Traditional method for Preparing charcoal for fireworks.

Introduction

This is a traditional method for preparing charcoal used in fireworks. The recipe relies on materials commonly available at home: copper pots or tin containers, terracotta pots, manual stone wheel grinder, a metal sheet, cow dung or mud, and the Rui plant or Crown flower plant. 

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Commonly available Materials you can use.

Copper pot (or a tin container).

Terracotta pot (pottor pot as a lid).

Metal sheet or a shallow metal plate (tin).

Manual Stone wheel grinder.

Rui branches (Calotropis), crown flower plant branches.

Cow dung or mud (to seal).

Stone mill (manual stone wheel) for grinding.

A fine screen for sifting charcoal.

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Step-by-step method.

1. Prepare the crown flower plant branches: first collect & process (shaving) the crown flower plant branches and dry them for 15 days in sun.

> crown flower plant branches are porous/ light weight; the charcoal made from it produce a golden spark. This charcoal is reactive and relatively light weight — suitable for fireworks fountain in our region, you can use other woods compatible to produce charcoal for fireworks purpose .

2. Dig a pit in the ground. Place the copper pot so its mouth is level with the ground. If you don’t have a copper pot, a tin container with small opening & having lid will also work.

3. Lay a metal sheet or plate on the ground next to the pit. Arrange the dried crown plant branches upright on that sheet — build them standing on the plate rather than directly on the soil, because stones, pits or soil mixed with charcoal is undesirable.

4. Ignite the branches and allow them to burn for 15–20 minutes. When they are partially burned (check ember) and the charcoal ember is ready, collect the embers using a metal scoop (skimmer with handle) and pour that embers into the buried pot. Because of the holes under skimmer, ash will fall downwards and only the ember material will remain over skimmer.

5. Continue this process, filling the copper pot gradually followed by opening and covering teracotta pot lid, this will preserve embers resisting it becoming ash. Keep repeating until the pot is partially full or full. Use this tin sheet with tong or handle near mouth of copper pot to assist ember to fall into pot.

6. Once the pot is nearly full, immediately cover it with a terracotta pot (pottor pot). When you cover it after filling with ember, the storing will be preserved quickly. Covering prevents the ember from turning to ash.

7. After covering, invert the terracotta pot so the copper pot mouth is sealed. Apply cow dung or mud over the lid and then put dry soil on top. Keep one extra buried copper pot (empty) nearby so that if you have more embers left later it can be used. Burried and covered pot in ground using soil prevents pets or persons touching hot copper pot as a safety also it resist oxygen coming in contact with embers for further burning.

8. After 8–10 hours, lift the pot out from the ground. When removing the pot, take care so that no side soil or stones fall in.

9. Next, separate and sieve the charcoal from the ash and process it further. Using a manual stone wheel grind the charcoal finely. After grinding, pass the processed charcoal through a fine screen to sift it. Return any coarse pieces and grind again.

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Final notes

The resulting charcoal should be free of excessive ash and coarse fragments; sifting and re-grinding produce a fine, uniform product.

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