Black Match fuse

After all, what good is a device if you can't light it? This section isn't really a how-to but rather just a brief description on my methods of making black match for other members of the pyrotechnic community to see how my brain ticks.

O.K. we'll start by gathering materials that you will need. Here you can see (from left to right) the "black match maker", the mixing tub (with slurry in it already), a spoon for mixing, some "iron aid" spray starch (the binder) some scissors, cotton string (The most recommended for pretty much every pyro use) and some masking tape to help hold the string to the washing line (prepare to be yelled at by your wife or whatever woman you live with)

Before I set up my string I get some meal powder and make a slurry by wetting it with spray starch. I usually put in about 100-150grams of meal, of course this depends on how much you will be making.

Once you have made the slurry, put a lid on it and set it aside whilst you set up your string.

Here is my string all pegged up on the line and the match maker rigged up, make sure you peg or tape the string on good, nothing worse than the string falling off half way through the process.

Now i fill the match maker with the slurry and run it slowly from one end of the line to the other whilst working the meal into the string and wetting it often.

The string comes in from the right and through the BP slurry then out from 4 small holes to the left which form the fuse.

Sorry i have no "action shots" of me making fuse. There's no way in hell I'm using the camera with slurry coated hands.

And of course the product. Its actually quite hard to get a photo where you can actually see the fuse, this was the best one. As you can (or cant) see there are 6 lengths of fuse, 4 single stand pieces and 2 double strand pieces. I use double strand for my shell leaders .

So that's how i make my black match Chris, I suppose its a bit late now since you have yours working now anyway.

 Here is a video of it burning.

Just a little note, I apologize for my video files being larger than normal but my video cam has given up so i am using our digital still camera to take the videos and it saves them as large QuickTime files.