Wisconsin Pyrotechnic Arts Guild Club Newsletter website: www.wpag.us Issue Number 1 Volume 19 May 2015 OFFICERS ~ President ~ Barb Schneider E 367 County Rd. J Wausau, WI 54403 715-845-6784 barb6784@aol.com ~ Vice-President ~ Mark Merten 4761 Hwy 144, Slinger WI 53086 262-644-0568 multi-break1@charter.net ~ Sec./Treasurer ~ Chris Szot 110 W Norrie street Ironwood, MI 49938 906-932-6044 cszot@charter.net ~ Treasurer ~ Dick Horneck W11120 South Shore Dr. Deerbrook, WI 54424 715-275-4359 cdhorndick@verizon.net ~ Directors ~ Steve Hubing W2255 Hwy 73 Granton, WI 54486 715-897-7024 steve@hubings.com Chuck Decker 2821 Bristol Mountain Trl Green Bay, WI 54313 920-639-9966 Chuck@UncleSamFirework s.com Katherine Anderson 5904 10th Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55417 612-229-2355 katherine605@gmail.com Al Everson N1872 Julius Dr. Greenville, WI 54942 920-216-2780 kantever@gmail.com Welcome to the new all-electronic Fusee. We will have a beginning of season issue, and an end of season issue. There could be others if we receive any articles from you. If you want a hard copy, just print it from your computer. Jeeze, even I can do it! If you really have NO computer access, notify Chris Szot, and he will work something out. Remember, Larry made the archive of all the past Fusees (minus a few very early ones) on the website. Check it out! Another WPAG season is almost here! It really started for the WPAG in March with the Winter Dinner and Shoot. The weather couldn t have been better. It was warm and clear and we still had plenty of ice. We had a nice meal with lots of desserts at Lisa s at Lakeside, in Hatley, WI. Thank you to Sheila Vohs, who gave everyone a really cool DVD of last summers WPAG shoots, including a lot of member photos as well as a lot of beautiful fireworks photos. Chris Szot brought a ½ scale cannon that got a lot of attention (check the August seminar), and of course we had a wonderful campfire (and pickers paradise thanks to Bart) that lasted into the wee hours. I d like to thank EVERYONE that helped make the event a success, and of course all who attended. It was a lot of fun. Check with Sheila for the DVD if you didn t attend the Winter Shoot. April 25 th was our annual PGI Shooter Certification course. We had 24 students, got several new members, and got lucky with the weather again. No huge fires either; smaller, yes, but not huge. Thanks to all the teachers, the safety crew and field help. You all make this course truly great. We have an exciting season coming up. Friday May 15 manufacturing is open, and Saturday May 16 is our first meeting. At 2PM Jim Biersach is conducting a crossette seminar. This gives you competitors plenty of time to make something exciting for the Gerry Gits Challenge at Gillette. It is simply Crossettes, so use your imagination, it can be in any type of device! The meeting is at 4PM, and the potluck at 5:30. Jeff and Beth Glinski will be making the main dish this month, but remember to bring a dish (or bag or box, you get the picture) to fill out the meal. We re a hungry bunch! Barb
Camping and Hotel Information Our shoot site is located at. The campground gives WPAG members a substantially reduced rate for camping onsite. All campsites in our area are $15.00 per night. They have electric and water. It comes in handy, even if you tent! We rent a porta potty for our shoots, so that is available during the weekend. There is a campground bar, and they have pizzas and beverages available. WPAG has a contracted rate at the Quality Inn in Wittenberg. It is a good savings off their regular rate. Quality Inn Wittenberg W17267 Red Oak Lane, Wittenberg, WI (the former Best Western) Telephone No. 715-253-3755 Intersection of HWY 29 and HWY 45 (HWY 29 exit 198) The hotel has a pool, serves continental breakfast, internet, restaurant and gas station next door, it is about 8 miles southeast of the shoot site. WPAG rate is $70.00+tax, standard room, single or double. MUST ask for Fireworks rate. There is also a very small, basic motel in Birnamwood, about 2 miles from our site. It is Chet and Emils, telephone number 715-449-2226 or715-449-2297. The rate varies, but this winter a single was $45.00+tax per night. No amenities. There are many hotels in the Wausau area. www.wausaucvb.com click on the Lodging /Accommodations link. Please be sure you ask about the cancellation policy of any hotel or motel you choose. Make sure when reserving any hotels that the cancellation policy is clear!! Statement of Non-Liability Membership Information Single Membership - $50.00 Includes (1) one vote, 1 Newsletter Family Membership - $75.00 Immediate family only - Includes (1) one vote, 1 Newsletter Corporate Membership - $100.00 Includes (2) two votes, 1 Newsletter ($25 each for up to 2 add l staff or family with no vote) One Week Membership - $10.00
