Gas fireball

You can make very cool little fireballs with these, but they are also a little dangerous. If you have too much gas, or too little powder, flaming gas could land on the ground and cause a fire. Also make sure the base is sturdy so it cannot tip over! They are quite simple to make and have few materials needed.

Materials:

Container. For a first time, make a small one with a 35mm film can, and then you can make bigger ones with things like tin cans.
Powder
Fuse
Gas (I've read that airshow pyrotechnics companies often use a 50/50 mix of car gas and diesel)
Saran wrap or plastic bag

Procedure:

1. Poke/drill a fuse hole near the bottom of the container and stick in a fuse. Seal it with tape.
2. Pour in a little black powder. In a film container about 1/4 inch should be good.
3. Put some gas (it can be white gas, automotive gas, pretty much any gas) in a plastic bag. You can do this several ways. You could pour it into a plastic bag, make a pouch with saran wrap etc. Find what works best for you.
4. The gas bag should make the container just about full, but not stick out of the top.

Other Fireballs

The other two common methods of making fireballs are Cremora and Napthalene.

"Cremora" is actually a brand name for a non-dairy creamer, any brand should work. I have read the higher the fat content of the creamer, the better the fireball.

Napthalene fireballs, also called "Nap bombs" (among other names), use powdered napthalene, which is present in mothballs.

A third method replaces the nap or cremora with flour, because in the proper proportions with air, flour will burn.

Making Cremora fireballs (link, not by me)
Making Napthalene firealls (link, not by me)

Film can size gas fireball:

Tin can sized

Tin can size gas fireball

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