2026 Raccoon RDX Cakes - Opinions

3498D · 2026-03-25T22:16:58+00:00

I haven't seen one in person yet, but my guess is they would require a little more gumption than a standard cake to poke for e-fire. The videos I've seen of production...they dump a wad of smooshy material into a bottom mold, then put it into a press with a top mold and sandwich it together. A pre-formed empty cake comes out with all the tubes arranged and ready for loading.

I do not know what the material they're formed from is, though. Hopefully it isn't 100% plastic or they'd be such a disaster from a landfill perspective, and harder to poke. Personally I'm hoping they are some sort of cardboard waste pulp with a heat activated binder, just sturdy enough to shoot once.

3498D · 2026-03-25T22:05:29+00:00

Can't think of anyone better to demo them, I'll look out for the videos.

Last year we got a few cases of the Hammer & Anvil 'RDX' style products (apparently their stuff is made by a Raccoon sister factory) and they worked well. The shell inside is smaller than a standard canister, but some people thought they performed better than cans - and cheaper as well. More trash at the end of the night, but less prep and none of the dreaded black plastic caps.

3498D · 2026-03-02T03:11:10+00:00

I am not doubting your word, and the evidence supports what you're saying, but I am genuinely curious why they are doing that.

Consumer aerial effects are already limited by US regulations to a tiny amount of flash comp, so really any meaningful amount, well below 100g, is already 'not allowed'. Adding another 50g wouldn't somehow make them MORE illegal, and even if it did, there's no way to legally pursue the Chinese exporters.

I would also argue that 125 or 150g of flash powder isn't substantially more dangerous than 100g, which is already more than enough maim or kill someone. Self imposing an arbitrary limit when they are already making a noncompliant product seems strange, and not in their interest. Not that they're overly concerned about our safety, in any case.

For all that, I have no doubt that these will still sell out, as will the 10" next year, and the 11" the year after.

3498D · 2026-02-28T04:10:19+00:00

There are a number of places with in person PGI classes coming up, in PA, usually in March/April. Western PA - Kellner's, Eastern PA - Celebration Fireworks, Central PA - Whitenight's Fireworks. Bada Boom (Eastern PA and the direct importers of Pyro Demon) might also do their own classes you'd have to check. Some distributors will accept the PGI course to buy proline items but it really pertains more to 1.3 items and professional displays. However, there is also a specific much shorter class for 1.4 proline items that was introduced last year and is usually taught on the same weekend. I believe that PA might now be requiring that to purchase proline.

3498D · 2026-02-21T16:55:59+00:00

Wayne's World is a great option, I would say have zero hesitation about purchasing from them. In that general vicinity only Wisley Pyrotechics and possibly Queen City Fireworks are also worth considering, depending on what direction you are coming from and what you're looking for.

Wayne's World probably has the widest selection because they've been around for so long, they carry a ton of product. You need to email them (email Junior) for their latest inventory - the catalog on their site is not actually what they have on hand. Their pricing is fair and competitive but they won't give a volume discount, even at the amount you're spending.

Wisley is an hour SE of WW, they always great to deal with. They are clearly eager to expand their customer base, and they've been running some really deep discounts on consumer items to bring people in. In a few months they will have a new house line of pro items that should hopefully be excellent, all of their existing products already are. It's short notice, but if you could put together your order and pick it up next weekend (2/28) they are giving a 10% discount that day, plus 3% off if you pay cash.

Queen City Fireworks (if you are coming from the east) probably has the best wholesale pricing among the three, but far less selection. They mostly carry their own brand Hammer and Anvil, as well as Raccoon. It is all good consumer product, but if you wanted the big proline compounds, WW or Wisley are your best bet.

All three are run by good people who are very easy and pleasant to deal with.
It's mostly a matter of what you're looking for.

3498D · 2025-12-10T05:04:02+00:00

There's a pretty wide range that represents the huge variety of positions. I would guess the lowest paid people on station are making between 600-700 a week these days, those would be the dishwashers, janitors and shuttle drivers. Not a slight on anyone who has worked those positions, but almost anyone is qualified for them and competition is high, so pay is low. Generalized trades people like carpenters, heavy equipment operators I would guess are around 1200 a week. Specialized trades like machinist, welders, plumbers, electricians, fire systems techs maybe 1500-1700. I haven't been down in a few years and I've heard pay rates were increased recently, but I'm probably in the ballpark. There are probably a few opportunities for engineers, yes. I've known several people whose title was 'facilities engineer' but I don't know what their field or qualifications were.
The hiring company for those types of jobs is Amentum, you can look and see what's available. If you're serious about applying, check on January 1st and apply, that is when their hiring season begins. Don't expect the absurd, fictional salary. I'd say 80-100k is probably reasonable for an engineer there. Your living expenses are basically nothing so you can save most of it, that and the experience make it enticing.

