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Reviving this a bit — finally got quoted for a 20ft from a couple suppliers and the freight swung by like $900 depending on the week. Lead time once it sails is usually 4-6 weeks to a west coast port then a few more for drayage. If anyone’s still on the fence about FCL vs LCL, the LCL fees ate most of the savings on my last small order, so I’d only do it if you can fill a container.
9pm cutoff feels like someone complained about the noise one year and ruined it for everyone. My county moved it back to 10pm from midnight a couple years ago and nobody’s happy about it.
Best you can do is start the show right at dark so you still get a solid hour before they’d even think about citing you.
The scream into the boom is the best part and I’ll die on that hill. Knew a guy who’d pick out all the whistling shells from a mixed case and save em for the finale so the whole sky sounded like it was tearing open. Worth it.
Honestly the state line thing is where it gets murky. Each state treats consumer fireworks totally different. Some states flat out ban 1.4G, others only allow sparklers lol. Even if it’s legal where you buy em, driving into a state where they’re banned is technically a no-go. I’d check the exact states you’re driving through before loading up.
Realistically plan on 6-10 weeks door to door. The ocean transit from most Chinese ports to the west coast is only like 2-3 weeks, but loading, customs clearance, trucking all add up. The 2-3 month quotes are usually conservative because of the 1.4G hazardous material certification and inspections. Never trust a supplier who says ‘two weeks’ lol.
Good question. Heat does degrade them over time actually. Sitting at 90+ for weeks isn’t great – the powder can absorb moisture when it cools down at night and then you get clumping. I wouldn’t say they’ll randomly ignite or anything, but the performance next year might be noticeably worse. Keep them off the concrete floor (moisture wicks up) and throw a tarp under them.
Three weeks is fine if you’re not doing anything crazy. I sit down about two weeks out, sketch the order on paper first, then build the boards the weekend before. For 20-30 cakes you don’t need to overthink it — just don’t leave fusing till the morning of, that’s where I always screw up and it gets dark before I’m done taping.
tbf most of the risk is the state you land in, not the border itself. Ohio and Michigan both have their own rules so its worth a quick search. the CPSC approval stuff is federal but that’s about what can be sold, not really what you can put in your trunk for a weekend. I’ve made that exact drive a few times with fountains and never got hassled, just keep em boxed and don’t speed lol.
Not just you. My local spot in Ohio said their distributor short-shipped two pallets last week. Iirc there was a whole supply chain mess after the July 4th blowout this year, factories backed up and everything. Guys who pre-ordered early are fine, everyone else is scrambling.
as long as they were stored dry and sealed its mostly a safety thing not a legal one. the date is more about the powder breaking down and the lift/star mix degrading. that said some local ordinances are written real broad about ‘safe and unexpired’ so a bored cop could give you grief. if they look clean and dry go for it just expect maybe a weak break or two.
Humidity is the real killer, not time. If your garage swings hot and damp, the powder can clump and fuses can get mushy. Dry, cool-ish, off the concrete floor is the move.
A sealed plastic tote with a couple desiccant packs goes a long way. Two year old stuff that was stored right usually still fires fine tbh.
Depends entirely on the states you’re driving through, honestly. 1.4G consumer stuff is legal to possess in most of the country, but a handful of states (Massachusetts, and some parts of the Northeast) outright ban it, and having it in your trunk counts as possession. De facto you’re not gonna get a permit ??there isn’t really a ‘transport permit’ for personal use ??it’s more ‘know the laws on your route and don’t speed in Ohio.’
The practical answer: check the ATF / state regs for each state you’ll pass through, keep it in the original packaging, and don’t cross into a ban state. If you’re just going one state over and both allow it, you’re almost certainly fine. Cross three states into New England and it gets dicey fast.
honestly i think a lot of it depends on the brand. Been buying mostly Brothers stuff lately and their fuse timing is way more consistent than some of the budget brands I used to grab. The cheap no-name 500g cakes are a total crapshoot – some fire fine, others delay like crazy.
i actually started timing my cakes with a stopwatch before shows just so I know what to expect. Sounds obsessive but it’s saved my choreography a couple times lol.
I’ve had good luck with those big Ziploc bags for the smaller cakes. Not the gallon ones but the 20-gallon storage bags they make for clothes. Toss a silica packet in there and seal it up — been doing this for a couple seasons now and labels stay mint.
Basement’s the real problem though. You want airflow. If you got em on a concrete floor the moisture just wicks right up. Stick a pallet under em at minimum.
Yeah in most places the fire marshal has to sign off. I did a show at a county fairground last year and needed both the venue’s permission AND a fire marshal inspection of the setup before they’d let us light anything.
Call your local fire department directly and ask, the town hall usually doesn’t know the specifics. Sometimes they’ll want proof of insurance too which can be a hassle if you’re just doing a small backyard-style show in a park.
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