Adric

About Adric

Local, Geek Of All Trades. Serious Supporter of Quelab and hacking/making things. Boardmember at Quelab and all around scrounger!

Quelab’s Fireless Fourth 2022

 in Events / Links / Projects  tagged Fireless / Fireless Fourth / fireless4th / firelessfourth / links / steam / stem by

I (Adric), your humble blogposter have been collecting these ideas and demos and posting every year since 2011.  And while I love fire and booms.  It’s fun to try and scour the internet for ideas that don’t need big flames!  Quelab is based in the middle of the Desert Southwest and fire danger is a real and growing thing in the western United States.  So hopefully some of these ideas will help you wile away the long hours until its dark enough to see a public display, or before you responsibly do your and or your family/friends do your own small fireworks displays.   Remember to always have a hose in the ready,  and a bucket of water.  Avoid setting off fireworks in weeds or near other flammable things.

Anyway on with the links! Keep scrolling down to see them all. As always, I did not write any of these.  I’m linking you to the sources, Please mind your own limits and don’t injure yourself or others. 

Drone dropping things. 
Have a drone?  Perhaps you can follow this instructable to allow it to fly over and drop glow sticks, led/battery “Throwies”, or perhaps some biodegradable confetti?  
https://www.instructables.com/Party-Drone/ 

Bonus link, Cody’s Lab, Dropped a roll of TP from a drone.
https://youtu.be/3hAGfoAobOM 

Fun with Dayglow Dyed Yarn
Can you make firework images with this?
https://youtu.be/c9f-0wT5TFA
Bonus video, some dayglow dyes will actually glow in the dark for a moment, if you get them really cold.
https://youtu.be/3nBk5lNw8Bo 

Dollar Store Water Squirter Vacuum Powered Toy Cars. 

Sound Resonance Powered Soda Bottle Rockets.
Ever blow across a bottle and hear a note? if you play that note, the bottle can puff out periodic directed jets of air, and if you balance them right you can get them to spin in a circle.
https://youtu.be/GJNozc4IfWU 

An Evaporagraph you can make!
An evaporagraph, is a way to use temperature to cause a dew like image on thin plastic.
https://youtu.be/MdCUUy0Wibc 

Fun with dead Fluorescent tubes.  AKA portable 8’ vacuum*
This one does involve ripping the cap off a fluorescent light tube and then breaking the small fill tube while the whole end is under water. are you surprised at how little gas there is in them? keep in mind there is a teeny bit of mercury in the gas, but as you can see it’s pretty teeny. *it would be best to when done, pour the water out and let it evaporate off just to avoid getting any mercury contaminated water into the water system.
https://youtu.be/CrP3Y6u7RHs 

Make Water Droplets Spin like a Teeny Firework
Making soot hydrophobic surfaces and some scratches on it, you can make water do a dance. 

Making a Rainbow of Silver Nano Particles
This one may be beyond most home labs. But it is not super hard
https://youtu.be/v8pko9IlFW4 

Posters printed with pyro mixtures.  
Well this one has some fire, in fact it’s pyrotechnics painted on paper,  but surprisingly the paper in general does not burn, and leaves a image behind.  Which I think is rather fun.
https://hackaday.com/2022/02/11/pyrotechnic-posters-are-fireworks-drawn-on-paper/ 

Small Popcorn Cannon, In the “Shut up and take my money” sort of thing.
I would love to have one of these. while this does need heat/flame, the boom is just from water flashing into steam!
https://www.reddit.com/r/DidntKnowIWantedThat/comments/rqgyxx/shut_up_and_take_my_money/

Here is a list of links to previous years Fireless Fourth Links!

If you have any questions, or ideas, or updates feel free to reach out to me at adric at quelab.net Happy 4th

Quelab’s Fireless Fourth 2021

 in Projects by
Disco Human Laser Dance Rays Party Celebrate

Welcome to Quelab Makerspace’s 2021 Fireless Fourth, list of ideas, amusements and demonstrations for the kid in all of us.  As always if you enjoy this post please share it with other families and friends and educators and kids who may benefit from this. 

