Adding another level to the Articles of Pyrotechnics training program

[displayfireworks1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-sE03GS0Io
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https://www.pyrotalk.com/ap-manual.php
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I am adding a third education certificate level to the Articles of Pyrotechnic education. After seeing the poor quality of what is out there I am offering the Manual Fire. This will give distributors three levels of participation. The hope is once the user see’s how all of this electrical firing works they will want to advance into one of the listed fireworks firing systems levels. Of the three videos included in the program , one is dedicated to manual firing. I will also suggest these distributors sell the Ignite system at the retail level for those fireworks enthusiast that want to advance and can easily purchase a system and upgrade their certificate to the next level with more purchasing options.

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The other two are also listed on pyrotalk for those that own one of the listed fireworks firing systems.
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https://www.pyrotalk.com/ap-ignite.php
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https://www.pyrotalk.com/ap-certificate.php
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[BMoore]

I think this is a great idea and hope distributors accept it. It never made sense to me that a firing system should to be a prerequisite. I had my ATF license and was shooting 1.3 before I bought my first firing system and even then it was just a cheap Chinese system for a couple years before diving into Cobra. One of the most knowledgeable pyros I know has never touched a firing system and I know some with Thousands of dollars worth of equipment that I wouldn’t trust with a sparkler. Lol

[Salutecake]

Hey BMoore, I just had one of the sponsors here reject my fel to buy 1.4 pro and sorry Dave has much as I believe in training, It's just easier to x that sponsor off my list.

[displayfireworks1]

All I had to do was hear about how some of the current so called training that is being done now. What could you possibly want to set up with single shot items sticking Visco fuse in them. I tell people don’t assume because some of these people sell fireworks , they know how to properly shoot them, let alone teach you how to shoot them. At least hire someone to teach the class that has experience working professional displays.
My three levels of training is designed to give the distributors choices in what they want to accept towards sales. If they wish they can also further define the products in each category they do accept. I would not recommend selling single shots and/or modular slice to someone without a fireworks firing system. The same goes for a cake product with only ports and no fuse.
The future goal is see all advanced fireworks users move into quality fireworks firing systems. Over the years I have countless users resist electrical firing until they finally do obtain a system , then they shoot all the displays going forward using a firing system.

[KDirk]

Good to see some expansion of the training. Even for those not wanting to get access to AP level product, getting some sort of quasi-formal training is a good idea. I see too many people treating fireworks in a cavalier fashion, as though the stuff is a toy. Heck, I used to be one many years ago, holding roman candles, and lighting and throwing various smaller items in my hand until I had an uncomfortably close call. Luckily, I learned without getting burned. There is always room to improve safety, at least for those who will take some initiative. Now that firing systems are available at the consumer level, this will be more important still.


As forthe value of a proper firing systems, I can say as a relative amatuer at staging fairly large shows that the Cobra setup has been an excellent investment, even accounting for the cost. I'm now running 1x18R2, 2x18M, 1x36M, 2x72M and an audio box, plus a great many slats and cables both from Cobra, and an aftermarket supplier who does very nice slat hardware, and just happens to be local to me. Some of the firing modules were acquired second hand at less than new cost, but I still have a lot tied up in it, considering this is a very part time hobby where I do one big show a year.

I considered making up a nail board and wand setup a few years ago, but ended up going straight from hand fire (all consumer 1.4) to Cobra. Yes, it's overkill for the kind of shows I do, but it has made doing them more enjoyable for me, as I can sit and watch as it all goes up, instead of running my ass off in the heat and humidity of the St. Louis summer lighting fuses. It also has made it safer for everyone involved, as I can setup much farther afield and still take up a position with the crowd, so I can get immediate feedback on what everybody liked through the course of the show. I've also been able to involve my nieces and nephews as "button pushers", which they get a real kick out of.

