Aerial Shell Fireworks Making Charts

Kraft paper strip dimensions for pasting canister shells, using 70 lb kraft paper.
Shell Size
3"
4"
5"
6"
8"

No. of turns
3
4
5
6
8

Length of Strips
1 - 24" strip
2 - 24" strips
3 - 24" strips
4 - 24" strips
4 - 48" strips

Amount of paste wraps for single break canister shells.

Shell Size
3"
4"
5"
6"
8"

No. Turns
3 turns
4 turns
5 turns
6 turns
8 turns

Paper Weight
30-40 lb.
50-70 lb.
60-70 lb.
60-70 lb.
70 lb.

Length of Sheet
1 - 24" sheet
2 - 24" sheets
3 - 24" sheets
4 - 24" sheets
4 - 48" sheets

Canulle diameters for shells.

Shell Size
3"
4"
5"
6"
8"

Canulle Diameter
3/4" to 1"
1" to 1-1/4"
1-1/2" to 1-3/4"
1-3/4" to 2"
2-1/4" to 3"

Cut star sizes for shells.

Shell Size
3"
4"
5"
6"
8"

Cut Color Stars

1/4" or smaller
1/4" - 3/8"
3/8" - 1/2"
3/8" - 1/2"
1/2" or larger

Cut Tailed Stars

1/4" - 3/8"
3/8" - 1/2"
1/2" - 5/8"
1/2" - 5/8" or 3/4"
5/8" or larger

Time fuse delays needed for various size shells.

Shell Size (in.)
3"
4"
5"
6"
8"
10"
12"

Delay Time (sec.)

3
3.5
4
5
6
6.5
7

The amount of black powder lift needed for single break shells.

Shell Size
3"
3"
4"
4"
5"
5"
6"
6"
8"

Description
color or salute
color and inserts
color or salute
color and inserts
color or salute
color and inserts
color or salute
color and inserts
color

Weight of 2FA lift

1 oz
1-1/4 to 1-1/2 oz
2 oz
2-1/2 oz
3 to 3-1/2 oz
4 to 5 oz
4 to 5 oz
4-1/2 to 6 oz
8 - 12 oz

Spollette dimensions and powder charges for shells.

Shell
3" single
4" single
5" single
6" single
8" single

break
break
break
break
break

I.D.
5/16"
5/16"
5/16"
5/16"
5/16"

to
to
to
to

3/8"
3/8"
3/8"
3/8"

O.D.
.55"
11/16"
11/16"
11/16"
11/16"

Length
2"
3"
3"
3"
4"

Powder Charge
1" to 1-1/4"
1-3/8"
1-3/8" to 1-1/2"
1-1/2"
1-3/4"

Spiking patterns for various sized shells.

Shell Size
3"
4"
5"
6"
8"

Verticals/Strands
12 / 2
16 / 2
24 / 2
32 / 2
48 / 2 or 48 / 3

Material
8-ply cotton
8 or 10-ply cotton
8 or 10-ply cotton
8 or 10-ply cotton
8 or 10-ply cotton

Case Former Dimensions Chart

Firework case former dimensions.
Shell Size Diameter of Former
3"
2-1/2"
4"
3-1/2"
5"
4-1/2"
6"
5-1/2"
8"
7-1/4"

Min Length of Former

7"
9"
11"
13"
16"

Chlorine Donors
Chlorine donor percentages calculated maximum by molecular weight or from manufacturers data.
Chlorine Donor

Percentage of Chlorine

Ammonium chloride
Chlorowax
Dechlorane

66
30-70
78

HCB
HCE
Lead chloride
Lindane
Mercurous chloride
Parlon
PVC
PVDC (Saran)

75
90
25
73
15
64-68
57
73

Mesh to micron conversion chart

U.S. MESH
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
60
70
80
100
120
140
170
200
230
270
325
400
625
1250
2500

INCHES
0.2650
0.1870
0.1570
0.1320
0.1110
0.0937
0.0787
0.0661
0.0555
0.0469
0.0394
0.0331
0.0280
0.0232
0.0197
0.0165
0.0138
0.0117
0.0098
0.0083
0.0070
0.0059
0.0049
0.0041
0.0035
0.0029
0.0024
0.0021
0.0017
0.0015
0.0008
0.0004
0.0002

MICRONS
6730
4760
4000
3360
2830
2380
2000
1680
1410
1190
1000
841
707
595
500
400
354
297
250
210
177
149
125
105
88
74
63
53
44
37
20
10
5

MILLIMETERS
6.730
4.760
4.000
3.360
2.830
2.380
2.000
1.680
1.410
1.190
1.000
0.841
0.707
0.595
0.500
0.400
0.354
0.297
0.250
0.210
0.177
0.149
0.125
0.105
0.088
0.074
0.063
0.053
0.044
0.037
0.020
0.010
0.005

Firework Display Information Charts

Minimum fireworks display site radius for outdoor displays
LARGEST SHELL SIZE
< 3 in.
3 in.
4 in.
5 in.
6 in.

DISPLAY SITE RADIUS

140 ft.
210 ft.
280 ft.
350 ft.
420 ft.

7 in.
8 in.
10 in.
12 in.
>12 in.

490
640
700
840
AHJ

ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
approval

Minimum mortar tube lengths for shells.

Mortar ID (in.) Single Break Double Break Up to 4-Break
3
15
18
21
4
20
23
27
5
24
28
32
6
28
32
37
8
34
40
46
10
40
46
54
12
46
52
62

Shell Burst Heights.

Shell (in)
3
4
5
6
8
10
12

Size (mm)
76
102
127
152
203
254
305

Burst (ft)
400
500
600
700
900
1050
1150

Height (m)
120
150
180
210
270
320
350