It’s the Time of Year When We Can Blow Things Up
I can’t believe that I have never bought fireworks. They are right up inside my wheelhouse. Growing up on the East Coast, my cousin Jimmy and I would try to make fireworks with Tic Tac containers and gasoline. Then there was that little forest fire incident in our neighborhood, but that’s another post. My fascination with all things combustible goes back to my childhood. Well, here in the great state of Texas, where fireworks are legal, I can finally start exploding things. Tomorrow I will be driving around DFW photographing fireworks stands and the people who frequent them. I would love some guidance on where to go (comments are ON). And for those of you who want to try to make your own fireworks (me), Wired magazine tells us how to do it:
“How to Make Fireworks
Our great nation was built on the principles of independence and self-reliance. It’s practically patriotic to build your July 4 fireworks from scratch. So, Harry Gilliam, CEO of pyrotechnics supplier Skylighter, told us how to make a spectacular fireball. (Disclaimer: Wired will not send bail money or reattach fingers.) – Daniel Dumas
1. The Fuse: Punch a hole near the bottom of an empty 10.5-ounce can (the Campbell’s Soup variety is perfect) and insert a 6-inch fuse from the hobby shop.
2. The Explosives: Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of black or smokeless powder (available at Wal-Mart). Then cover it with a disc-shaped piece of tissue paper.
3. The Fuel: Fill the rest of the can with Cremora, the highly flammable powdered nondairy creamer. Make sure it’s well sifted and not clumpy.
4. The Show: At dusk, gather some friends, light the fuse, and run back at least 25 feet. Your creation will explode in a 4- to 6-foot ball of flames.”
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Crystal Drano in a ping pong ball down a gas tank is fun, too, if you do it right.
Go out to the one in Rockwall/ Mobile City. (Just past the Eastern city limits of Rockwall.)
For those who don’t do “outside the loop” take I-30 East. It goes past Dallas into Mesquite and then on through a town called Garland. Keep going and you will reach Rockwall.
You can join me and the wife on Sunday when we go to the fireworks warehouse to buy wholesale. Last year, we had a horse stall hip deep in explosives for about $600. This year, we will be blowing up Tioga on July 4th!
Since I don’t read very well – the link below shows how to make the cremora fire balls with pictures:
http://www.skylighter.com/fireworks/how-to-make/cremora-fireballs.asp
What are these “comments” things? Could Wick or Tim or somebody explain how they work?
Take I-30 to east to Sulphur Springs (about an hour and 15 minute drive). There are some mega fireworks stands on the south side of the freeway. Plus, there are the old fashion ones dotting the access road between Greenville and Sulphur Springs. You’ll get some great pictures, I guarantee it.
Directions for making a redneck firecracker (read incredibly dangerous bomb):
Take a spent CO2 cartridge (the kind you use in your pellet gun). Fill it three-quarters full of gun powder. Cut off six inches of waterproof fuse (the red kind, which you can buy at the fireworks stands between Greenville and Sulphur Springs). Fray one end, and feed it into the CO2 cartridge. Pack some wadded up paper into the hole around the fuse and then waterproof it by dripping candle wax (thickly) over the paper-plugged hole.
Light the fuse standing on the back of your bass boat, make sure that it’s burning (i.e., let the fuse burn about halfway down), and then throw it as far as you can into the lake. It will blow a geyser about 20 feet into the air.
[Note: Do NOT throw your redneck firecracker into the woods or light it off on the lawn. The shrapnel from the CO2 cartridge could kill someone.]
I think the people who run the firework stands are more of a story than the people who buy stuff there. They all have a story about why they force themselves to stand in an unairconditioned box for 2 weeks on the side of the road. While many are run by church groups or volunteer fire departments, one can often find the serial killer type firework salesman. Same sort of dudes who sell live minnows and stink bait near area lakes. Out of a spare single wide mobile home. In addition to fireworks, I have seen live chickens, puppies, peaches, tomatoes, nitrous oxide(whippets) and weed being sold at firework stands east of town.
You turn ON the comments for people to tell others how to blow things up and potentially start fires (or kill people with shrapnel)… But turn OFF the comments for subjects that lend themselves to safe (albeit sometime snarky) banter. Hmmm…
“In addition to fireworks, I have seen live chickens, puppies, peaches, tomatoes, nitrous oxide(whippets) and weed being sold at firework stands east of town.”
And your point is?
I agree with Kris.
I put on my bubba hat and work at a fireworks stand for 4 days every year. In Wichita Falls. Its fun, try it sometime. The money’s good and the fireworks are 1/2 price. No farm animals or meth at our stand (5000 sq. ft and air conditioned). You would be amazed at who buys fireworks and its definitely not all blue collar white trash.
Head south on 35. When you hit the Ovilla/Red Oak/Waxahachie area you are in fireworks heaven. I have been twice since they opened.
Head to Tarrant County. Hit up HWY 1187 that runs from Mansfield to Burleson. More fireworks stands on that stretch than there are Dairy Queen.
Visit Belo’s Fireworks on FM740 in Forney. An old fashioned under-the-shade-trees stand in its 17th year. Not weird.