If you don’t have granulated sugar, you can use powdered sugar, but the process of building the smoke bomb will be a little different. If you don’t have a cold pack, look for another source of potassium nitrate (also known as saltpeter). It’s often sold in the fertilizer section of hardware and garden stores. You can also buy saltpeter online or make it yourself if you’re feeling ambitious. You also need a medium-sized pot, aluminum foil, a smoke bomb mold, and waxed string (optional).
Cut the top off a paper milk carton and use the bottom half as a mold if you’d like a square smoke bomb. Line it with aluminum foil. Line a bowl with aluminum foil. Any type of bowl works, whether it’s deep or shallow. Make tiny smoke bombs by lining votive candle holders with aluminum foil. Make a tube-shaped bomb by lining the inside of a toilet paper roll with aluminum foil, making sure one end is completely covered. Make a funnel-shaped smoke bomb by lining a funnel with foil. Find an interestingly-shaped vase to make an artistic-looking smoke bomb.
Adding too much sugar will create a bomb that is difficult to ignite and burns quite slowly. Adding too much potassium nitrate will create a bomb that lights quickly and burns up fast.
As you cook the ingredients, use a wooden spoon to stir them. You’ll start to see the sugar melting a bit. If it starts smoking or smelling funny, reduce the heat immediately. Continue cooking the mixture until the sugar is completely melted, stirring gently. Stop stirring when the sugar is melted. Allow it to keep cooking until the sugar caramelizes and turns golden brown. When this happens, remove it from heat.
As you cook the ingredients, use a wooden spoon to stir them. You’ll start to see the sugar melting a bit. If it starts smoking or smelling funny, reduce the heat immediately. Continue cooking the mixture until the sugar is completely melted, stirring gently. Stop stirring when the sugar is melted. Allow it to keep cooking until the sugar caramelizes and turns golden brown. When this happens, remove it from heat.
If your bomb won’t light, chances are it’s because the ration of potassium nitrate to sugar was a little off. Too much sugar will make it tough to light. Try again with exact measurements. If your bomb burns away in a flash, it’s probably because you had too much potassium nitrate in the mixture. Try again with more sugar.
Powdered sugar Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) A coffee or spice grinder, or mortar and pestle A container with hold in the top A piece of waxed string
Soft drink can Toilet paper tube (covered on one end) Chip container tube Ping pong ball[4] X Research source Blown-out egg (this is tricky, but quite impressive)
