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#1: NAPHTHALENE FIRE BALL

Naphthalene (formula C10H8) is a white volatile solid available in the form of mothballs. Be careful when purchasing the mothballs, as most mothballs nowadays are made of paradichlorobenzene, which will not work. Check the package; it will say either "Guarantee: 99% Paradichlorobenzene," or "Guarantee: 99% Naphthalene." Buy the "99% Naphthalene" type.

MATERIALS:
Large Parallel-wound paper tube
1/8" Visco Fuse
1/8" Drill or nail
Mortar & Pestle or coffee grinder
99% Naphtalene Moth Balls
Black Powder or Pyrodex (NOTE: Smokeless Powder will NOT work for this. Black Powder works a bit better than Pyrodex, but Pyrodex still produces satisfactory results)
End Plug Material (Epoxy, sawdust, clay, wood, hot glue, etc.)

PROCEDURE: 

  1. Take a large parallel-wound paper tube (the exact dimensions are not important. Big tube=big fireball, so experiment!) and plug one end with an epoxy/sawdust, clay, wood, hot glue etc. end plug and allow to cure completely.
  2. Drill a 1/8" hole just above the end plug and insert a length of Visco Fuse; glue if necessary.
  3. Fill 1/4th of the tube with black powder or pyrodex, making sure it does not get packed or tamped.
  4. Pulverize the naphtalene with a mortar & pestle or coffee grinder until it is a powder. Mix 30% by weight of BP/Pyrodex with 70% by weight of powdered naphthalene and fill about 1/8th of the tube with this mixture.  
  5. Fill the remaining 5/8ths of the tube with powdered naphthalene.
  6. Bury in the ground until only 1" of the tube is sticking out. You're done (if any of this has confused you, see the diagram below)! Light the fuse and RUN!!!!!


#2: CREMORA FIRE BALL

MATERIALS:
Non-Dairy Creamer (powdered) - Cremora is a popular brand
Parallel-wound paper tube
1/8" Visco Fuse
1/8" Drill or nail
Black Powder or Pyrodex (NOTE: Smokeless Powder will NOT work for this. Black Powder works a bit better than Pyrodex, but Pyrodex still produces satisfactory results)
End Plug Material (Epoxy, sawdust, clay, wood, hot glue, etc.)

PROCEDURE: 

  1. Take a parallel-wound paper tube (the exact dimensions are not important. Big tube=big fireball, so experiment!) and plug one end with an epoxy/sawdust, clay, wood, hot glue etc. end plug and allow to cure completely.
  2. Drill a 1/8" hole just above the end plug and insert a length of Visco Fuse; glue if necessary.
  3. Pour in 10 grams of black powder or Pyrodex, making sure it does not get packed or tamped. Use more for larger tubes.
  4. Fill the rest of the tube with non-dairy creamer.
  5. You're done! Bury in the ground until only 1" of the tube is sticking out. Light the fuse and RUN!!!!!