With the Forth of July fast approaching comes the need to make some noise. The most popular means of noise making was previously fireworks. Though fireworks are nice, the ones which are really fun are also illegal. What to do?
Well, I turned to a company located right here in Pennsylvania, just over the mountain from me in Bethelehem, PA. The Conestoa Company's Big Bang Cannons
These cannons do make a whole lot of noise, and are totally legal. Powered by Bangsite (Calcium Carbide) and water, and a flint, they produce an incredibly loud explosion sound which is safe and fun
What happens is you put a few ounces of water in the cannon's cavity, and put a small amount of bangsite in there with it. When calcium carbide hits water it makes a moderatly explosive gas. You wait about 15 seconds and push the sparker, and BANG!! A great way to celebrate the holiday.
| Conestoga offers many varieties. I have two. The big 15FC field cannon, their largest, loudest, most expensive, and best seller. It produces a 120 decible bang about as loud as a .45 ACP handgun. | 
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| My other cannon is a brass gunboat. Though it is only about 7 inches long, it is also very loud. It produces a bang about 100 decibles. Definatly fun. |
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Don't get me wrong, I'll still have sparklers and quarters, but right by my side this July 4th, will be my two Big-Bang Cannons, a great way to have safe fun this holiday.
More explosive reading can be found at The Nap Room
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
...and then there's the aluminum soda can cannon w/ lighter fluid soaked tennis balls. but that's another story.
2 - Tom
Yeah, but these are safe and legal.
3 - Mark Saleski
oh, definitely. i almost started a mini-forest fire with one of those danged things back in high school.
gees, i hope you're wearing hearing protection with that cannon. 120db! ouch.
4 - JR
Liquid nitrogen in sealed Nalgene bottles is pretty satisfying, particularly for a combustion-free explosion.
Shrapnel is a problem though.