I Adric, your humble blogposter has been collecting these ideas and demos and posting every year since 2011,  and while I love fire booms,  it’s fun to try and scour the internet for ideas that don’t need big flames!  Quelab is based in the middle of the Desert Southwest and fire danger is a real and growing thing in the western United States.  So hopefully some of these ideas will help you wile away the long hours until its dark enough to see a public display, or responsibly do your own small fireworks.   Remember to always have a hose in the ready,  and a bucket of water.  

Anyway on with the links! !!!!

A bit of a take on the typical alka seltzer film canister rockets. This one has some color and a base of sarch.  To give a washable tie dye effect plus a pop and zoom.  May need to source some other small snap top air tight containers since film cans are kinda rare these days..  Although Quelab’s darkroom might be able to spare a few.  https://gluesticksblog.com/sidewalk-paint-rockets 

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Super simple idea for those long hours waiting for after sunset to see the fireworks.  Lay out some paper on the ground,  or even a table thatsin the setting sun,  align toys on the sunny side,  trace the shadows when they look most awesome to you.  https://imgur.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/4IeQrQa

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Need to stay up on your Periodic table? Why not laminate some periodic table of the element images and then use a dry erase marker to play a game of battleship.  https://hackaday.com/2016/02/05/you-sank-my-dysprosium-periodic-table-battleship-game/#more-189363

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The Fourth of July is about fountains.  Well this one is uses  water,   and it’s flat.  https://youtu.be/D07aJB0Blzw 

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Daredevil. Looping pendulum, dripping weights on a line over a bar.  Makes for some nice long exposure pinwheels. 

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Milk plastic, moon boot print. 
https://milkit.com/milk-moon-print-mess-with-your-milk/ 

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Free idea  from the City of Albuquerque Museum,  how to do your own scratch art fireworks. https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum/events/documents/fireworks.pdf

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Simple tape, and paper plate and cup, and tube marble tracks https://www.dollartree.com/diy-marble-track/idea-20/1803-34

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Need a little cool off?  How about a water balloon pinata?  https://www.dollartree.com/diy-water-balloon-pi%C3%B1ata/idea-201907-23 

Links to past years Fireless Fourth posts.

Quelab’s Fireless Fourth 2020

 in Ideas / Links / Newsletter / Projects  tagged Fireless / Fireless Fourth / firelessfourth / independanceday by

Merry nearly Independence Day folks.  This has been an odd year!  But I have continued my now nine year tradition of collecting STEM and STEAM and Science demos, links, and craft ideas. This is for folks to have some fun during these long day time hours before the fireworks.  Or instead of the fireworks. Or really any day!  Encouraging all to think outside the box. Expand the holiday from Booms and BBQ’s. Tinkering, and Crafting, and exploring with your family and friends (where social distancing allows)

     As usual New Mexico is in drought conditions,  so if you do play with fireworks, Please Be Safe! Have a hose and a full bucket of water handy.   Wet the surrounding area.  Be mindful of weeds, trees, leaves, and litter and other burning hazards.   

     Due to the Corona virus, many events and parties are canceled, so skim over these and see if there are any good pastimes you want to try out! 

    I hope these links and the list of links for past years posts will keep you all (no matter what your age is) amused and delighted.   

Please share this link with anyone you think might enjoy it.  

-Adric

Links & Ideas:

Bomb Fizz Strawberries, 

Take a 60/40 mix of powdered sugar and baking soda,  combine in a side bowl, then with either freshly washed strawberries, (the tarter the better within reason)  dip the strawberries into the mix and tap to dust off the excess. Now eat them. What does it feel like in your mouth?  -by Adric 

Got a 3dprinter?  You can try printing this bottle opener and bottle cap shooting gun.


https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3915647

Firecracker goop…  poprocks, cornstarch, water, food color…  

https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/06/pop-rock-goop.html

Paper Blooming Water Flower (or is it a firework burst?) 

BLOOMING PUDDLE PAPER FLOWERS

Paint and paper tubes, to make a pretty good starburst pattern. 

Cute firework creatures.  Not in english.  But you get the drift.  (needs paint, straws, paper, googly eyes)

https://kreativraum24.de/monster-klecksen

Know someone with a few old rusty trailer hitch balls?   You can make a pretty big spark with 2 and some foil.   Video shows with big steel rock crushing balls.  Large ball bearings… Must have round surfaces.


https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/thermite-reaction/

DIY Kalliroscope  must say (mica shimmer powder) works well.  