WPAG 2014 Contest Results Mini-Girandola results: Stock Division 44 entries Kylie Klismith First Place Kahleed Maarbani Second Place Beth Klismith Third Place Modified Division 16 entries Jerry Kobierecki First Place Jerry Kobierecki Second Place Mark Arseneau Third Place Umlimited (didn t follow the rules) 5 devices Dan Miller First Place Dale Stoltzman Second Place Mini Rocket Contest 15 entries Holden Flaig First Place Randy Collins Second Place Jerry Kobierecki Third Place One Fuse Contest Results 4 X 4 Board 5 entries David Hintz First Place Byron Wirth Second Place The Compliance Crew Third Place 2 X 4 Board 3 entries Randy Collins First Place Bill VanFassen Second Place Jerry Kobierecki Third Place Exceptional Devices Ashley Horneck Where s the Crowd Holden Flaig Halfway to Merrill Mal Borth Every Which Way but UP Kahleed Maarbani To the Moon Rubber Ball Kaitlyn Klismith Closest to Stick Austin Kealy Spinning Wheel Ed Pazdziora Most Artistic Sofia Forney Star Seeker Sophie Miller
Mini Girandola Contest Rules for the August Shoot The two categories are: Stock - This is limited to eight commercial ½ outside diameter Class "C" drivers and a plastic ice cream bucket base. The completed device must weigh in at one pound or less. Modified - This is where you can get creative! You are limited to commercial Class "C" drivers, and it must weigh one pound or less. There s a lot of unique devices and excitement in this class. There can be some pretty wild ones, so don't sit in the front row if you know what's good for you! The launch sticks are 3/8 diameter, so make sure the hole on the girandola is a little larger so it doesn t get stuck and just spin on the stick. We want those things up in the air searching out the crowd! We ll have the manufacturing tent open until 3PM on the day of the picnic if you want to make or complete your entry on site. You can either purchase commercial Class C rockets near home, for drivers, or pick up the rockets in the class C vending area. If you don t know or remember how to make one, printouts with directions will be available at the picnic. So bring your scissors, punches, zip-ties etc. and join in the fun! Clothing Orders Need a new t-shirt or two? Orders for clothing are due on or before Sunday, May 17, 2015. This is the weekend of the first shoot. You can go online at WPAG.us and print your order form, or you can find Jeannie Hubing at the shoot and she will help you take care of your order. Please bring cash or a check to pay for your clothing order.
WPAG Class C Competition Rules for September One Fuse Competition Rules The purpose of the Class C Display competition is not to demonstrate the depth of the competitor s bank account, nor to show how tightly they can pack material into a given area or how far they can stretch what should fit into the definition of Class C. Instead, these competitions are intended to allow the competitor to demonstrate creativity and artistry in crafting a well thought out display from materials legally available through consumer fireworks distributors. Definition Consumer Fireworks (historically known as Class C Common Fireworks) or devices (like cremora Fireball pots) that are built by club members with the approval of Safety. Equipment Specifications 1. Any commercial Consumer Fireworks device or combination of devices meeting the definition above may be used in this level. Modifications of permitted devices may be made by the competitor as long as the device continues to meet the Consumer Fireworks definition above. 2. In any competition, reloading of any type of mortar is prohibited. 3. Commercially manufactured match, fuse and any timing fuses are allowed in all com-petitions. 4. There is no limit to the number of devices fired; however, you can only use one fuse to start your board or boards. 5. Descriptions of effects are not required. Class C One Fuse Competitions Level 1 The competitor s Class C items must be mounted on 1 board 4 X 2 or 8 square feet or less. You may use as many Class C items that will fit on the board and not hang over the edge. Level 2 The competitor s Class C items must be mounted on 2 boards 4 X 2 or 16 square feet or less. You may use as many Class C items that will fit on the boards and not hang over the edge. An Item may hang over the board if you are angling, but only less than 1/3 of the devices foot print. In this class you may have 1 rack of mortars or 1 large Class C cake or 1 pyrotechnic device that is not mounted to the boards. NEW RULE You MUST light your board with ONE FUSE. If your display goes out before it is complete you will be able to re-lite it, BUT, for every re-lite you do, you will receive a deduction of one full point from your score.
