Party popper

A party popper is an object commonly used at parties. It emits a loud popping noise by means of a small friction-actuated explosive charge that is emitted by pulling a string or by compressed air released when released. In some party poppers an explosive charge is not used. In party poppers with an explosive charge, there are less than 16 milligrams of explosive charge. The streamers are non flammable for safe use. The charge or compressed air blows out some confetti or streamers and emits a popping sound. Although they are in some places sold with fireworks, they are not considered fireworks and are often legal where fireworks are banned and/or excluded from regulation of fireworks sales. They are also generally listed as a novelty item or trick noise maker and are sold year round in many party supply stores or with party supplies in many stores.

There are also party popper revolvers on the market which utilise a speed loader style cartridge filled with six party popper charges inserted into a normally colourful plastic device loosely resembling the pistol variant. Its functionality is very much the same as the pistol, the depression of the trigger apparatus rotates the chamber so a live charge is presented to a hammer, which falls onto a regular cap ring embedded in the bottom of the insertable chamber. The chambers are one-use only, although reloading could potentially be done by hand. For technical details of how the charge is constructed, see Takeo Shimizu's book, Fireworks: The Art, Science and Technique. (Austin: Pyrotechnica Publications, 1988).