Ignition

I have used different types of ignition before including electrical and fuse. For many fireworks fuse is the best option, although for firing mortars and/or an advanced display you may want to use electrical means. I used to use electrical ignition only, but that was because I didn't know you could walk into your local gun shop and buy cannon fuse. Then I found www.cannonfuse.com and found a much cheaper, and wider variety of fuse. You can buy cannon fuse, Chinese fuse, 1/4" time fuse, as well as a large variety of flying fish effect fuse. Sometimes I will just take a few pieces of fuse outside and light them, they are fun to burn and I love the smell!

Making an electrical igniter is easy. Get a length of a pair of twisted wires. I use network cable, it has 4 pairs of 2 wires. Cut one wire shorter then the other. Strip both ends and then bend the tips over. Next get some telephone wire. Strip it and pull out two of the hair thin wires. Stretch these two wires between the two ends on the long wire you have. Twist them and secure them. Make sure there is a good contact. Next spray the end with water and dip into some meal powder. Spray again and dip, pinch the dipped match between your fingers to compact it around the wire repeat this a few times. Let it dry and you have a great e-match that will light from a 9-volt battery. Make sure to test each dried e-match with an ohm meter to check for continuity to make sure it will work! I use these to launch my 4" shells. Anything smaller I just fuse together. Mine fit into a 1/8" hole easily.

Here are the stripped wires.

This is the wires with the two phone wires between them (small huh?).

One dip.

Three dips and compacted with finger ready to dry.

Here is 150 feet of American red visco, cannon fuse 3/32" in width. This fuse burns at about 2.5 seconds per inch, and contrary to what some say there is NO difference in the color of the fuse. I have burned RWB, green and red fuse and they are are exactly alike. This fuse is completely waterproof, burns underwater, and is very durable. I have bent, twisted, smashed, and abused a piece of fuse for 20 minutes and it still burnt fine. 

Next I have 50 feet of 1/8" Chinese visco fuse. This fuse burns very hot, and is propulsive. In fact you can make tiny rockets with it, although they go anywhere they want! This fuse burns a bit slower then the American, and is not quite as durable. It will burn underwater for a short length, but is not waterproof. You can bend it but if you twist and bend it will fail. 

Here is 50 feet of 1/16" Chinese fuse, which is what most fireworks come with. This fuse burns just a tiny bit slower then the above Chinese visco. It has a white powder core, so I don't think its black powder. It will burn underwater for a short length, but again is not waterproof. It can take a bit more abuse then the above fuse, but will fail with enough twists and bends. This is also very propulsive stuff!

I use the American visco for most stuff, and to test new compositions because it won't fly away. I use the 1/8" fuse for helicopters to ignite the compressed fuel and other general use. The 1/16" fuse I use for small firecrackers, as well as fusing for the salute inserts in shells. 

Blackmatch is a fuse made easily at home. It is simply a cotton string (I use a thin yarn) soaked in blackpowder. Mix up your blackpowder, and add some water until it becomes a thick slurry, don't thin it too much however. Then soak your string in in. I rub the string into the paste to fully impregnate it. I make about 1 meter pieces at a time. Then hang them up to dry. Some people dust it with mealpowder after it is done, but I do not. This fuse burn with lots of sparks, and is a great fuse. However it will usually not burn through a tight hole, and it not too reliable. To make quickmatch, an instantaneous burning fuse to light a lot of stuff at once you simply encase the fuse in a paper tube. Roll a thin walled, like two wraps, of paper around a 1/4" dowel to make piping. Insert the match and presto, quickmatch.

Stickymatch is another option for fast burning fuse like quickmatch. This is made by taking clear packing tape and putting a line of granulated blackpowder down the center. Then put another layer of tape over the powder line. You can use the same tape with the same width, or use one half the width of the original tape with the powder on it so the match will stick to a wall, ground or whatever, hence stickymatch. This makes for a very easy reliable instantaneous fuse for lighting multiple devices at once or as a shell leader.