Fusing Fireworks
How do you make a great fireworks display and, most importantly, a safe one?
This is NOT the way you want your fireworks set up:
Not Secured, single zip tie on fuses, not on a stable surface, too close together
Below is how this should be done to ensure a fun & safe show:
All pieces glued & taped down, 3 zip ties per fuse & metal taped, flat & protected surface, spaced correctly!
Fusing Your Pieces Together
There are several different types of fuses. These come in packages varying between 17 and 20 feet in length. Most of the time you cannot find fuse at firework stands or warehouses because they do not want to be responsible for people modifying their fireworks by fusing on their own. We buy fuse by the case from wholesale fireworks distributor.
 |
Cannon Fuse
|
 |
Perfect Fuse
|
 |
Quick Fuse
|
Secure Your Pieces With Glue
The next step, and an important one, is to secure your pieces to the board. Put your pyro on a flat, even surface. Attach it to much thicker cardboard which is screwed to a pallet or door. These make excellent platforms for creating firework “boards”.
The first thing you need to do is to use some form of liquid nails. You can apply it to the bottom of the actual piece or on the board. We use Loctite PowerGrab exclusively. It holds great, is easy to use, and cleans up well.
Using Metal Tape to Secure Things
Next you will use metal tape. This is used for heating ducts and can withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees. There are several on the market but we use Ace Hardware brand. It is more expensive than some others but is much easier to remove the backing from than others we have used (personal tip: 3M tape is VERY difficult to separate from the backing. Very frustrating to work with!).
Rip pieces in the length of the firework you are laying down. Place it evenly along the bottom of the piece. This will hold the firework firmly on the bottom.
Keep in mind that most fireworks have their concussive, or lift, charges located on the bottom—this is where the force is concentrated. Therefore, this is also the area most prone to “bottom outs,” which occur when a firework mistakenly fires downward instead of upward. As a result, securing this part is essential for both safety and performance.
Additionally, using tape provides an extra layer of protection, especially when fuses cross each other on the board. In this case, the tape acts as a barrier, preventing the heat from one fuse from accidentally igniting another nearby fuse. Consequently, this helps maintain better control over the timing and sequence of your fireworks display.
Moreover, combining PowerGrab with metal tape offers excellent results. Together, they work to ensure that each firework remains firmly in place throughout the show. Not only does this prevent tipping, but it also reduces the risk of dangerous bottom outs. In short, this combination enhances both safety and stability, giving you greater confidence in your setup.
Next step… Zip it!
Zipties are your best friend when setting up fireworks safely, offering control and stability during the entire display setup. We use several different zip tie sizes and colors to accommodate various fuse types and setup preferences for each show. Yellow is our most-used color because it stands out clearly against red, green, or white fuse for quick visual checks. This high visibility helps us quickly spot if a fuse slips out of place, which prevents major safety issues later.
Next, we zip tie each firework’s fuse securely to a connecting piece of our own timed fuse strand. Always consider the burn speed of the fuse before finalizing your setup, as timing is critical for safety. Once aligned, we apply one or two additional zip ties and snip them off for a clean and tight connection. Never rely on only one zip tie, especially if you’ve placed multiple fireworks on a single firing board. Using just one tie increases the chance of the fuse disconnecting during ignition, which can ruin the sequence. Proper zip tie usage ensures fireworks stay in place and light exactly when planned for a smooth, safe performance.
Final Fusing Steps
Lastly, wrap the fuse connection in metal tape. You don’t have to make this wrap tight. This is for added security. It keeps the heat inside so that the fuses can catch each other.
And the final product- 2 pieces secured and fused. The Fireworks Fiesta (left) is fused with Quick Fuse & the Crazy Commander has Perfect Fuse.
Connecting Individual Pieces
Now that your individual pieces are fused it’s time to run them together…
We’re taking the fuse from each and putting them together so that we can use one lead fuse (of Perfect Fuse) to ignite both pieces. Make sure to have plenty of fuse overlap so that the fuses have time to ignite each other.
Decide where your fuse will start. In this case the fuse will start on the far left of our board. Pin the fuse down with the metal tape. Make sure you’ve taken the time to plan out where your fuse line will go & how much of it you’ll use.
Follow the path of the fuse and use the metal tape along the way. There will be places where the fuse will come out (see the pink fuse in the photo above). Put a piece of metal tape on the side to keep sparks and heat away from the piece.
Make sure that you have enough space to lay out your planned length of fuse. Tape it down with the metal tape so you have a controlled burn as things “heat up”.
We now have two pieces ready to go together with the timing we planned. Plan and secure everything safely. So go fire it up!
Enjoy! Be Safe! Have Fun!
DISCLAIMER: Pyrotechnics are dangerous, even for experienced shooters.
Johnsons’ Christmas Corner is not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform.
This content is shared for informational purposes only.