I used to have a bit of a phobia with these crackers – it’s a double report affair, with the initial primer launching the entire cracker skywards before exploding with a loud bang. I’ve never thought of the initial blast as an explosion, it’s the second one that’s the real banger.
Once when I was a kid (with little fingers which would have been mutilated by more powerful firecrackers) one of these crackers collapsed when I lit it. I was in one hell of a dilemma – these things are supposed to shoot towards the sky (thus the name) – but it actually goes the direction it’s pointed to unless it’s firmly on its base.
Anyway, the fuse was going and I got my panties all in a twist thinking of whether to risk handling the toppled cracker and put it upright, or let it be. If I had let it be it would have gone into my house and maybe shattered a window or two so in the end I did a bit of a compromise and kicked it into the drain.
Now, this puts a totally new spin (no pun intended) on things – the second and more powerful blast will go where the cracker is oriented so it’s a bit like Roulette. Luckily both explosions happened in the drain but that scared me more than a little. As I grew older we took to lighting the cracker and throwing it into the sky and dodging the second blast as it came down, it was the sort of stupid fun we got up to during Chinese New Year and neighbors hated us. Heh!
I still do stupid things sometimes like lighting firecrackers indoors.
I grabbed a pack when I went fireworks shopping during CNY eve to see if it’s still like what I remembered from my childhood.
The funniest thing is near the end of the video when I got startled by the cracker while my mom was a cool as a cucumber, still steady with the digicam. Haha!
Anyway, I haven’t played with these for a long time and the problem with it is that the initial report (which launches the cracker into the sky) is a propellant of sorts…and it’s HIGHLY (no pun intended) variable. Made in China, yo!
It usually goes up to 12 feet or more but this one barely made 7 feet (judging from the lamp post) and had a diagonal flight path so I was apprehensive and recoiled at the report. I still find it hilarious. 
The weird thing is, as a kid you remember these crackers as being one of the loudest things on earth but as you grow older the sound seems…diminished. The sonic effect isn’t what I remembered from my youth.
…or maybe I’m just going deaf from blasting music from headphones.
More on firecrackers and fireworks when I do my annual Chap Goh Meh roundup. 🙂
why did you kick a perfectly good cracker into the drain? Aya, should have left it go into the house and give the folks a major heart attack, that way dad might actually run over ya. Oh yes, I miss those crazy days.
I remember a kid once emptyed whole heap of gun power into a badminton post and blew his arm and pretty much whatever left of him to bits. That would have been a huge bang.
Haha! I was only 8 years old then and things seem louder than ever. You should check out the Indoor Firecrackers thing, that’s the sort of crazy stuff I get up too. 🙂
Too bad I didn’t get a change to play Jackass Badminton this time – lighting a cracker and playing badminton with it. HAHAHA
Man, that’s going to win that kid a Darwin award. Putting flash powder into a badminton post? Jesus, in such an enclosed space, the blast would have produced shrapnel, depending on the quality.
I would love to see it though. 😉
The shockwave would have blast in all the windows in the housing estate. I was surprise there’s anything left of of the kid, not just mince.
By the way, can you please hurry up and get married, so I can collect ang pow from you, tai ko.
Well, these are not too bad – you know those display shells (industrial grade) which they sell during CNY? Man, one time I lit it without a launcher and that really scared me. The pretty burst of colors 30 feet in the air isn’t that pretty at ground level.
Haha! Alright I’m trying. 🙂
Man I bloody hate duds. Wasted a couple of thunder kings on duds, which brings me to this.
I’m not sure how loud thunder kings 雷王 (red) are compared to the ones you’ve just sampled, but I quite love them too. Use them in a quiet neighbourhood at night to wake everyone and dog up.
Oh! I got the old skool Thunder Kings this year too – fucking awesome bangers, with the full load of flash powder, unlike the new ones. <3
Yeah, sometimes this Made in China stuff isn't quite up on par on the QC. At least it's a dud and not a fuse problem - some fuses just go "Zip" in half a second and it explodes.
The ones I got are rebranded in English but the Chinese is the same, will post it up on Chap Goh Meh. Hey man, I still got some, too bad I couldn't bring it over.
Yeah, the old Thunder Kings will wake ANYONE up. 🙂
I’m never into fire crackers or any of that sort. So dangerous la!!!
I guess it’s coz you’re a girl (not to be sexist) – but unless you grew up with a lot of brothers you probably wouldn’t be interested. 🙂
Ya, it’s a bit dangerous, but more to a child than towards an adult. I wouldn’t worry too much if this goes off in your hand IF you’re holding it at the clay bit (bottom). I think it might be hazardous for a child’s hand but for adults, tingling, numbness and a bit of pain (some bleeding if the clay disintegrates).
Speaking from experience from various chai lei’s accidentally going off in my hand. :S
When i was still a kid, i blew up a 彩雷 at point blank range. I had to get an eye surgery at Normah hospital to patch up my burnt cornea. Considered myself real Lucky not to be blinded by that!
Shit…lucky it wasn’t worse. 😡
Yeah, kids are more vulnerable to firecrakers in general but an adult catching one in the eye would be disastrous as well. Hands are relatively okay, won’t blow any fingers off since it’s bigger as you get older.
Glad to hear you’re okay, must have been a memorable CNY, that one.
Small….simple….and…..effective 🙂
Yup, you just gotta love these things. 😀
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