How to Make a Smoke Bomb

Ready to make your own amazing smoke bomb? Whether you want to make smoke for a dramatic special effect or a chemistry experiment, or you want to learn a useful survival tactic, you can make a fantastic smoke bomb with just a few ingredients. There are several ways to make smoke bombs, but the main ones involve using potassium nitrate and sugar, ping-pong balls, or ammonium nitrate, and newspaper. When assembling your smoke bombs make sure to wear the appropriate safety gear, and set them off in an open outdoor area away from trees, pets, and other people.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Ping-Pong Balls

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1
Gather 3-4 celluloid ping-pong balls. For this method, you’ll need a few ping-pong balls. These balls are made of nitrocellulose, which is a highly flammable compound used in celluloid. One ball will make up the actual smoke bomb, while the others will be cut up and placed inside of the first ping-pong ball to add more smoke when you set it off. Choose balls that are the same color, because the color you choose will end up being the color of the smoke.^{[1]XResearch source}
- It’s important that you use celluloid ping-pong balls instead of plastic ones. You can tell the difference between the two because the plastic balls are shiny and bend easily. The celluloid ping-pong balls are typically more durable and matte.
Take one of your ping-pong balls and poke a hole in it. To do this, firmly hold the ball between your thumb and index finger on a flat surface. Take a small screwdriver or knife and apply pressure until it pokes through. The hole will be used to fit the other ping-pong balls.^{[2]XResearch source}
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Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the remaining ping-pong balls into small pieces. You may need to pierce the balls with a knife or screwdriver first in order to make a starting point for cutting. The pieces should be small enough to fit into the hole of the first ping-pong ball. Fill the ball with the pieces until it is completely full.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Stick the sharp end of the pencil in the hole and wrap foil around it. Get your pencil and stick the sharpened side inside the hole of the ping-pong ball you just created. It may not fit all the way in because you just filled the hole, so just make sure the tip of the pencil is touching the outside of the ball. Then, get a piece of foil that is at least 6 by 6 inches (15 by 15 cm). Put the ping-pong ball in the center of the foil square, and wrap the foil tightly around the ball and pencil until it takes its shape.^{[4]XResearch source}
- The only purpose of the pencil in this step is to create a mold for the foil, so do not completely cover it. Make sure there is a hole in the foil at the end of the pencil so you can take it out when you’re finished.
Grab the pencil by the eraser and carefully pull it out of the foil. When you take it out, make sure the shape of the foil stays intact. This shape will leave a chimney for the smoke to travel up through the aluminum foil when you light the smoke bomb.^{[5]XResearch source}
Smoke bombs should never be used indoors due to the risk of fire and smoke inhalation. Nitrocellulose, the chemical inside of ping-pong balls, is mildly toxic when inhaled. Take your finished smoke bomb outdoors and put it in the grass in an open area away from other people and pets.^{[6]XResearch source}
Hold the smoke bomb at the top, and then use a lighter to light a flame right under the ping-pong ball. The smoke will start to pour out of the hole in the ball and out through the chimney left by the pencil.^{[7]XResearch source}
Once it starts to smoke, toss or place the smoke bomb on the ground and quickly move away from it. Stand a few feet back to avoid breathing in the toxic smoke. If you start to smell something funny, stand back a little farther.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Potassium Nitrate and Sugar

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1
Gather your supplies and put on your safety gear. Smoke bombs can be made with a simple concoction of potassium nitrate and sugar. By mixing these ingredients and melting them together, you create a flammable product that produces whirls of smoke when you light it on fire. You’ll also need a cast iron skillet and some baking soda. Adding 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of baking soda will make the smoke burn a little bit longer. For safety gear, get a pair of latex gloves, goggles, and a filter mask to protect yourself from the smoke.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Use an old cast iron skillet that you don’t plan on cooking with in the future. The potassium nitrate mixture may ruin it.
- You can get potassium nitrate, also called saltpeter, at your local garden store or online.
- It’s important to wear your safety gear. Contact with potassium nitrate can cause eye and skin irritation. Breathing it in can irritate your nose and cause sneezing and coughing.^{[9]XResearch source}
Before you make your potassium nitrate mixture, you’ll need to prepare your cardboard tube. Put 2 pieces of tape on top of the hole so it’s completely covered. Then secure those two pieces with a longer tape strip around the base. This will ensure that the smoke bomb mixture won’t leak out when you pour it into the tube.^{[10]XResearch source}
Measure out 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of potassium nitrate and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of sugar. Pour it into your cast iron skillet and mix it together with a spoon until they are completely combined.^{[11]XResearch source}
4
Heat the pan on the stove over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. While the mixture is heating up, stir it constantly until it’s completely melted. As the sugar caramelizes, it should take on a brown or black color and form a thick, gooey texture like melted caramel.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Do not overcook the mixture and take care not to set it on fire. If it starts to smoke in the pan, turn the heat down immediately.
This step is optional, but you can add a spoonful of baking soda before you take it off the heat. The baking soda will moderate the reaction, making the smoke bomb burn a little bit slower.^{[13]XResearch source}
6
Pour the mixture into the cardboard tube. Turn off the heat on the stove and use a spoon to get as much of the mixture as you can into the tube. Work quickly because the mixture is going to harden. To make it easier to pour, you can use a funnel. Or you can place the mixture in a small plastic bag, cut off one corner, and squeeze it into the tube.^{[14]XResearch source}
- When you’re pouring the mixture in the cardboard tube, make sure to pack it tightly. If it’s not, the smoke won’t burn smoothly when you light the smoke bomb.
Visco is a type of fuse typically used for consumer fireworks. Cut at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) of the fuse and then stick one end into the middle of the tube through the mixture. Make sure at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of the fuse is sticking out of the mixture so you have enough room to light it.
Let your mixture sit in a well-ventilated area so that it can cool down. It might take an hour or so to completely solidify.^{[15]XResearch source}
9
Place the bomb outside in an open area. Put your finished smoke bomb in an outdoor area clear of buildings, trees, other people, and pets. You should never light a smoke bomb indoors.^{[16]XResearch source}
- Potassium nitrate smoke bombs burn very violently. So make sure you place it in a clear, open area away from anything that can catch fire.
Use a lighter to light the end of the fuse. Move away quickly as soon as the fuse is lit to avoid smoke inhalation or injury. Your smoke bomb will produce a large cloud of dark smoke.^{[17]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Newspaper Smoke Bombs