How To Build A Simple Ferrocell

Make a cold tornado.  Some fans, dry ice and some hot water. 

via Gfycat


https://gfycat.com/hotspicydalmatian 

Cd+ paper pattern, plus a sunbeam = rainbow daytime fireworks. 

Rainbow Science: Creating Light Patterns with a CD

Neon pant,  blacklight,  jar of water.   Fun times neon fireworks.  Might be able to use the putting shaving cream trick on this for a glow under blacklight rain storm. In a jar. 

https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2019/06/glowing-fireworks-experiment.html

Paper plate/stapler  polyhedrals.


https://allfortheboys.com/paper-plate-polyhedron/

A bunch of crayon and heatgun art ideas. (42 in 1)
http://www.cartoondistrict.com/diy-melted-crayon-art-ideas-on-canvas/

3D foil art, Paper/cardboard/canvas some glue and yarn.  Then some more glue and cover with foil.  Rub down, and paint with colored sharpies.   Looks pretty cool. 

http://ourartlately.blogspot.com/2012/02/foil-embossing.html

DIY “laser” maze.  Streamers and tape.  For a harder version, try using cheap painters tape instead of streamers.  Now you have a sticky lazer maze.  https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/diy-hallway-laser-maze-indoor-fun-for-kids.html

Super simple Glue,  Construction Paper and Salt, and food coloring firework craft.


https://www.icanteachmychild.com/salt-absorbing-fireworks/

Simple Bird kite, from paper.  Can even work with no wind.  And tire out the kids. 


http://krokotak.com/2017/06/simple-bird-kite/ 

Paper only Flexigon.  (no tape needed) great travel toy.  6 sided fidget item. 

Suncatchers, Can lid,  clear school glue,  and those flower gems, or flat marbles or whatever you call em.  The lid is just there as a backing for the glue. And is removed when the glue is dry.  

https://www.thejerseymomma.com/2016/12/easy-handmade-diy-suncatchers.html

Got a drone?  Rig up a TP dropper.  Just be sure to clean it up…. I’m guessing toilet paper won’t  be so rare by the 4th.  

Link to 2019-2011 Fireless fourth links:


 https://quelab.net/19628/2019-quelabs-fireless-fourth-links-and-ideas/

https://quelab.net/19560/2018-fireless-fourth-4th-of-july-

https://quelab.net/19439/quelab-2017-fireless-fourth-link-list/

https://quelab.net/19282/2016-fireless-forth-ideas-from-quelab/

Quelab’s Annual Fireless 4th Craft and Science (Links)
Quelab’s “Fireless Fourth” 2014
Quelab’s Collection of Fireless Forth Ideas.
Non fire, paper popper/banger/cracker

2019 Quelab’s Fireless Fourth links and ideas!

 in Projects  tagged Fireless Fourth / Fireworks / fun / lists / SCIENCE! by
Smokey the bear Hostile firework stand takeover.

Greetings Folks!  Here we have the ‘2019 Fireless Fourth’ Science and entertainment demos, that are selected from across the web all year, I believe ive been pushing these out to the friends of Quelab for 8 years now!  The goal is to let people learn while having fun, and letting you explore a little science while saving some money, and if you like me live in a very dry, high fire danger place, perhaps you will get a few people an alternative or a supplement to a personal fireworks display. 

Well at the bottom I will link you back to the previous years Fireless  Fourth posts. And as always please share this around! 

On to the new Links! 

Food: 

Bald Eagles with Oreos.  

Bomb Fizz Strawberries, 

Take a 50/50 mix of powdered sugar and baking soda,  and mix, then with either freshly washed strawberries, (the tarter the better within reason)  dip the strawberries into the mix and tap to dust off the excess. Now eat them. What does it feel like in your mouth?   -invention made by Adric 

Light/Sound demos:

How to make Lightning! (simple homemade electrostatic builder)
link to learnplayimagine.com post 

Sidewalk Chalk Rockets!
https://gluesticksblog.com/sidewalk-paint-rockets/

Wax paper dye Resist, fireworks! 

Wax paper Resist

Hurricane in a Jar 

Make a Hurricane in a Jar

Paper Poppers,  or Bangers! We did this one our first year at Quelab,  but here is a nice version with 3 types, which works best? 

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Popper

Try this with Wristband glowsticks for your own skybloom firework simulator! 

