Where can I find pyro technicians? How can I do this?
- Thread starter PushForGreatness
- Start date
my guess is Lycopodium. http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/kboudrea/demos/lycopodium/lycopodium.htm
I never tried it myself, but . . . Non-dairy creamer (the powder, not the liquid).
Someone told me that when he was a student at University of California San Diego, he got a large container of non-dairy powdered creamer from the cafeteria, went up to the top of a 7-story building on campus, dumped the creamer off the edge and set fire to it, to see if it really would create a spectacular column of fire. And it did. . . just as the Dean of Students came walking around the corner! Luckily, no one was hurt, but the students involved were on probation for a while.
So, try it at your own risk.:grin:
-- Ken
P.S. -- Ah, college days. So enlightening.
Someone told me that when he was a student at University of California San Diego, he got a large container of non-dairy powdered creamer from the cafeteria, went up to the top of a 7-story building on campus, dumped the creamer off the edge and set fire to it, to see if it really would create a spectacular column of fire. And it did. . . just as the Dean of Students came walking around the corner! Luckily, no one was hurt, but the students involved were on probation for a while.
So, try it at your own risk.:grin:
-- Ken
P.S. -- Ah, college days. So enlightening.
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paulears
Veteran
Virtually every city has pyro people - the dangers involved with selecting and firing pyro have produced legislation, codes of practice and manufacturer guidance, that changes depending on your territory. Rules for transporting and storing it also vary from location to location. Home made pyrotechnics are at best worrisome, at worst possibly carcinogenic, let alone unpredictable. Pyro needs to fire exactly the same, every time. Few people now use loose powder for this reason. The firing boxes have failsafes and circuit checks, and computer controlled ones are more common. Sticking a bit of gaffer across a simple flash pot turns it into a maroon, with destructive results. TV, movie and theatre pyro people are very skilled and very safe - and it's just simpler and safer to get in an expert. Improper use of pyro will invalidate your insurance, and nowadays is just plain stupid. In the UK you don't have to be licensed or a member of any organisation to rig and fire pyro, but in general, it's done properly, and most production managers wouldn't dream of using the wrong people - especially if they make it themselves from crazy materials that have serious potential threat to people nearby!
paulears
Veteran
Maybe things are different in the US, but here, our fire department know very little about pyrotechnics.
It's worth looking at sites like this for useful links.
http://southeasternpyrotechnics.com/indoor-pyrotechnics.html
It's worth looking at sites like this for useful links.
http://southeasternpyrotechnics.com/indoor-pyrotechnics.html
PushForGreatness
New member
Thanks guys. I will check that site out and call my friends that work at a local fire dept to see if I can figure it out. I wasn't planning on doing it myself unless it was very simple and safe.
In NYC the fire department handles permits and licenses pyrotechicians and special effects personel. In addtion a few years ago the state got involved and now a state license is required as well. Everything varies with your locality.
