Bigot (_Artifice de Guerre_, p. 118) speaking of the flying fuses, or sky-rockets, observes, that the mallet used for driving the composition, is proportionably large, according to the rockets, and that it is five inches in length, and four in breadth, when the diameter of the rocket is from 12 to 18 lines. The mallets for larger rockets are stronger and heavier, and, in some instances, where a great force is required, as in driving war-rockets, a machine similar to the pile-engine, is used. See _Congreve Rockets_. _Sec. IV. Of Utensils necessary for constructing of Signal Rockets._ A detailed account of the tools used in making signal rockets, may be seen in Ruggeri, _Pyrotechny_, p. 143; but M. Bigot has enumerated them as follows: One mandril for forming the cartridge, or case. One pair of curved compasses to determine the exterior diameter. Three conical mandrils. (See fig. 3, plate.) One solid, or massive cylinder. One mould for garnishing. Two moulds for the capitals, or heads, one of which is for the rockets with, and the other for the rockets without, the _garnish_, or furniture. One piercer and block (See plate, fig. 1, I & H.) One scoop. One punch. One mallet. One press. One large knife. One pair of scissors. All the wooden utensils ought to be made of hard and sound wood, without knots. The rammers should be furnished with rings or ferrules, and the first bored with a hole of sufficient length to receive the piercer. The second should be bored deep enough to receive two-thirds of the piercer, and the third, to receive one-third, while the fourth should be solid. These rammers are all furnished with heads. (See section iii.) _Sec. V. Of the Rolling, or Plane Board._ This board is furnished with a handle, and is used for rolling rocket cases, &c. and is of different dimensions, according to its application. It is made of hard wood, such as oak or walnut. When the paper is wrapped round the mandril or _former_, the rolling board is used to compress the paper, and make it round and smooth. _Sec. VI. Of the Driver for charging large Rockets._ This contrivance is similar to a pile driver in construction; and, by means of a weight falling upon the rammer, the charge is sent home with great force. Its use is confined to the largest kind of rockets. _Sec. VII. Of Mortars and Pestles._ Mortars are employed for the pulverization of substances, and, according to their use, may be either of wood, marble, brass, or cast-iron, which last costs less than the others. Large mortars have covers, in order to confine the finer particles. The pestles should be of very hard wood; because, in that case, no danger would be apprehended of an explosion of the materials, an occurrence which might take place, if iron were used. This, however, depends on the substances submitted to the pestle. _Sec. VIII. Of the Choaker or Strangler._