Consumer fireworks
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Consumer fireworks are fireworks sold to the general public for use. They are generally weaker in explosive power compared to professional displays, but can still produce spectacular fireworks shows.
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[edit] Examples of consumer fireworks
Consumer fireworks are often quite small and can be classified into two groups, daytime and nighttime.
[edit] Daytime fireworks
Daytime fireworks include most bottle rockets, smoke balls, firecrackers, and other fireworks that emit very little or no light. Some examples of daytime consumer fireworks include:
- Rockets - launch into the air, sometimes with a high-pitched whistling sound, with a report (explosion) at the end. Some varieties may emit sparks upon launch. Their sizes can range from an inch to about 6 inches long and 1/8 to 3/4 inches around, not including the stick.
- Firecracker - an explosion occurs on the ground, often in series from a single firecracker to several or more.
- Smoke ball - emits colored smoke for a few seconds. Colors typically include white, green, blue, yellow, and orange.
- Saturn missiles - a series of about 16 to 300 shots for the largest batteries that are made in succession with a high-pitched scream each time, often with a report at the end of each shot.
[edit] Nighttime fireworks
Nighttime fireworks include Roman candles, sparklers, jumping jacks, artillery shells, and other light-emitting fireworks. Some examples of nighttime consumer fireworks include:
- Roman candles - a series of colored lights, usually about ten, emit from a long tube, usually going about 30 feet above the ground.
- Sparklers - long-lasting, light-emitting rods that emits sparks, sometimes flickering.
- Artillery shells - A ball containing pyrotechnic stars that are launched from a launch tube. They often come in packs of 6 or 12 and shoot about 75 to 150 feet above the ground before exploding.
- Jumping Jacks - a small stick like a firecracker, only emitting jumping balls of light while spinning at high speed.
- Bumblebees- small flying fireworks, which emit gold sparks as they rise upwards and finish in a green emission.
[edit] How consumer fireworks are used
[edit] Getting consumer fireworks
In the United States not all local laws permit buying fireworks, they are legal in some areas. Such stores are located about one to two kilometers outside of city limits. The stores are sometimes in a standard building, others are underneath tents. Inside, fireworks line the shelves stacked in groups with price tags near or on them. The photo above shows approximately USD$180 in consumer fireworks (not including sales tax). On checkout, long sticks called punks are given. These are used to light the fireworks with and last from about 30 to 80 minutes depending on the size of the punk.
[edit] The tools
Consumer fireworks use only two tools: a punk and a lighter. The lighter is used to light the punk to get it burning. The punk is then used to light the fuse of a firework. Punks are often provided at the store where a customer buys the fireworks. A punk is essentially an incense stick that gives no scent when it burns.
[edit] Lighting and launching consumer fireworks
There are several ways a firework can be lit. Using matches or a lighter are two such methods, but are unsafe to use. By using punks, fireworks can be lit from a safe distance. Punks also last longer so many fireworks can be set up before having to light another one. As shown in the photo, by making the hot part of the punk touch the green stick (fuse) coming out of the rocket, the firework will be lit when the fuse gets hot enough. When the fuse is lit, as from it emitting sparks, one must get away from it for safety reasons and about 3 to 4 seconds later, the firework launches.
