Meet The Pyro - Games Category

Meet The Pyro - Games Category

Arial fireworks are one of the most popular items in the consumer industry. Not only are they dazzling and exciting to watch, many are loaded to the max with pyrotechnic compounds that give even novice users a professional vibe. Those getting hooked into the pyro hobby may find that after a few seasons, the pre-packaged fireworks that include a single-use shell and mortar may become boring - been there, done that! An, those allegedly "reusable" cardboard tubes are only good for a couple shots. At this stage of the game, many firework enthusiasts start trying their hand at some of the more pro skills, like making mortar tubes. The main benefits of a custom-made mortar tube are that it can be reused numerous times and can be custom sized to meet the pyrotechnician's needs.

Meet The Pyro - Games Category

The first step in making mortar tubes at home is to track down High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. For safety reasons, this is the only kind of plastic pipe that should ever be used to fire off aerial fireworks. While the look and feel can be similar, it can't be stated strongly enough that other types of plastic pipe such as ABS and PVC must never be used to create mortar tubes. Even if an ABS or PVC pipe looks thick and durable, the inherent integrity of the plastic is much more brittle and can not hold up to the power of large explosions. This means a misfired firework stuck down in the tube might explode (also called "flowerpot"), breaking the tube into flying pieces of razor-sharp, shrapnel-like debris that could harm or kill onlookers. Steel tubes used for mortars also have the same dangers.

Meet The Pyro - Games Category

However, tubes made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) are not nearly as breakable as other polyethylene tubes because they are made from flexible polymer that is specifically designed to withstand pressure, shock and higher temperatures. While the pipe looks very solid and firm, the stronger intermolecular forces and tensile strength of HDPE makes it actually bend or distort under pressure and not blow up into a million pieces. For the safety of the audience, pyrotechnician and innocent bystanders, HDPE tubes are the only conscionable choice in firework tubes.

Meet The Pyro - Games Category

One of the biggest downfalls in creating DIY tubes is that HDPE tube can be somewhat hard to find down, it's not usually in the local home improvement store or pluming shop. But, sometimes it is stocked; this can be found out by calling ahead and speaking with a store clerk knowledgeable in the different varieties of plastic tube. The specific type of HDPE tube appropriate for consumer-grade mortar tubes is size DR-11. DR-11 has an inside diameter (excluding the width of the walls) of precisely 1 7/8". Smaller tube will keep the shell from being inserted and larger tube will create a dud or low-firing shot by allowing lift gases to escape.

Meet The Pyro - Games Category

To conclude, HDPE is the safest option when making launch tubes for Ariel fireworks. Although ABS and PVC tube are much easier to find and lower-cost, do not risk bodily injury by incorporating into a firework event. HDPE is the only way to go.