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/leak-proof-bag/

Digital Fireworks:

Have a Hue light & android?  You can synchronize it with firework sounds. 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ijsdesign.huefireworks

Augmented Reality fireworks, with ability to snap pictures.  (android) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Paradyme.FireshotFree 

Send fireworks,  (Iphone)

Collections:

Summer science fun for kids. 

https://lemonlimeadventures.com/must-try-summer-science-activities-for-kids/

More fun Summer science

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mallorymcinnis/we-ve-got-magic-to-do-just-for-you

Probably not a good idea:

Someone decided to scale up an elephant toothpaste experiment.   And it was amusing. 

View post on imgur.com

Quelab’s Fireless 4th Links from 2018 

2018 Fireless Fourth (4th) of July Links!

Quelab’s Fireless 4th Links from 2017

Quelab’s 2017 Fireless Fourth Link List!

Quelab’s Fireless 4th Links from 2016

2016 Fireless Fourth Ideas From Quelab

Quelab’s Fireless 4th Links from 2015 

Quelab’s Annual Fireless 4th Craft and Science (Links)

Quelab’s Fireless 4th Links from 2014

Quelab’s “Fireless Fourth” 2014

Links from 2013

http://quelab.net/wordpress/9114/quelabs-collection-of-fireless-forth-ideas/

Quelab’s Fireless 4th Links from 2011

http://quelab.net/wordpress/773/non-fire-paper-popperbangercracker/

Please Share this list, anywhere you might find bored grownups or kids!   And if you have further ideas/links email me at adric at quelab.net, put “Fireless Fourth” in the subject.   

2018 Fireless Fourth (4th) of July Links!

 in Ideas / Links / Newsletter / Projects / Random  tagged Fireless / Fireworks / fourth of july by

Fire Danger High

Wow, is it almost July 4th again? And New Mexico is still in a horrible Drought. So we continue to bring you the 2018 list of Quelab’s Fireless Fourth Ideas.

Link here to 2017’s Fireless Fourth links

Exploding Watermelons! Who says you need fire to explode watermelon everywhere? Just some rubber bands! How many did it take if you do this?
https://youtu.be/B__lvz7zQCE

Lightning? in your kitchen?
http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/04/how-to-make-lightning.html?m=1

Paint and explore Rainbows
https://thepinterestedparent.com/2017/02/make-explore-paint-rainbows/How about Oilslick Rainbows, are the the same colors as storm rainbows? Did you know that the colors are due to the thickness of the layer amplifying some colors and interfering with others?

More colors more rainbows.
https://www.sciencekiddo.com/rainbow-paper-kid-color-science/

Cheap Solo Cup Ribbons or wind twirlers.
https://www.icanteachmychild.com/plastic-cup-twirlers/

Rocket launched battery operated led lights.
https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Fireless-Fireworks/

Old School Oil and water light show..
https://www.instructables.com/id/Old-School-Psychedelic-Light-Show/
Superglue explosions in hot borax water?

Shaving cream Dye? For Color Explosions., fun marbling technique.
https://youtu.be/r_vv_ymduYo

Fake/EZ Sharpie Tiedye

Wireless power? Did this with friends back in Highschool. Florescent light bulbs (even burned out ones) will glow under some high voltage power lines.

Poprocks in foam. Make poprock goop.
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/06/pop-rock-goop.html
If you know about Adric, you know he’s been on a styrofoam recycling kick. But here is a way to get some use out of it yourself. For making prints.
https://youtu.be/O32K3BnzqT8Link here to 2017’s Fireless Fourth links

Pocket Catapult? Fun with those little paper wrapped poppers.

PVC, shock cord, and Pool Noodle Rocket Launcher.

Link here to 2017’s Fireless Fourth links which also has links back to previous years!