I think ignite will be a game changer as regards the market penetration of firing systems. It's price is just reasonable enough to appeal to a fairly wide customer base, where Cobra, Firelinx and the other up level strictly professional systems require an investment in hardware that is going to remain beyond the reach of many people who simply won't be able to justify the cost.

[topshelfpyro]

As forthe value of a proper firing systems, I can say as a relative amatuer at staging fairly large shows that the Cobra setup has been an excellent investment, even accounting for the cost. I'm now running 1x18R2, 2x18M, 1x36M, 2x72M and an audio box, plus a great many slats and cables both from Cobra, and an aftermarket supplier who does very nice slat hardware, and just happens to be local to me. Some of the firing modules were acquired second hand at less than new cost, but I still have a lot tied up in it, considering this is a very part time hobby where I do one big show a year.



It's unbelievable how much $ and time we backyard guys put into our 1 big show a year. Not just in fireworks, time, etc but the accumulation of equipment! I have 1296 FireTEK cues, 32 craigco racks, $10K in the QSC PA system, 120 mortar racks, a 40' high cube container for storage of fireworks and equipment, and tons of misc stuff. for 1x a year. LMAO but dam its fun when you get applause from the audience as the justification of it all. GA went legal in 2016 so that is an accumulation starting almost from then. Just dam.

If 1.4pro gets regulated like 1.3 it may all be for sale in some future year...........

[KDirk]

Yeah, I've dropped as much on hardware at this point as I did for almost 2 years of pyro product purchased at wholesale discount. Now I have it, and unless I need to replace a component (or add more), that investment is done. I figure to have to buy new LiPo batteries from Cobra eventually, but think I'm probably good on number of cues. My show isn't that large (and I utilize a lot of chain fusing off one initiator to bulk fire stuff that isn't timing critical) to really need more cues for now, given the size of the shoot site and the amount of product I'm comfortable buying within the yearly budget. I can't really bring myself to drop more than about $3K on the yearly fireworks buy, and last year was only $2100, as I had significant leftovers from 2023. I suspect 2025 will be tighter still.

Obviously, there are those who make me look like a piker. I'd love to be able to go whole hog over the top, but I haven't the funds, storage, assistance or time to setup anything bigger than what I've done the last few years now. It already borders on being more work than to is fun, which defeats the point. And it is a plenty big show, exceeding the run time and scope of many typical municipal shows done here now, since they've gotten stingy on budgeting for fireworks. I might add another few dozen shells next year for a bigger finale, but figure I'm about capped out unless I find a collaborator who wants to join forces.

[topshelfpyro]

Amen to that!

[displayfireworks1]

I probably said this a few times over the years. The advanced fireworks enthusiast years ago was more about making fireworks. Obtaining chemicals and formula etc. Fast forward over the years with the internet and computer technology etc. What use to be a big secret is no longer a secret. We as advanced fireworks enthusiast behave more like a display company. It is not about how to make fireworks, it is more about how to present and display the products and equipment we can purchase. Now that we are in display company territory we realize the cost factor and associated other related factors such as storage etc. It reminds me of the muscle car days. There was a sign in a speed shop back then that said “Speed cost money, now fast do you want to go”
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I can probably rant for a long time on the advanced fireworks enthusiast the cost, the audience etc. Now you see what spawned a for profit display company back in the day. Only back then, no one but them had the knowledge on how to make these display fireworks we all currently enjoy. Today with the internet and affordability of fireworks firing systems and more and more states going legal , it is different story. I’ll stop here for now

[KDirk]

All good points. I've some interest in making fireworks, but that'll never happen unless I get a type 15, and a lot more free time. As things stand, neither is likely to happen. The best I can hope for is that the AP product category continues to improve, and that the regulatory environment stays reasonable (or gets better) rather than tightening up. The former is probably likely, but is predicated on the latter. If regulations start clamping down again, AP product will suffer a decline in sales, and thus development and expansion of the product offered will get choked off. Let us all hope that won't be the case.