Happy, happy Independence Day to all, and remember that we are free because of the brave!

If you want to try something different this year and make memories by making accessories that make memories yourself, here’s how to make your own sparklers!

NOTE: CHECK YOUR AREA’S RESTRICTIONS PRIOR TO USING ANY TYPE OF FIREWORKS OR OPEN FLAMES

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A SPARKLER

• Iron wires or wooden sticks
• 300 parts potassium chlorate (if you can’t get this ingredient, try one of my other recipes)
• 60 parts aluminum fines, flitter, or granules
• 2 parts charcoal
• 10% dextrin in water solution
• 500 parts strontium nitrate (optional, for red color)
• 60 parts barium nitrate (optional, for green color)

HOW TO MAKE THE HOMEMADE SPARKLER

1. Mix the dry ingredients with enough dextrin solution to make a moist slurry. Include the strontium nitrate if you want a red sparkler or the barium nitrate if you want a green sparkler.
2. Dip the wires or sticks in the sparkler mixture. Be sure to leave enough uncoated space at one end to safely grasp the finished sparkler.
3. Allow the mixture to dry completely before igniting the sparkler.
4. Store sparklers away from heat or flame, and protected from high humidity.

TIPS

1. Source is L.P. Edel, “Mengen en Roeren”, 2nd edition (1936), p.22, as cited from Wouter’s Practical Pyrotechnics
2. Parts are by weight.
3. Be certain the sparkler is ‘out’ and cooled before discarding it. This is easily accomplished by dipping the stick in a bucket of water.

Firework use is restricted or prohibited in some areas. Please check your local laws before igniting homemade or purchased sparklers.