Remotely ignite pyrotechnics - like a man

Remotely ignite pyrotechnics - like a man
None of that sissy nichrome wire, this detonator makes a BOOM and a shower of sparks that will surely ignite the main event.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Materials list

Materials list
You will need:

Steel Wool - I used Extra Fine #00
Long 2 conductor wire - I used 18 gauge speaker wire
Cellophane wrap - I used the kind that sticks to itself
Tape - I used electrical
Flash powder or similar (black powder or crushed sparklers would probably work, but I haven't tried it)
Some capacitors - see my capacitor bank instructable for instructions
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
108 comments
1-40 of 108next »
Nov 25, 2008. 3:20 AMzoobr says:
would it matter if the steel wool had soap in it or not ??
May 31, 2011. 11:24 AMpastaking says:
I know this sounds weird, but pickle the wool. Leave the pad in vinegar overnight, and then leave it in water overnight to remove the soap. Use it soon after though, or it rusts
Oct 16, 2009. 5:08 AMcornflaker says:
 haha when i was looking for some steal wool ages ago i couldn't find any except ones with soap, and trust me they don't work with much (havn't tried this in particullar) but if your having trouble finding any normal stuff i found a massive roll of really fine stuff at bunnings (a hardware store for those who aren't aware) I think it was in the painting section. and yeah it was about $10 and i still havn't run out like a year later.
Oct 16, 2009. 5:22 PMzoobr says:
thanks mate
Jul 21, 2009. 1:34 PMjakey_hawkeye says:
YES!! with out a doubt it would NOT WORK! the soap stops wires from touching enough and even if they did it would not allow it to burn enough
May 10, 2009. 6:32 PMnewbie life5 says:
haha brillo pads?
Dec 15, 2008. 10:46 AMjulienrl says:
no because the soap is outside the steel wool
Apr 5, 2011. 7:59 PMSirStokes says:
Real men get shot by their fireworks when lighting those darn chinesis 1 second fuses with a lighter.
Aug 14, 2010. 10:54 AMbigmack5504 says:
what i did ( just as an experament, didnt light anything) was i took a 3 plug extention cord, put 2 nails into each, wrapped alot of steel wool around it, flipped switch off on 8 plug, put it in, and switched it on, and it was AWESOME!!!! ( just stand back and if it doesnt go off jiggle it)
Apr 25, 2010. 8:12 PMkablamo says:
it works very nice!
Apr 18, 2009. 3:59 PMStephon #9 says:
can u just use like a 14 volt battery
Oct 30, 2009. 3:05 PMn00b001 says:
it depends on the current (Amp) going through, I haven't tried myself, but a Duracell 9v battery will probaly make it heat up, two of them in parallel will defiantly do something (Each 9v has about 2.2amps). Or you could just shove it in the wall socket, but be sure to be careful, and if you draw over 5amps your light fuses may blow =D
Jan 20, 2010. 9:35 PMThundertydus says:
2.2MA not, full blown amps; That'd leave you dead...
Jan 21, 2010. 1:39 PMthestyrofoampeanut says:
 its nice to see someone knows what their talking about thundertydus
2 amps and youd get a bit more than a pop.....
Dec 12, 2009. 6:39 PMlukeyj15 says:
 Don't use the wall socket. They will pump out up to 15 amps. 6ma across your heart is enough to kill you.
Jan 21, 2010. 1:37 PMthestyrofoampeanut says:
 i think you mean that you wont have enough resistance to make the wire explode
btw it wouldn't really "explode" just get very hot and melt
the popping sound is the metal contracting in the heat
Dec 30, 2009. 7:36 PMbruggem says:
more info, can you make armstrong from matches ,  answer yes you can,
can you use this to make electric match heads, answer yes you can?can you make 30 days time delays to start fires ? answer yes you can !
can I sell you electric cound down timers with one minute to over 8 year time delays ? yes I can.
can I show you how to make money with true Visa protection ?yess I can
     simba 3018 at youtube .
Dec 30, 2009. 7:58 PMbruggem says:
Dec 30, 2009. 7:24 PMbruggem says:
bantot;   see youtube simba3018 all instructions are free including how to make money with such . take the time to read it ! its worth it . 
Apr 11, 2009. 8:12 PMlpo146 says:
The nice part about this detonator is you can buy all the parts at one place, like Wal Mart, Ace Hardware, Home Depot or other places like that.
Oct 30, 2009. 3:02 PMn00b001 says:
eBay?
Oct 24, 2009. 2:27 AMjames.mcglashan says:
wire + steel wool + dry wool + (glue + match heads) + wood + 9volt + transformer = FIRE

i love FIRE aslong as it is well CONTROLED.

from jamesm (FIRE RULES)
Jun 13, 2009. 3:38 AMarikyeo says:
flash powder is banned in my country... and nichrome wire is as rare as a dodo...
Oct 20, 2009. 4:44 PMhistory323 says:
dude if your country has toasters or hairdryers you have nichrome wire. It is the wire that turns red when your toast is getting cooked!
Oct 16, 2009. 5:11 AMcornflaker says:
Try using ground up matchhead powder instead, or armstrongs mix (google it) I'm going to try armstrongs mix myself because I also live in a country where pretty much all firework/pyrotechnic things except sparklers and party poppers are banned
Oct 17, 2009. 1:39 AMarikyeo says:
 where r u from?

Oct 17, 2009. 2:17 AMcornflaker says:
 I'm from Australia, and fireworks were legal in Canberra for ages (so everyone would go up there and buy heaps and just bring them back with them) but they are now illegal all over Australia and too my knowledge that includes all fuses etc as well so i havn't even ever bothered trying to get any
Jul 3, 2008. 8:14 PMslynx says:
im using brillo steel wool to wrap the wires, but i can't get a consistent amount of wool around the wire to have it spark. i think i've tried about 100 times and out of the 100 i got it maybe 4 times and when i try to repeat the amount, it doesnt work. is it because im using brillo, or just because i really dont know how much wool to use?
Oct 16, 2009. 5:26 AMcornflaker says:
 yeah brillo pads suck for any pyro type things (eg this, firewire, etc) you want to use real steal wool (and preferably finer stuff) which can be bought from hardware stores (probably in the painting section)
Jul 7, 2007. 10:38 AMglassspider2142 says:
awsome dude im guna try it in a can of petrol vapor!
Aug 31, 2008. 9:05 PMtwenglish1 says:
dont use a glass container
Oct 16, 2009. 5:20 AMcornflaker says:
 LOL! I never really thought about why petrol is never stored in glass before haha
Jun 24, 2008. 2:53 AM-Aj- says:
gg, stand back from that one
Jul 9, 2009. 9:15 AMdabombmaker says:
hehehe i like thing that go boom
Jun 13, 2009. 3:39 AMarikyeo says:
can i exclude the flash powder???
Dec 10, 2008. 8:08 PMuser508 says:
what is wrong with a trail of gun powder.
Mar 5, 2009. 3:31 PMJaycub says:
Also expensive.
Jan 25, 2009. 8:48 PMTobita says:
wind
Feb 26, 2009. 1:21 PMkee lil says:
hi u
Feb 26, 2009. 6:50 PMTobita says:
? hello?
1-40 of 108next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
14
Followers
2
Author:n3ldan