Abstract Reduced-scale experiments offer a controlled and safe environment for studying the effects of blasts on structures. Traditionally, these experiments rely on the detonation of solid or gaseous explosive mixtures, with only limited understanding of alternative explosive sources. This paper presents a detailed investigation of the blasts produced by exploding aluminum wires for generating shock waves of controlled energy levels. We meticulously design our experiments to ensure a precise quantification of the underlying uncertainties and conduct comprehensive parametric studies. We draw practical relationships of the blast intensity with respect to the stand-off distance and the stored energy levels. The analysis demonstrates self-similarity of blasts with respect to the conventional concept of the scaled distance, a desirable degree of sphericity of the generated shock waves, and high repeatability. Finally, we quantify the equivalence of the reduced-scale blasts from exploding wires with high explosives, including TNT. This experimental setup and the present study demonstrate the high degree of robustness and effectiveness of exploding aluminum wires as a tool for controlled blast generation and reduced-scale structural testing.