Friday May 15, 2015 Saturday May 16, 2015 Friday June 12, 2015 Saturday June 13, 2015 Friday July 10, 2015 WPAG Calendar of Events 1:00 Noon Seminar to be announced 2:00 p.m. Making Crossettes (Jim Biersach) 4:00 p.m. Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass Dusk Open Shooting 1:00 p.m. Making Lance Set Pieces (Jansen) 2:30 p.m. Making Lance (Steve Hubing) 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass Dusk Open Shooting Saturday July 11, 2015 1:00 p.m. Making Charcoal, TLUD Method (Steve Hubing) 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass Dusk Open Shooting To be announced Friday August 28, 2015 Saturday August 29, 2015 12 noon Civil War Cannon live fire demo 1:00 p.m. Seminar to be announced 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Club Picnic 6:30 p.m. Mini-Girandola & Mini-Rocket Contest Friday Sept. 25, 2015 Saturday September 26, 2015 1:00 p.m. Make Your Own Paper Shell Hemi's (Steve Hubing) 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass 6:30 p.m. One Fuse Contest Dusk Open Shooting Saturday October 17, 2015 Open Shooting -- Saturday Only No Friday activities, no formal manufacturing, no pot luck, no tents setup, no club meeting. Just bring your stuff for a fun shoot
Crossette Seminar for May WPAG Presented by Jim Biersach A crossette is a pumped star. It goes from a single star and splits into four stars. I use tooling made by Rich Wolter. I will be explaining how I do it and I will have some stuff to shoot that night so that you can see how they look. The PGI Judges Challenge for this year is Crossette. That is why I am doing this seminar. I will not have any handouts, so bring a notebook and a pencil. See you there!!! Jim Biersach 608-206-0044 jimpyro@hobbyhorse.com
The Safety Corner Steve Hubing, WPAG Safety Director Our first shoot of the year is quickly approaching and it s time to once again to have some fun with fireworks. While we all love to watch the shells, rockets, and Class C fireworks do their thing in the night sky, we do have to remember that, while it s fun to light the fuse and watch the beauty that unfolds as they head skyward, fireworks are explosive devices and they don t always behave the way we want them to. To help keep us safe, here a few suggestions and reminders I would like you to know and think about. Safety personal must be present on any of the shoot lines before fireworks can be shot. Shooters and helpers must all wear safety glasses when on the shoot lines. Class B fireworks (shells and rockets) shooters must wear hard hats when on the shoot lines. You must be a current WPAG member to be on the shoot lines or in the fallout areas. This means that guests cannot be within a fallout area during open shooting times. All Class B devices not being electrically fired, must have fuse on them that gives the shooter a minimum of 6 seconds from the time the device is lit to the time it hits the quick match or rocket propellant. Visco fuse is preferred. Shooters on the B lines should keep themselves covered by the blast shields when a device is launched. Everyone should be aware of what s going on. It s easy to be talking and get distracted and not notice a shell or rocket heading your way. If you re sitting in a potential fallout area, consider wearing safety glasses and hard hats, even if you re only watching and not actively shooting fireworks If you re in a manufacturing area, you must always wear safety glasses. That s all for now. See you in a few days and let s all be safe.
Thank you Rich and Claudia Wolter and American Fireworks News for sharing this informative tutorial on building color changing crossettes.
