Spiral Tubes

Buy Firework Tubes, Heavy Shell, Mortar Tubes, Box Star Shells, Lance Tubes

What's the difference between a fireworks tube that is spiral and one that is parallel (or "convolute")? Well they're made differently and it's easy to tell by the way the paper is wound. Paper towels or toilet paper are both wound parallel. But the paper tube inside them is wound spirally.

So in making fireworks, when do you use spiral tubes and for what? Well, for some fireworks making applications, the two tubes are interchangeable. But in general, spiral tubes are used to make aerial shells, shell inserts, salutes or reports, lance work and small mortars. For many spiral fireworks tube applications, you will need to use a disk to cover the end or an end-cap (fits over the ouside of the tube), or an end-plug (fits/plugs into the tube). The proper plugs, disks, and caps are shown with each tube. If your tube is designed to be a fireworks shell or a mortar, then the mating tube number is also shown. By the way, a "shell" is fired into the air. The "mortar" is the tube from which it is fired. All tubes are a brown kraft color unless otherwise noted. More resources on making fireworks and finding the right tube for your pyrotechnic device.

If you are using any of these tubes as mortar tubes, here is how you can make them reusable over and over again, and provide them with stable, solid bases which will not tip over. These tubes do not come with bases, though. Click here: How to Make Stable Bases for Cardboard Mortar Tubes.

Identifying the Right Parts

"I.D." refers to the inside dimension of the fireworks tube. "O.D." refers to the outside dimension of the tube. The listings below are shown in ID order. Matching parts (shells or mortars, plugs, caps, and disks) for spiral tubes are indicated in the columns under "Matching Part Numbers." All matching parts have to be purchased separately--they do not come with your tubes. Paired casings (shells and mortars) have sufficient clearance. This means that a #0 shell is made to fit inside #0 mortar. "Matching Plug" refers to either a paper end plug or a wooden plug (for mortars) that fits inside the tube. When there is no matching part number shown (that is, a blank space), it means there are none in stock at this time. Ask for it if you need it; we may be adding it to inventory soon. When a matching part number is shown as "n/a," this means "not applicable"--which means the part is either not needed and/or generally not manufactured."

* In addition to the matching part numbers shown, others are available that will work with this item. Look for similar sized parts elsewhere in this catalog, or call us if you can't find what you need.

 

 

1-9/16" ID Class C Star Shell - Pack of 50 ea.
$30.50 /kit

1-9/16" ID Class C Star Shell - Pack of 50 ea.

These tubes were made to be used in consumer fireworks ("Class C") mortar tubes. There's no "standard" consumer mortar tube size. So, be sure and m...

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$30.50 /kit
1/4" ID x 2" Length  Tube - 100 Pieces
$4.93 /kits

1/4" ID x 2" Length Tube - 100 Pieces

Perfect sized tube for 1-Ounce "super bottle" rockets.  Dimensions: 1/4" ID x 2" Length x .041" Wall .332" OD, Open End Kraft Tubes Part #TU2005

$4.93 /kits
Lance Tube 5/16" ID x 4" Length Tube - 100 Pieces
$29.94 /kits

Lance Tube 5/16" ID x 4" Length Tube - 100 Pieces

Dimensions: 5/16" ID x 4" Length x .015 Wall .395" OD, Wall Flat End Kraft Tubes Part #TU2020

$29.94 /kits
1/2" ID x 1-1/2" Length Tube - 100 Pieces
$9.99 /kits

1/2" ID x 1-1/2" Length Tube - 100 Pieces

These spiral wound tubes are perfect for making box or pill-box stars. If you have never seen the effect of a pillbox star in the sky, you have mis...

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$9.99 /kits
1/4" ID x 4" Length  Tube - 100 Pieces
$9.84 /kits

1/4" ID x 4" Length Tube - 100 Pieces

Dimensions: 1/4" ID x 4" Length x .041" Wall .332" OD, Open End Kraft Tubes Part #TU2007

$9.84 /kits
3 Pound Double Voice Cracker Tube
$23.47 /kits

3 Pound Double Voice Cracker Tube

Theses heavy duty tubes are custom designed to work with our 3-Pound Double Voice Cracker tool set.  These tubes come in a pack of 25. Dimensions:...

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$23.47 /kits
.780" ID x 2" Length Tube - 100 Pieces
$20.63 /kits

.780" ID x 2" Length Tube - 100 Pieces

Dimensions: .780" ID x 2" Length x .080" Wall .94" OD, Open End Kraft Tubes Part #TU2032

$20.63 /kits
#100 2 1/2" Mortar Tube - Pack of 10 ea.
$22.86 /kits

#100 2 1/2" Mortar Tube - Pack of 10 ea.

High quality, spiral wound, cardboard, #100 mortar tubes. A cheap alternative to fiberglass or HDPE tubes. These tubes are not plugged. Here's h...

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$22.86 /kits
#2 Mortar Tube - Pack of 25 ea.
$21.25 /kits

#2 Mortar Tube - Pack of 25 ea.

1-1/4 inch ID cardboard mortar tubes. These parallel wound tubes are unplugged with a blue outer wrapping. They can be used to fire small shells, c...

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$21.25 /kits
#0 Mortar Tube - Pack of 100 ea.
$42.74 /kits

#0 Mortar Tube - Pack of 100 ea.

Small mortar tubes perfect for firing flying fish fuse and other small mines. How to Make Flying Fish Fuse Mines Dimensions: 3/4" ID, 7/8" OD, 1/...

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$42.74 /kits
5-16" ID x 4 1/4" Length  Tube - 100 Pieces
$9.84 /kits

5-16" ID x 4 1/4" Length Tube - 100 Pieces

Dimensions: 5/16" ID x 4 1/4" Length x .015" Wall .332" OD, Open End Kraft Tubes Part #TU2008 Same as our lance tubes, but open on both ends! 

$9.84 /kits
1" x 1" x 1/16" Strobe Pot - Pack of 25 ea.
$21.87 /kits

1" x 1" x 1/16" Strobe Pot - Pack of 25 ea.

These spiral wound tubes have thin walls so that they will burn completely up as the strobe flashes. How to Make Flashing Fireworks Strobe Pots D...

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$21.87 /kits
Model Rocket Tubes 25pk
$26.47 /kits

Model Rocket Tubes 25pk

These spiral wound paper tubes can be used as the fuselage for many model rocket motors.  one bag of  25 0.9" OD x 12" Length x .095" spiral wound...

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$26.47 /kits