Westech fireworks manual

The original TR's were pretty crudely self-published booklets, each one dealing with a single fireworks topic. Many of them had hand-drawn illustrations. Now, Bill Schmidt has "re-created" the TR's using modern computer technology and published them in color in a great new book called the Westech Fireworks Manual. I think it ranks among the most useful fireworks craft manuals ever done.

I know of no other fireworks manual using color illustrations as profusely as this book. The list of fireworks projects is extensive. Order Online. The almost mathematical precision of the pattern is in direct contrast to the rather random spray produced by an ordinary shell. L Pistils - These are a smaller cluster of stars in the center of the larger burst, forming a sphere within a sphere.

This treatise gives step-by-step illustrations and instructions. L Willow Shells - These shells have a hemispherical, drooping burst like the shape of a willow tree. Besides being shells in their own right, willows are used as components of many other Japanese shells. Instructions for making other types of willows plus suggestions for their use in many other shells are described.

Westech maintains a pyrotechnics research and development lab. We are constantly experimenting to produce new effects, better ways of achieving the traditional ones, or just plain trying to find out why and how certain devices behave the way they do. The results achieved are then published as "Technical Reports" TR All are offset printed on quality paper. If a personal reply is desired, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

L-TRI: Professional Pyrotechnic Adhesive - This item is one of the most useful and versatile the pyrotechnist has at his disposal - Its composition has not been known by the general public -Its advantages are: 1 is an extremely strong adhesive; 2 dries very rapidly; 3 easy, quick, one inexpensive to prepare; 4 can be made to any consistency desired. Complete formulation-and instructions. L-TR2: - Hints for Better Exploding Fireworks - This TR will help you obtain exploding firework, that are I as safe as possible to make an to shoot, and 2 those that use the most economical methods and amount of powder and other materials to obtain the desired report.

Using numerous principles of physics, this TR gives practical applications you can Lee for manufacturing all types of exploding fireworks. Also given is a modern formula that will make the best flash powder you have ever heard. The powder is not only inexpensive, but more importantly, safe.

It uses no chlorates, sulfur, sulfides, nor magnesium. Use this TR to help improve your manufacturing methods and formulas. Complete instructions, formula. L-TR3: Petards - Using the simplest of casings consisting of only a few turns of dry-rolled paper that can be merely taped at the ends - these items produce a tremendous report, equal to any device of the same size including those using heavy casings. Petards use no adhesives other than masking tape; no end plugs, no special casing.

You can therefore save tremendously in material costs. Petards are ideal for reports in aerial shells, mines, or rockets, or for ground bombs or special effect reports. L-TR4: Pyro Powder - Of all the instructions and formulas available, this will probably have more all -around use than any other since it provides the pyrotechnist with a method by which be can manufacture an excellent substitute for block powder!

Pyro Powder manufacture is based on a relatively unknown but simple and very effective principle. In fact, one-half part Pyro Powder is about as effective as one part commercial powder! Using this method you can produce your own better powder at a fraction of the cost of commercial types. Complete instructions, formulas.

L-TR5: "Chinese" Fuse - The exact method of making this useful item has long remained a mystery to Western fireworks makers. Weingart and Davis are the only two published accounts that make reference to it. All the "secrets" to the "Chinese" process are fully explained, accompanied by photographs showing manipulation details. A method is also given to waterproof this fuse for underwater use.

Directions, photos. L-TR5A Time Fuse - This method produces a time fuse that has all the advantages of rammed "Roman" fuse - considerable end spit, large trajectory trace, easy ignition - but without the time-consuming and costly disadvantages.

Following this method, you can turn out yards of top grade time fuse in very little time. You can make various powder core loads, different fuse diameters, and even different trajectory fire traces! Complete, step-by-step instructions, formulas.

L-TR6: Mini-copters - This Little item is about the same size and has the some effect as a "Flying Disc" or "Satellite," but is much easier, faster, and less "expensive to construct. Upon ignition, it spins rapidly on the ground and then ascends in a gyrating manner to a height of about 75', leaving a trail of gold and silver sparks. Here it terminates with a sharp pop. Mini-copters are one of the most amusing items in novelty fireworks.

There are many tubular pyrotechnic devices that must have one or both ends plugged. Examples are: smoke devices, small star shells, salutes, comets, special stars, etc. Most of these devices have used paper plugs to seal the ends.

This TR will show you how you can plug ends without paper plugs, cutting your time and costs in half! Besides, this special method makes an extremely strong seal, stronger than a paper plug. This method will allow you to plug both ends exactly the same or differently, depending on use. Can be used to plug only a few tubes, as well as several hundred at once, A few commercial manufacturers have used this method, keeping its exact operation a secret.

This TR gives you step-by-step instructions so you too can use this ingenious method. When ignited they zip away to a height of about ' or more, all the while emitting a shrill whistle and leaving a block trail of smoke. They end their flight with a sharp report. These items have been one of the best selling commercial fireworks items in recent years and how you can make your own, that are even better than the commercial ones. It is safe when wet, but when dry a feather or breath of air sets it off.

A piece the size of a pencil tip explodes as loud as a firecracker. Apply like paint on keyholes, doorknobs, light switches, chair legs, etc. Although not strictly a pyrotechnic item, we offer the instructions for making this material because of the good-natured fun and special effects a pyrotechnist is sometimes called upon to produce.

View cart. Illustration 1 Illustration 2 Illustration 3 Other enhancements to the original literature include corrections, table, and figure numbers, complete referenced to figures in the body text, call outs, a table of contents, and list of tables and figures.

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