Verify it's actually a 200g/500g cake?

[tustinfarm]

Wondering if there are any tricks to verify that a cake is actually 200g or 500g in composition content, other than physically disassembling and weighing the lift and effect contents. For a fountain only device the gross weight before and after probably give a reasonable measure. But for an aerial cake, then all the extra weight from the tubes, clay plugs etc comes into play. So I can't think of any workaround...but posted the question just in case there's a special trick.

[displayfireworks1]

I don’t think buying a 200 or 500 Gram cake is like purchasing lunch meat or steak when looking for exact weights CLASS specification. Most of these Consumer Fireworks are usually made under the classification weight as not to violate that generic standard. But that does not mean a 500 Gram cake can shoot one mortar of a single 500 Gram shell.
I am not an expert on this but I do know there are some build standards out there. Perhaps someone can post a link for you to read.

[BMoore]

I wouldn't get hung up on weights so much as overall performance. There are 200g cakes out there that put 500g cakes to shame. Most manufacturers tend to round up so a 500g cake might only have 400g of composition. But with good construction and quality composition that 400g may perform better than a true 500g cake. Your best bet is to attend demos and buy based on what you see with your own eyes. Videos are also helpful if you can find videos from the current year's batch and not the manufacturer's demo video which is typically overloaded.

[Salutecake]

Well stated BMoore!!!

I few years ago I was really impressed with some 200g cakes at least compared to some 500g, I remember wondering for the price I should have gone with all 200g cakes.
The past few years, I have gone with more 1.4 so I really don't know what is out there in the consumer market.