Fountain Wheel Mod

This isn't really a modification, though I'll be using a firework in a manner it wasn't really intended for.

'Circus Wheel' is a lower priced novelty that's been a kid-pleaser in past shows - I wouldn't otherwise include it this year. The $4 price tag got me thinking. I bought multiple 'Carmel Fountain' six-packs for less than a fiver each; they apparently spray a shower of sparks to six feet, where the Circus Wheel sprays a diameter of 5 feet. Essentially this wheel is four small fountains fused in series mounted to a board with a plastic grommet that acts as a bearing when nailed to something vertical. If I can create the same thing with 4 Carmel Fountains, I'll get an effect more than double the size at less cost!

The length of the fountain is measured. It is 5" long and 1" thick.

Found something rigid and lightweight. Two 6x6" squares are cut out and marked up to determine the exact center.

Fuses on each fountain are freed up (like most fireworks, they are taped down).

Fountains are laid out to ensure the concept makes sense.

Card pieces are stapled together. 3/8" hole drilled in center, holes marked and cut where the inside of the fountains meet the card stock.

Washer with the same diameter is placed over hole, duct-taped and cut. Same thing is done on other side.

 Zip ties are drawn through the pre-cut holes.

Zip ties are pre-pulled to easily allow fountains to be fastened. The fountains are oriented in a manner that will rotate the wheel in a clockwise direction. Wheels always seem to spin that way. I wonder if someone did a study to see what is more visually appealing?

At this point I add two "Hummer-oo" whistles. Why not add some noise to the light effects? The fountains are secured by drawing through the zip ties, the Hummer-oos added on opposite sides for balance.

 Zip tie surplus pulls are cut off, axle hardware is prepared (found in my surplus hardware parts bin).

Tested the axle to make sure it freely spins. Added a few washers and nut to compensate for the zip tie knuckles; don't want this thing to get hung up when tested.

Quick fuse visco is cut to length and added, starting about 1 inch from the end of the first fountain's wick. It should be stated that lighting quick fuse directly is never a good idea, it is prone to some serious spitting and overspray that can burn skin in a fraction of a second.

The quick fuse is attached in sequence, one through four (but only to Carmel Fountains).

The Hummer-oos will ignite using a 3" stretch of slow-burn visco, allowing for a 6 second delay until their effect is heard, well after the fountains start.

The final product isn't pretty, but so what. It also seems heavy, but I think the propulsive power of four simultaneously burning Carmel Fountains should be adequate to get it spinning in turbo mode.

Adding the two Hummer-oos increases my costs by $0.80, making this slightly more expensive than Circus Wheel, but I couldn't resist adding the effect. Comparative testing will take place around May 21. Should it work, I'll make another and integrate it into the Canada Day show.