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You can purchase a cold pack at any drugstore. They contain ammonium nitrate, which is a common ingredient used in garden fertilizers. Similar to potassium nitrate, it can be combined with other ingredients to create explosives. Open the pack by cutting it with a pair of scissors, remove the small water bag inside and discard it.^{[18]XResearch source}
2
Pour all of the ammonium nitrate granules into a bucket. Once the cold pack is opened and you remove the water packet, pour all of the ammonium nitrates into a large pan or bucket.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Wear gloves when you handle the granules. Ammonium nitrate is not incredibly toxic, but if it gets on your skin, wipe it off, and rinse the skin immediately. Always wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap when you are finished.^{[20]XResearch source}
3
Add water a little at a time until the granules are completely dissolved. You can add water from the sink or a hose. Make sure you add just a little at a time, and gently swirl the bucket until the ammonium nitrate dissolves.^{[21]XResearch source}
- Stop adding water as soon as you notice all of the granules have dissolved so the solution is still concentrated. If you add too much water, you’ll end up with bombs that don’t smoke.
4
Grab 10 individual sheets of old newspaper and fold them into squares. Fold the newspaper in half lengthwise, then fold it again by bringing the top down to the bottom. This will help the newspaper to fit in the bucket and make it easier to handle.^{[22]XResearch source}
- Try to find an older newspaper. Brand new newspapers have a waxy film that prevents them from lighting properly.
5
Dip each newspaper sheet one at a time into the ammonium nitrate solution. Put each newspaper one-by-one by one into the solution, and then swish them around until they are completely soaked. Submerge each one in the liquid for at least 30 seconds.^{[23]XResearch source}
- The wet newspaper will be fragile, so be careful not to rip it while handling.
6
Unfold the newspaper sheets and lay them out in the sun to dry. You can use a driveway or any other concrete surface to dry your newspapers. Make sure you lay them out flat in a sunny spot so they can dry completely and evenly. If you are in a windy area, lay the newspaper sheets out and put rocks or other weights on the corners of each sheet to prevent them from flying away.^{[24]XResearch source}
- You can tell when they are ready when they can be lifted off of the pavement easily.
7
Gather your dried newspapers and roll them all together. Once your newspapers are completely dry, put them all together in a stack. Then, starting from one end, roll them up. Secure the rolled newspaper by tying a string around them. Be careful not tie them too tight or too loose that they come apart.^{[25]XResearch source}
- You may opt to experiment with different lengths and widths for your smoke bomb. If so, cut up the newspaper sheets, rip them in half, or leave them whole before rolling them up.
Now your smoke bomb is ready! Take it outside in an open area, and then use a lighter to light one end of the newspaper. You will notice clouds of smoke coming out of both ends of the newspaper.^{[26]XResearch source}

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In method 4, is the smoke deadly or harmful?
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Ammonium nitrate smoke can be quite toxic, and should be avoided as much as humanly possible.
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How do I make a military-grade smoke grenade?
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White phosphorus is what the military uses. It is extremely volatile. It burns right through skin, and continues burning until the phosphorus is removed. It works very well for smoke screens as well as causing pain.
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Can it explode during the preparation?
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In theory it won't explode unless you make one of these in a sealed container and heat it up too much.But if you heat it up too much, it can catch fire.
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Ammonium nitrate smoke is toxic and shouldn't be inhaled under any circumstances.^{[27]XResearch source}
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Do not inhale the smoke. While the smoke is non-toxic, it is not good to deprive your lungs of oxygen by inhaling large amounts of the smoke.
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Using the second method, be sure not to ignite the mixture within the pot or else you might be burned.
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To color the smoke, you need a powdered dye that vaporizes when heated — test a small amount first to see if it works.
Wear gloves and a mask since potassium nitrate can irritate skin and eyes.
Get at least 7 feet away from any smoke bomb before setting it off.
Ammonium nitrate is a strong oxidizer, so handle it carefully.

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