Welcome to the Info Bank! This section contains a "crash course" in the various types of UK fireworks for our newer readers. You will need to be a member to access the other Info Bank sections, but we have included the "Cakes and Candles" page free below as an example!
"Roman Candle" is the traditional name for a firework that's been around for centuries. In its simplest form, it's just a card tube with a shell sitting inside it. The fuse runs into the tube and ignites a lifting charge, popping the shell out of the open top and into the air, where it then explodes with it's effect.
The best known Roman Candle of all is the airbomb which is a small card tube with one or two shells inside that simply bang when they reach the right height. Some glow with a nice colour too! These will become a rare sight from 2003 onwards as the fireworks industry phases them out.
Above: The standard airbomb is simply a card tube with a shell inside. The fuse often enters at the bottom unlike most bigger candles which work top downwards. Note the ground pin on this item.
Some roman candles have more than one shell inside, stacked on top of each other, separated by a lifting charge. The fuse runs down the inside of the tube, igniting each charge in turn. Thus the shells are launched one after the other, with a pause between each one. This is known as a "multi shot" candle. Again the effects vary depending on the types of shell inside the tube, practically any effect is possible.
Above: A multi-shot candle is similar to an airbomb but it has more than one shot, stacked vertically. This candle from Kimbolton has seven shots.
A good indication of the candle's power is the inner bore size. As with anything explosive related (such as firearms) a bigger bore means a bigger shell inside, which means a bigger effect. Typical bore sizes for quite potent candles are 18mm and 20mm, but you can legally get as high as 29mm in category three candles. Above this they become professional fireworks (and bore sizes of 60mm at big displays are not uncommon!).
The main limitation of a single candle is that only one shell can be launched at a time. No problem, we have the technology! Several candles can be taped together and a fuse run between them. Now when you light the fuse, not one but all the candles are ignited, giving a huge barrage of shots going up at the same time. This is known as a "battery" of candles and any combination of numbers and effects is possible. This is a very effective way of making an ordinarily tame candle appear quite powerful - strength in numbers.
Sometimes, candles are fused together slightly more tidily, and are inserted into a card sleeve or a proper label is wrapped around the whole lot. The common name for this is a candle "pot". They look nice but are no different in operation than batteries.
Candles are good fireworks to work with because of their physical shape. They are easy to angle when attached to a wooden stake or frame, so you can have shots going up, left and right, to give maximum coverage over the display area. You can save yourself some hard work and buy a pre-made wooden frame with candles on, this is known as a "bouquet" or "fan" of candles. For the ultimate fan though, you should invest in some good "fan cakes" (see below).
A cake is a number of single candles all fused together. In this respect there is little difference between a cake and a candle pot - both are constructed of a lot of tubes each with one or more shots in.
Generally though, whereas a candle has a number of effects stacked on top of each other, a cake normally consists of single effects arranged in a grid or circle. The fuse connects each one, and they detonate one after the other. A slow fuse will give a prolonged effect, a fast fuse will create a huge flurry of activity. This is the cakes main advantage - the ability to throw up a huge number of shots in a very short time (gattling gun style).
Because each tube in a cake normally just has one shell in, the tubes are kept fairly short. This gives the firework a "short and fat" shape, and makes it easy to set up. It also gives rise to it's name, a "cake", since many do resemble cakes in shape. The name "cake" is unofficial though, the firework itself will still be labelled "Roman Candle" (which in effect it is, just lots of them fused together).
Above: This spent cake clearly shows each of the seventy or so tubes arranged in a spiral. The fuse burns rapidly around them ejecting a monster barrage of effects. Even though each tube only has one shot in, the overall effect is awesome.
As with candles, the type of effect is almost limitless and each year the manufacturer's imagination stretches to new things. We are now seeing an increase of cakes containing several waves of different effects. In their ultimate form these are known as "display in a box" or "single ignition" fireworks.
When the actual tubes inside the cake are angled, it is called a "fan cake". These are designed to send up a volley of shells spread from left to right, mimicking a candle fan. The results are normally quite spectacular and cheaper and easier to use than separate candles. The timing is better too.
Quite simply, in practically every display. Pick the type of effect you want and the size you need. Long duration multi-shot fireworks make nice breathers for firers.
See our on-line safety manual for full details of using these types of fireworks.
In general, we recommend tying all cakes and candles (even bottom heavy ones) to stakes, as a precaution against them tipping over (especially from recall on soft grass). It's also impractical to part-bury most fireworks as sometimes stated on the label (unless you like digging lots of large holes). Angle candles accordingly away from spectators. Place each firework in a bin liner first, to protect from damp, dew or rain (ensuring the top is not obstructed when the firework is lit).
Airbombs normally come with a ground pin, and do not need staking out, but ensure the firework will not tip over when you leave it (this can happen if you try and push it into long grass). Also if you move the airbomb make sure the pin has not come off and stuck in the ground.
Make sure you check the fireworks are the right way up - it's easy to make a mistake and we recommend setting up in daylight, where possible.
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(C) 2002 UK Firework Review. All rights reserved. E&OE