Pyrotechnics are fun, and, with the proper precautions taken, safe enough to play with at home (usually). While it’s typical to purchase fireworks and smoke devices off the shelf, it’s actually possible to brew these up in a properly stocked home lab. [Tech Ingredients] is here to share the techniques behind producing your own super vibrant colored smoke devices at home.
Producing colored smoke requires a slightly different tack than making a simpler white smoke device. Colored smokes use dyes that are temperature sensitive, and thus the reaction temperature must be controlled carefully. This is achieved by choosing a potassium chlorate oxidiser, and combining it with magnesium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, which help stop the reaction getting too hot. Sugar is used as the primary fuel, with both lactose and sucrose being fit for purpose. Color is then added with solvent-based dyes, readily sourced online. These are stable at higher temperatures than typical water-based food grade dyes, and thus are the best choice for creating thick, vibrant colored smoke.
[Tech Ingredients] does a great job of explaining both the theory behind the work, as well as the practical considerations necessary to be successful. The video is the result of much experimentation and work off-camera, which shows in the final presentation. If you’ve been working on your own pyrotechnic creations, be sure to hit up the tips line. Video after the break.
[Thanks to Setvir for the tip!]
ughhh… ughhh ughhhh… don’t try this in home (only in the garden)
Cool to see these kind of project too on hackaday. Interesting to learn that “Colored smokes use dyes that are temperature sensitive”.
Colored smoke devices and nerf guns, for a great student party !
is it safe to inhale? once i thought to put one of these to my rc car and have some fun, but because it cannot be stopped once you lit it and also the police can catch you easily i forget the idea :)
Safe? Depends…
It’s not acutely toxic, but then again there are all these weird allergies which you might not know about and also inhaling any kind of particulate is never good for you in the long term.
TL;DR – don’t inhale the pretty smoke :P
Very cool This goes hand-in-hand with my “Secrets of Hollywood Special Effects” book. One of those “don’t try this at home” tomes that every experimenter relies on. My favorite section is “How to blow up a 55-gallon drum.”
Mwa haha HAHAHHAH hahahaha…. *kaff* *kaff*
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Hollywood-Special-Effects-McCarthy/dp/0240801083
Tech ingredients is one of the best educational channels on the ‘tube.
In depth !
As I was saying, red smoke! It wafted out of the organ stops I knew that it was dying.
Why no blue?
I swear that as soon as youtube put up the 2x speed option people started making their videos twice as long. Do we need a 4X option now or how about using AI to cut out all the balel. 39 minutes is long for a fireworks show, no less to give an overview of smoke devices.
That’s because of the promotion algorithm. Youtube wants long form.
Yes, I learned a lot watching kids running around with smoke bombs for 10 minutes.
In this case, it is because he doesn’t just want to tell you something; he wants to teach you.
+1
Gah. Has rec.pyro really been gone that long?
I’ll get you, my pretty…and your little dog to!! aahh ha ha ha ha!!! (large poof of green smoke) :-) Now I know how it’s done. :-)