Quelab visits AFRL Maker Hub on KAFB

 in Hackerspace News / Links / Projects  tagged AFRL / Base / Maker Hub / Makerspace / visit by

Quelab was approached last month to open some outreach talks with a representative of the local Air Force Research Laboratory(AFRL) and their Maker Hub, (A Makerspace on Kirtland Air Force Base). After talks and a tour of our space, we arranged for a small group tour to be escorted onto the base and see some of the AFRL’s space tech lab space, and then through the Maker Hub, which is a very nicely outfitted small Makerspace right in Western KAFB, which turns out to be open and free for people with base access. (details in a link below)

Opening just last year (2017) they already have an impressive start. The Maker Hub is in a small nondescript brown building on the west end of the base near the tarmac/runways. Inside are nearly a dozen 3d printers, a combination fiber and CO2 Epilog laser cutter, a small CNC, small machine shop, work benches, electronics lab, 2d large format printing, and even a fancy 2 armed red robot torso. So If you are on base much, please give them a look. I know they are looking to expand into a bigger space, which I think will be good for them, as it feels a bit cramped. But at this point I think its utilized low enough (much like we were for the first few years) that the size is not too constraining yet. (not until you have a half dozen people working on big projects)
If you see them tell them we sent you 🙂

Photos from our tour of the AFRL Maker Hub

For information and access

Quelab since its beginning we have always been interested in meeting with,  collaborations and exchanges with other local and world, Makerspaces and  Makers and those who don’t know yet they can be makers!

City on the Edge Podcast, 2017 Albuquerque mini Maker Faire Edition

 in Projects by

I had the honor to be on a podcast panel during Albuquerque mini MakerFaire 2017,   Myself, and Mini Maker Faire organizer Wendi Flybutter, Bernalillo County Seed Librarian Brita Sauer, Talking to the City on the Edge podcast crew,  all about making, makering, planting new seeds, and about many more things including Quelab  (even if they got the tags a bit wrong).

Enjoy!
City On The Edge Podcast

Quelab’s 2017 Fireless Fourth Link List!

 in Ideas / Links / Random  tagged 4th of July / Fireless / firelessfourth / Fireworks / links / list by

The fourth of July is nearly upon us!  So in preparation I bring you my collection of fireless ideas  for entertaining kids and adults alike on this holiday!  At the end will be links to the 2013-2016.   If you celebrate with fireworks or without, some of these may help you out!  pass the time and have fun, and if you celebrate with fireworks, please do it responsibly,  keep a hose handy,  a bucket of water to quench the deads,  and common sense.

 

 

 

 

Well here is this years list!

 

500 drones with lights?? Substitute for skyblooms?

Here are a bunch(15) of things to try out!
http://lemonlimeadventures.com/15-science-experiments-pop-fizz-crackle/ http://lemonlimeadventures.com/15-science-experiments-pop-fizz-crackle/

5 minute cheap and mostly color related science experiments safe for kids and adults (bunches of ideas here!!!)

5 Minute Science Experiments for Kids

I think there has been basically this idea in every one of my Fireless Fourth, posts since 2011 or so, but each year i find slightly better versions, painted firework blooms

Firework Salt Painting

Stained glass picture frames, (make still life window fireworks)

Stained Glass Art

Easy Starburst Wall Art.

Easy DIY Star Burst Wall Art

Hotdog firecrackers.
http://www.popsugar.com/food/Firecracker-Hot-Dog-Recipe-37777925

Crackling Goop!
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/06/pop-rock-goop.html

Blacklight Fun!
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/09/glowing-oil-water-experiment.htmlhttp://www.lilmoocreations.com/science-for-kids-overnight-crystal-garden/

Here is a simple toy, to amuse, says toddlers, i’m pretty sure i know enough adults who would play too….
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2013/07/03/preschool-play-with-magnets-and-pipe-cleaners/

Overnight crystal garden. Red White and Blue!
http://www.lilmoocreations.com/science-for-kids-overnight-crystal-garden/

Not sky blooms, but it gives you the option to make colorful blooms!

Colour Changing Flowers Experiment

Exploding Sidewalk chalk!
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/play-recipe-sidewalk-chalk.html

Rainbow bubble snake maker!

Rainbow Bubble Snakes

Train your kids to be ninja superheros.
http://www.brassyapple.com/2013/05/diy-laser-maze-kids-activity.html

A quick selection of fireless amusements from Steve Spangler

So simple a photo can explain it.
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ba/b8/d3/bab8d3047e33cb17bc8e9900b86ec709.jpg

Another single photo idea (well it’s a composite, but who’s counting?!?)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5d/df/1d/5ddf1d1a4c27fea9fdbc13f29ed86716.jpg

 

Quelab past fireless fourth links.

2016

2015

2014

2013

All links and ideas are rights of the perspective creators,  i just collected most of these not responsible for misuse or damage or danger caused by any of these.