OpenTube

Making Colored Smoke Devices for 4th of July

Tech Ingredients

525,211 views

*For educational use only

How to make your own colored smoke devices. A detailed step-by-step explanation and demonstration.

The Two Formulae:

Dry Mix - 36% Smoke Dye, 27% Potassium Chlorate, 18% Sugar, 16% Magnesium Carbonate, 3% Sodium Bicarbonate.

Scented Mix - 36% Smoke Dye, 29% Potassium Chlorate, 18% Sugar, 14% Magnesium Carbonate, 3% Sodium Bicarbonate. Add to this, 20-25% Scented Oil of your choice.

20 Comments

@ah5308 8 years ago

You are the Bob Ross of pyrotechnics.

@longnhan771 8 years ago

Finally a decent tutorial with details instructions along with an explanation for each chemical! This video should get more views!

@toastbusters3897 8 years ago

Thank you for being a YouTube scientist who knows what they are doing and dont rub it in the faces of those who dont. Best of luck! -Toast

@anupamdasrc6970 7 years ago

"lets start with the chemistry". Amazing. This guys is the Heisenberg of colored smoke!

@raven54021 7 years ago

so the next step would be to make colored scented rocket motors so you can have red white and blue streaks threw the sky for the 4th of july

@unlokia 8 years ago (edited)

What a lovely man, is that your family? You're all so genuine and dare I say... NORMAL. Thank you for such a proper channel doing ACTUAL science, and for not taking yourself too seriously, unlike HUGE numbers of other so-called "science" channels.

God bless every one of you :)

Matthew, England.

@tobygraham7356 8 years ago

Purple and red were definitely the best

@christopherpappas7474 8 years ago

Coolest dad ever! You should if you have not yet citronella oil. Smells great and skeeters hate it!!

@kingzach5000 4 years ago

Recipe at 13 minutes

@agentred8732 8 years ago

6:53 to skip the long smoke demonstration.... Thank for the cool video, TI!

@jacobjarvis8403 8 years ago

Just want to say. I have watched a lot of YouTube DIY videos and you guys make the best. All the flash and the “cool” things other youtubers does not beat the quality raw learning experience I get from watching your team!

@nzpork1 8 years ago

You are my new favorite youtuber!

@johnnyb8629 8 years ago

OMG this is just how my mind works, the second he talked about his secrete tweak to add a fragrant oil I immediately thought of adding Tinks #10 skunk cover scent oil to the mix. brilliant idea! essentially changing it to a anti personnel smoke device!

@Phuqmang 10 hours ago

By adding the essential oil will it make it stand up to be thrown? What would you do to make them throwable?

@ricardoochoa4400 1 year ago

It's 7 years later and this was the BEST tutorial I found. I made it in my country so kids have something to play with better than fireworks and it was a blast. I felt as another kid. Thank you.

@dlkline27 2 years ago

This and the previous (white smoke) video are the best instructional videos about anything on YouTube, bar none. Taught like a true professional. Thank you!

@TryptychUK 8 years ago

A couple of tips from a wise old special effects guy:
Don't hold onto smoke pots because sometimes the ports can get blocked with melted debris and they have been known to explode.

The other thing is if you want to put them out before the end, place them facing each other and they will burn each other's smoke.