Fireworks Stand.
I put on a pretty big 4th of July party every year. Tons of kids, hotdogs, hamburgers, swimming, fishing, music...the works. It's my thing and the Mrs is very patient with me in regards to my annual party. I float a 4x10 Jon boat lit with LED lights out to the middle of the lake and it's totally loaded with fireworks. All with timed fuses....(for safety)
My neighbor, lights his off from the shore...He does a great job and spends a lot on his fireworks, they do kind of rain down on my guests though...not lit or anything. Just the debris and packing stuff. It does take away from our party when the guests and saying "something hit me!"
I didn't want to rain on his parade and make him feel bad about it. Years past, it's just something we delt with...this year however. I decided to "fix it". Instead of coming to him with a problem, I came to him with the solution.
My neighbor, lights his off from the shore...He does a great job and spends a lot on his fireworks, they do kind of rain down on my guests though...not lit or anything. Just the debris and packing stuff. It does take away from our party when the guests and saying "something hit me!"
I didn't want to rain on his parade and make him feel bad about it. Years past, it's just something we delt with...this year however. I decided to "fix it". Instead of coming to him with a problem, I came to him with the solution.
The Build.
I actually came up with this idea last year when I saw this 4x4 fence post spike thing at Home Depot. What we built is basically at tripod that mortar cakes sit on. It's designed to be directional. That is, it's designed to aim his fireworks over the lake and not our heads.
Step 1: purchase one 4x4x8 pressure treated post.
step 2: cut two 3 foot sections off and save the remaining 2 feet.
Step3: attach the fence post spike thing to the 2 foot section.
Step4: line up the three sections and drill a 1/2 hole (inline) through all three leaving the middle spike part lower than the outside two posts.
Step:5 run a threaded 1/2 rod through the inline 1/2 holes. Washer and nut on one end, two washers on each side of the middle post to act as a bearing so the tripod works. Washer and nut on the other end and cut off the excess.
Step 6: the "launch pad" I made mine 2'x17"...mostly because I had a scrap piece of plywood that size.
Step 7: center on the two outside taller posts and mark the square posts on the underside of the pad. Turn over, drill four small holes equal spaced inside the trace marks of the taller posts. Attach the pad with 2 1/2" deck screws into the top of the two outside posts
Step 8: use 2x4's to fix a rail around the pad. I drilled them in place from the bottom of the plywood. I also drilled 1/2 holes along the back for bottle rockets.
Step:9 deploy, set the spike forward and lean into the pad to set the proper launching angle. Then give the back two posts a good stomp into the ground to create a solid base.
Step 1: purchase one 4x4x8 pressure treated post.
step 2: cut two 3 foot sections off and save the remaining 2 feet.
Step3: attach the fence post spike thing to the 2 foot section.
Step4: line up the three sections and drill a 1/2 hole (inline) through all three leaving the middle spike part lower than the outside two posts.
Step:5 run a threaded 1/2 rod through the inline 1/2 holes. Washer and nut on one end, two washers on each side of the middle post to act as a bearing so the tripod works. Washer and nut on the other end and cut off the excess.
Step 6: the "launch pad" I made mine 2'x17"...mostly because I had a scrap piece of plywood that size.
Step 7: center on the two outside taller posts and mark the square posts on the underside of the pad. Turn over, drill four small holes equal spaced inside the trace marks of the taller posts. Attach the pad with 2 1/2" deck screws into the top of the two outside posts
Step 8: use 2x4's to fix a rail around the pad. I drilled them in place from the bottom of the plywood. I also drilled 1/2 holes along the back for bottle rockets.
Step:9 deploy, set the spike forward and lean into the pad to set the proper launching angle. Then give the back two posts a good stomp into the ground to create a solid base.
Final..
Note: I added a pin with some of the scrap threaded rod. This would allow him to set this on the side of his house or shed without the center post swinging out when you pick it up. I can weld, so I made mine a tight fit with a T-handle. Just unscrew it some and the post swings out into a tripod. You can just make the hole larger than the threaded rod and put a nut on each end or something.
That's it. Not very difficult. My son and I put this together in a couple of hours. Just look at the pics and you'll "get it"
Looking forward to the 4th of July party this year, more so because it'll be safer for all.
Side note: stability comes from driving the spike into the ground as far as it'll go...this may mean it's not that far out front when you begin to push it in....you'll see.
That's it. Not very difficult. My son and I put this together in a couple of hours. Just look at the pics and you'll "get it"
Looking forward to the 4th of July party this year, more so because it'll be safer for all.
Side note: stability comes from driving the spike into the ground as far as it'll go...this may mean it's not that far out front when you begin to push it in....you'll see.