A Manual of Pyrotechny; or, A Familiar System of Recreative Fire-works

by G. W. Mortimer

In the subsequent directions we shall have frequent occasion to mention pipes of communication, commonly called leaders, by which the several parts of a compound work are connected with each other; and several other articles of less importance, as touch-paper, quick-match, port-fires, &c.

Touch-Paper.

1. Touch-Paper.—This is a paper impregnated with a solution of salt-petre, by which it acquires the property of burning slowly away without flame, and yet with sufficient strength to communicate its fire to meal powder, with which it comes in contact. It is prepared in the following manner:—

To make Touch-Paper.

2. To Make Touch-Paper.—Dissolve a quantity of salt-petre in vinegar or any other acid, more or less of the salt-petre according as you would have your paper to burn slow or fast; then dip into this solution some thin blue paper, let it be well saturated, then take it out, and dry it for use. If, on trial, it is not found to burn properly, or if it blazes on being set on fire, it is an indication that your solution is too weak; you must therefore strengthen it by adding more of the nitre, and the paper must be passed through again. On the application of this paper to fire-works, two modes are in use:—For small articles, or such as are choaked (to be hereafter explained) tie a piece round the orifice with thread or fine twine, leaving enough of the paper at the end to form a small tube, in which is put some mealed gunpowder, and the paper is then twisted over it, and ready for firing.

For larger articles, as Rockets, Roman Candles, &c. the paper, instead of being tied should be pasted round the orifice with thin flower paste; but care must be taken that the paste does not extend beyond the end of the case, for this would prevent the fire from communicating with the composition, and the piece would consequently fail in the going off.

Quick-match.

3. Quick-match.—The purpose of the Quick-match is similar to that of touch-paper, but chiefly used to form the inside of leaders; it is generally made of cotton-wick, (such as is usually made use of in the manufacture of candles) impregnated with nitre. It is made of several sizes, from one to six threads, as is most suited to the pipes, or articles for which it is designed. The pipes must be sufficiently large to receive the match easily, as its quality will be much diminished by its breaking. The following is the best method of making this match:—Having distributed the cottons into the number of threads requisite for your purpose, coil it very lightly into a flat bottomed copper or earthen pan, then pour in a part of the salt-petre and liquor, and boil them together about twenty minutes, after which coil it again into another pan and put to it the remainder of the liquor, then put in some meal powder, and well mix it with the liquid; after which place the pan beneath the wooden frame ([fig. 12]) and tying one end of the cotton to one side of the frame, then by one hand by means of the handle (A) turn the frame round while you let the cotton pass through the other, holding it very lightly, and at the same time keeping your hand full of the wet powder; if the powder is too wet to stick to the cotton put more in the pan, so as to keep a supply until the match is all wound up; you may wind it as close on the frame as you please, providing it do not stick together; when the frame is full take it off the joints and sift dry meal powder on both sides the match, till it appears quite covered, afterwards hang it in some warm place to dry, which, if it be in summer, will be effected in a few days, but if it be in winter it will be a fortnight before it is fit for use; when it is perfectly dry, cut it along the outside of one of the side-pieces of the frames, and tie it up in skains for use.

Composition for the match.

The proper ingredients for the Match are, cotton, one pound twelve ounces, salt-petre, one pound, spirits of wine two quarts, water three quarts, isinglass three gills, and meal powder ten pounds; or half the quantity may be prepared by taking the ingredients in the same proportion. Four ounces of isinglass should be dissolved in about 3 pints of water.