FIREWORK FUSING AND CONNECTIONS
BLACK MATCH
Black match consists of a cotton string impregnated with a solution of black powder - basically quick match without the paper wrapping. Just as safety fuse is used in all Consumer Fireworks, black match is used in all professional (display) fireworks. It can be used just as it is as a slow-burning fuse (about 1 inch per second), or be made into quick match (which can burn hundreds of feet per second). The former is only used to delay the ignition of a firework device, such as when the fuse is lit manually by the pyrotechnician.
Advantages: Takes fire very easily. Even a spark from another fuse is enough to ignite black match. Burns at a reasonable speed, and good for connecting devices like fountains and repeaters that are about a foot or so apart. Easy to make.
Disadvantages: Takes fire very easily - can be ignited prematurely by sparks unless well protected. Brittle; black powder can break off the string, which can make the fuse stop working. Not waterproof. Gives off LOTS of side-spit (as shown on the picture at left), which can cause burns or set off other fireworks or fuse prematurely. Top >
Connecting Black Match To Safety Fuse
This type of connection needs a little atention to detail due to the relative difficulty in igniting safety fuse from a faster fuse.
To expose more of the powder core inside the safety fuse, make sure to cut the safety fuse at an sharp angle. Bend the black match back on itself around an inch and a half, making sure it touches the powder core in the safety fuse. Secure the fuses together with two clove hotches and finally tape it, but not overtightly.
Connecting Black Match to Black Match
Overlap the two fuses by at least an inch and a half, and secure at both ends using thin twine tied with a clove hitch. Then loosely tape the two together - allowing the ignition room to "breathe".
If you overtigten the tape, or tape over the ends of the fuse the connection may fail to ignite as black match doesn't burn well when suffocated.
Connecting Black Match to Quick Match
Insert the black match around 1-2 inches into the quick match paper pipe then scrunch the paper around the fuses and secure with clove hitches.
NB: BLACK MATCH IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE AND FAST BURNING. Make sure that there are no naked flames or sparks any where near when securing these connections. To prevent premature ignition of pyrotechnics, always make the connection to the Firework as the final stage of preparation. Top >