2 parts sawdust,
4 sulphur, 4 meal powder, 6 glass dust, 16 niter, in all 32 parts.
A silver rain may be made of 2 parts salt prunella, 8 sulphuret of
antimony, 8 sulphur, 8 meal powder, and 14 niter, in all 32 parts.
Catherine Wheels.
These are very pretty fireworks, and are made to turn on a pivot. There
are many recipes for the composition of which they are formed; 1 part
camphor, 1 sulphur, 1 niter, 2 meal powder. Another is, 3 parts iron
filings, 4 sulphur, 12 niter, 16 meal powder. This composition is to be
rammed into small cases, and bound round a small wheel having a hole
for a pivot in the center.
Various Colored Fires.
The following recipes will give the young firework maker a great
variety of the most beautiful fires. They should never be fired in a
room, however, and always away from a dwelling.
Crimson Fire.
The principal ingredient in this is nitrate of strontium, of which
40 parts are taken, with 13 of sulphur, 15 of chlorate of potass,
4 of sulphuret of antimony, and 2 of lamp-black. These, as all the
ingredients for the other fires, should be rubbed in a ladle, and they
may be used in a ladle or iron dish set on the ground.
Blue Fire.
The ingredients of blue fire are 20 parts; 12 of niter, 4 of sulphur, 2
of sulphuret of antimony, and 2 of lamp-black.
Green Fire.
The ingredients for green fire are in 54 parts; 42 of nitrate of
barytes, 8 of sulphur, 3 of chlorate of potass, and 1 of lamp-black.
Purple Fire.
The best recipe for purple fire is of 60 parts; 25 of niter, 25 of
nitrate of strontium, 7 of sulphur, 2 of realgor, and 1 of lamp-black.
White Fire.
The best and purest white fire is made of 24 parts of niter, 7 of
sulphur, 2 of red arsenic, and one of lamp-black.
Spur Fire.
9 parts of niter, 4 of sulphur, and 3 of lamp-black, well rubbed
together.
Blue Lights.
These are made of 4 parts of sulphur, 2 of niter, and 1 of powder, and
are rammed into squib-cases the contrary way.
Port or Wildfires.
Saltpeter 4 parts, meal powder 6 parts, and sulphur 3 parts. The
composition to be moistened with linseed-oil.
Slow Fire for Wheels.
Saltpeter 4 parts, sulphur 2 parts, and meal powder 2 parts.
Dead Fire for Wheels.
Saltpeter 5 parts, sulphur 1 part, lapis calaminaris 1 part, and
antimony 1 part.
Cautions.
Such are the principles and methods by which fireworks may be made;
but we would advise our young friends to be very cautious, and never
to attempt making any fireworks by candlelight; always to select some
outhouse for their operations; to see that no iron or steel implements
are about the place in which their fireworks are being manufactured,
or they may go off before they wish it; to use wooden or brass
implements in the bruising, grinding, and sifting of their mixtures;
and never to bring the fireworks, or any of their ingredients, into the
dwelling-house, or they may suddenly receive a
“Heavy blow and great discouragement.”
To Make an Illuminated Spiral Wheel.
Procure a circular horizontal wheel two feet in diameter with a hole
quite through the nave, then take four thin pieces of deal three feet
long each, and three-quarters of an inch broad each. One end of each
of these pieces is to be nailed to the felloe of the wheel at an equal
distance from one another, and the other end nailed to a block with
a hole in its bottom, which must be perpendicular with that in the
block of the wheel, but not so large. The wheel being thus made, a
hoop planed down very thin must be nailed to the felloe of the wheel,
and wound round the four sticks in a spiral line from the wheel to the
block at the top; on the top of this block a case of Chinese fire must
be fixed, and on the wheel any number of cases, which must incline
downwards and burn two at a time. The axis of the wheel must be a
little longer than the cone, and made very smooth at the top, on which
the upper block is to turn and the whole weight of the wheel to rest.
[THE END.]
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