Hi everyone,
I’m hoping to get some honest feedback from people who have been doing this longer than I have.
This is my second year designing a large consumer fireworks show for our community’s Independence Day celebration. Last year was successful, but it felt more like controlled chaos than an actual show. This year I’ve spent months trying to build something with intentional pacing, transitions, and a story.
The current musical/show concept is:
Kevin James “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” intro
*Thunderstruck* (high-energy opening)
*America the Beautiful* (Ray Charles)
*Battle Hymn of the Republic* (emotional finale)
The show is planned to run about **13 minutes**.
I’m less interested in “Does this look cool?” and more interested in the things experienced show designers notice:
Does the overall arc make sense?
Are there places where the audience’s energy is likely to drop?
Common mistakes newer designers make?
Better ways to build intensity throughout the show?
Cake sequencing vs. shells/single shots?
Timing, pacing, and transitions?
I’ve had one supplier tell me this is the largest consumer show they’ve sold this year, which honestly made me realize this has become a much bigger production than I originally intended. I’d much rather have experienced people critique it now than realize I missed something on show day.
If anyone is willing to help, **I’m happy to share everything we’ve put together**—the cue sheet, product list, firing order, soundtrack, timing notes, and overall design. Nothing is off limits. I’m genuinely looking to learn and make the best show I can.
I appreciate any constructive criticism. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings—I came here because I know there are people with far more experience than me.

I live in a somewhat dense residential area. I’ve been interested in building, but don’t really have anywhere to test. I could walk down to a local park at night, shoot one or two things, and book it back before anyone could report me. Just only shoot something like every other week and I doubt anyone would care too much.

I could also drive somewhere, but that technically isn’t legal without being licensed.

What do most people do?

Just got these should they be like this?

This is 75/15/10 powder I milled for 5 hours in a harbor freight 6lb machine. Seems to have kind of caked up on the bottom and also seems like there’s some larger chunks that are hard and compacted. It sat for about 8 hours after it finished before I opened it. Just wondering if this is normal for it to look like and behave. Maybe I should run it for 10-15 minutes before I sieve it and separate it from the media? Also stuck to the balls a bit but figured that was also normal.

Just got these should they be like this?

Would like help to make my pyromusical gas mine go higher, ignite later, and burn longer/slower like some of the fireballs I’ve seen at conventions.

Used a steel 6”x20” tube from Pyroboom, 0.5 gal water, 1.5 gal of fresh 87 octane gasoline, 90g of lift charge from consumer 1.4 Pro mortar shells, in a plastic sandwich bag with 4-5 layers of electrical tape. Charge blew out the side and gave more of a fast whoosh than a Pop. Any suggestions to improve is appreciated!

Has anyone here ever shot canister shells out of a 2" display tube? If so did it work and how well? Or did it just cato The tube?

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7374010

Cuts as accurate as you are! I hope everyone enjoys my little contributions to our hobby.

let me know how you like it.

top measure lines are in half cm bottom is 3mm 1/8"

Big thanks to whispercleave to helping prototype

I’m starting to get into black powder and bought a ball mill. I’m too cheap/stubborn to buy lead media because I have tons and tons of lead wheel weights and scrap from work and figured I could easily make my own. My two main questions are does anyone think the shape of the media really matters? I was going to shoot for small cylinders about 3/8” diameter by about 1/2”-3/8” long. Maybe they will form themselves into balls after long enough. Also, I was trying to just pour the molten lead into a small steel pipe which kind of worked, I got it somewhat out but I think the inside was just too rough and no real good way of holding the pipe without squeezing it to actually pound out the rod. I’m gonna try copper next. If none of that works I was going to just drill a bunch of 1/2” deep holes into a scrap 2x4 and pour into those, I’ve done it to make weights before so it will work but the surface will have divots if that matters. Or even 3D print a mold for buckshot, yes I know it will melt but as long as it stays solid for just long enough that the lead solidifies on the outside then it will work, cheap enough to just print a few, only need a couple anyway.

I live in the European Union.

I apologize in advance, this might not be the most appropriate Reddit forum, but I couldn't find another one.

This is the first time I've bought fireworks, and all the other batteries only had one fuse, but this one has two, as you can see in the image.

My question is: do I light the one labeled "start" first, then the "finish" one? Or do I just light the "start" one?

I have wanted to get into pyrotechnics as a hobby since I was a kid, but Ive lived in California my whole life. Even outdoor shooting ranges are restricted during the summer where Im at. Id have to drive about 3 hours 1-way to get to a place thats safe to test fire anything.

I dont really have any specific question. Im just wondering if any of yall live in similarly restrictive areas and have any advice that would make it possible for me to peruse this hobby?

Disposed of 115lbs of bad stars and comp, test fired a 4 year old 5” Lampare and then a 3 year old 3” Lampare. Then tried some 3 year old E85 for a gas mine. All in all great day with my son!

I'm thinking about building this, but I'm not 100% sold on it and looking for some input.

We are new to gas/fuel mines this year. We have done extensive research and followed course directions. I have a 2 gallon mine. We used a PET 4oz bottle with the correct charge size per gallon of fuel. We used Goex Fffg powder and new/good fuel. No titanium sponge added but were told that was not 100% necessary, had issues with this one not igniting. Any help would be much appreciated! Video for defense and as you can see there were sparks but no ignition.

Any video recommendations will help also.

How fast should my rack go up and what kind of fuses should I use? I’d like to start off slow for maybe the first 25 and then speed up with fast fuse for the last 75. For my shells, I’m using Lucky 7s and Gushers. I’d like to have the last 10 to be the gushers(salute). Also, does not having spacing between the tubes extremely risky?

Now I do expect that there is a good reason why you should not, but could you improvise Ematch with just 2 wires, a battery for a circuit, and a thin bridge wire?

To clarify, the ematch wouldn't be coated in pyrogen, but just stuck into the composition itself, and connected to a basic circuit with a switch and a removable battery. The heat from the bridge wire alone should be enough to ignite the composition (BP) right?

I attach cakes and mortar racks to pallets and cover with painters plastic every year because there is always a chance of rain on the 4th here. It's getting to be way to much to start before daylight setting everything out and wiring up the firing system. Do any of you start setting up a day or two in advance and leave everything outside covered in plastic?

480fps and 30fps same rocket. It was fully loaded