Hot Tamali Mod

It is fortunate that just over a month prior to showtime on Canada Day, the second most popular fireworks blasting date in the country occurs: Victoria Day. This also happens to be when I'm in the thick of creating my July 1 show.

Ottawa Bylaw 2003-237 states in 5.1:

No person shall discharge consumer fireworks except on the following days:

1. Victoria Day,
2. the day immediately preceding Victoria Day,
3. the day immediately following Victoria Day,
4. Canada Day,
5. the day immediately preceding Canada Day, or
6. the day immediately following Canada Day.

In years past I have made small modifications to fireworks to get a better or faster effect. Prototypes must be tested. This year, test day is May 20, 21 or 22. The weather will dictate.

An unmolested Hot Tamali.

My first mod will be increasing the speed of a Hot Tamali. This is a mini-cake that shoots ten crackling comets mid-height (50-60'). It is an excellent value that can be had at most vendors for 2-3 bucks. Last year I fired four at once for an effect that is better than some $20 cakes. This year I'd like to see how they look if all ten comets fire within 1-2 seconds total, instead of one shot every 1-2 seconds.

I first strip off the base paper and bottom half of the wrapper, exposing each shell tube. The fuse can be seen running from tube to tube. 

The direction of the firing order can be determined by looking at the tube that has the ignition wick (the green one in this case). The fusing carries on to the left, so this item fires clockwise if looking down at it. Contrary to how it looks, it is not one continuous fuse running through the whole cake (though some cakes do have such).

The right (transmit) side of the linking fuses are removed, but the left (receive) sides remain.

Necessary items are ready, 3" zip-ties are prepared (as in, partially pulled).

Quick fuse is cut to size, the staring wick is attached to the start of the quick fuse with a zip tie, and the remainder of the zip ties are ready to be pulled in sequence.

Each link is attached to the quick fuse using 3" zip-ties.

The surplus pulls are cut from the zip ties. Cake is taped up for safety.

And compared to the original...

I'll hang on to this until the 21st (plus or minus a day), when we can see how it works.