WPAG Member Business Directory Anderson Fireworks Charles & Marlyn 3771 Sterling Dr. St Cloud, MN 56301 Big Thunder Fireworks Michael Berlin Sr. & Jr. 7237 Hwy US 2 PO Box 142 Ashland, WI 54806 ARF Pyro & Professional Displays, LLC. Class C Retail Sales Class B and C Display Operators Mark & Jackie Arseneau, Owners N2654 Hwy 107 Merrill WI 54452 715-966-2793 arseneau.rocketfireworks@gmail.com www.arfpyrodisplays.com Blu Fireworks The small town with the big fireworks store. Class C Sales. Brent & LuAnn Moore 217 Main Street Barney ND 58008 701-439-0154 www.blufireworks.net info@blufireworks.net Fireworks Forever Importer, Wholesaler, Retailer 1.4g Fireworks Jason & Ann Wachter P.O. Box 100 Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 715-483-1322 jason@fireworksforever.com www.fireworksforever.com Granite Falls Arts Inc. Supplier of pyrotechnic tools Rich & Claudia Wolter W1895 Fawn Ct. Montello WI 53949 (608) 297-9402 wolter@myfrontiermail.com www.wolterpyrotools.com Hobby Horse New England Paper Rocket Tubes, Model Rockets, Radio Controlled Models, Curling Supplies. Jim & Paul Biersach 1769 Thierer Road - Madison, Wis. 53704 608-837-9118 jimpyro@hobbyhorse.com www.hobbyhorse.com Decker's Uncle Sam Fireworks Class C retail sales Chuck & Deb Decker Green Bay WI 54313 (920) 662-1103 Chuck@UncleSamFireworks.com www.deckersunclesamfireworks.com Fantasy Display Fireworks LLC Class B & C Display Operator Class C Sales Mike Rothenberger E14596 E Tower Road Ringle, WI 54471 715-574-1956 fantasydisplayfireworks@gmail.com Fireworks Country Class C Fireworks sales Jerry & Tony Bamke W18862 St. Hy. 29 Wittenberg WI 54499 715-253-2276 jrbamke@gmail.com
WPAG Member Business Directory Kastner Pyrotechnics Fireworks Wholesale & Imports LLC 1.3G (Class B) and 1.4G (Class C) Wholesaler & Importer Jessica Kastner & Bart Hake 3036 Snowcap Trail Madison, WI 53719 608-553-3377 jessica@kastnerfireworks.com www.kastnerfireworks.com Spielbauer Fireworks Co., Inc Importer & Distributor of 1.3g - 1.4g Fireworks Patrick Spielbauer 1976 Lane Road Green Bay WI 54311 920-336-0446 sales@sfireworks.com www.sfireworks.com Krueger Pyrotechnics & Fireworks Displays, LLC Direct Importer of 1.3G & 1.4G Fireworks Class B & C Wholesale Sales Display Operator Jim & Tara Krueger 2323 Clay Hollow Road Cuba City, WI 53807 608-732-4545 fireworks@lagrant.net www.kfireworks.com Platte River Fireworks Class C and HDPE mortars and racks Russ & Jody Koeller P.O. Box 617 Dickyille, WI 53808 563-542-3793 russkoeller@live.com www.platteriverfireworks.com Promen's Fireworks Class C sales Dan Promen & Marie Hodge N4577 Lost Arrow Court Fond du Lac WI 54937 (920) 922-9228 sales@promenfireworks.com www.promenfireworks.com Rolling Star Fireworks Supplier of fireworks chemicals and supplies Steve Hubing W2255 Hwy 73 Granton WI 54436 715-897-7024 steve@hubings.com www.hubings.com Skypainter Fireworks LLC Display Operator Tom Spranger 1030 Heartstrong Place Plover, WI 54467 715-340-8732 sbctom44@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/skypainterllc
Fireworks Trivia Legend has it that the Chinese made the first fireworks in the 800s, filling bamboo shoots with gunpowder and exploding them at the New Year with the hope that the sound would scare away evil spirits. According to tradition, Marco Polo brought this technology back to Europe. It's fair to say, however, that the origins of fireworks are shrouded in smoke; the China story is widespread, and possibly true, but fireworks may in fact have developed in India or the Arab world. Fireworks became known in Europe during the 1300s, probably after returning Crusaders brought them from the East. Early fireworks were enjoyed more for the sound than the show in its simplest forms gunpowder explodes quickly, leaving a terrific bang but not much to see other than a rather brief golden glow. Over time people discovered that using chemical compounds with greater amounts of oxygen made the explosives burn brighter and longer. The multi-hued displays we know now began in the 1830s, when Italians added trace amounts of metals that burn at high temperatures, creating beautiful colors. Other additives also produced interesting effects. For example, calcium deepens colors, titanium makes sparks, and zinc creates smoke clouds. Did You Know? Static electricity in synthetic clothing can ignite fireworks. Those who make fireworks should wear cotton all the way down to their underwear.
Decker's Uncle Sam Fireworks Miscellaneous stuff for sale including: 6 foot tall Inflatable Rocket $15 2 Avon collectible Patriot fiber optic houses (1 NIB) $25 ea Monarch marking guns models 1110, 1115, 1130 $15-25 ea Call Chuck or Deb Decker for info. 920-639-9977 We'll bring the items to the May 16 shoot.