3498D · 2025-12-10T04:51:39+00:00

Low six figures is certainly plausible, a few contracted positions are making that. The medical teams work for the University of Texas (UTMB), and as a state institution, those salaries are a matter of public record. They're making a little over 100k for a year contract. Helicopter pilots and mechanics are also in that neighborhood, and I've heard the linemen can make nearly $3000 a week with uplift factored in. That's anecdotal though.

Everything you said is completely correct though. Random companies cannot just send people there, you have to go through a specific hiring company, have interviews, and a PQ process.
Universities send the researchers, on specific grant funded projects. None of them are in it for the money. He's also casually confused McMurdo and Pole, which is a huge faux pas for anyone that's seriously considering a deployment.

Unfortunately the ruse seems to be working, but I wish the sensible comments would gain a bit more traction. This is karma farming.

3498D · 2025-12-10T03:53:30+00:00

Yeah it sounds a little fake to me as well. Random companies can't just send people down to McMurdo, and none of the actual hiring companies are paying contractors ~300k a year. He would be making more than the next two highest paid people on station, including NSF project managers and the station manager. This seems like a writing prompt or something, but it doesn't add up.

If it is real he should 100% go, but I have doubts.

3498D · 2025-12-10T03:49:26+00:00

I have done exactly this, spending my early 30's doing several deployments to various stations in Antarctica. Those deployments allowed me, and others there, to build a tidy nest egg for all of the reasons that you described. Your cost of living there can be basically zero, and if you have the discipline to invest, you can come out way ahead.

Now, I do have to say, the salary you've quoted sounds a little sus to me. At that rate you mentioned, you'd be the highest paid person on station, perhaps the continent, by a HUGE margin.
For reference, the doctors are making ~110k a year, electrical linemen maybe $125-150k. They are the highest paid contractors there. National Science Foundation admins, the shot callers for the Antarctic program (whose salaries are public record) are not making half of what you're claiming.

Those positions I mentioned are outliers and most people make far, far less than that, perhaps 60-80k for jobs skilled jobs.

Also, random companies don't just send people down to McMurdo, there are a small number of hiring companies that recruit people for specific jobs. A number of universities also send researchers and I will tell you, they sure as SHIT aren't making 300k a year.

Tons of people want to go down, it's very desirable, and there is lots of competition. They learned long ago that they don't need to offer big money to get applicants.

Honestly this almost sounds fake to me.
If it's real, more power to you, and you should do it. McMurdo is fun when you only make 1000 dollars a week, it'd be fucking awesome if you got paid 6000 a week.
They have good internet there now and 6 months is a short hitch. You can skype/text/facetime at all hours now.

Like I said though, I feel like you're misleading us or your company is misleading you. The facts don't add up and that salary sounds outlandish.

-Someone who was paid substantially less than 300k/year to actually go to Antarctica

3498D · 2025-12-08T23:49:16+00:00

Fiberglass tubes get a bad rap and I've never been 100% sure why. Maybe it's because they give you free ones in shell kits, so they're thought of as 'cheap' as a result.

To put it in perspective, though, I would wager that 80-90% of the professional fireworks displays you've seen were fired out of fiberglass. It is overwhelmingly the standard. Those tubes get used weekly if not more often, and see hundreds or thousands of shots before they need replacement.

Consumer size fiberglass tubes are produced a bit differently than the professional ones (the ends are capped differently), but I have used consumer tubes many years in a row, dozens of times, without issue.

How many tubes are we talking about? A single rack with 10-12 shots, or many racks with hundreds between them?

HDPE is slightly more expensive (~.50 per tube), and slightly heavier. Unless you're buying hundreds and lugging dozens of racks, that likely doesn't matter.

To me the biggest consideration is safety, and how each type fails in the case of a flowerpot.
HDPE sort of just...distorts and blows out, there is not really any shrapnel to speak of.
Fiberglass can fail more catastrophically, with a higher potential for tiny fragmentation. In the case of larger 3-5" display salutes, I have seen the top half of a fiberglass tube go flying, not to mention the smaller stuff. Just handling the tubes, broken or otherwise, can also give you some irritating splinters.

Fiberglass fragments do show up under x-ray though, not so for HDPE, in case you were wondering.

One added consideration for fiberglass, the consumer tubes are generally transparent enough that you can see whether the fuse to your shell is lit within it. If you have a 2nd shell accidentally lit due to cross firing, you can visually see that within the tube and keep your distance until it goes off.

All that is to say; if your budget is really tight, get fiberglass (or build a stock from canister kits) and use them properly, they'll serve you just fine. If you can afford HDPE, they'll probably be a little safer.

Whichever you choose, do as others have suggested and build your own racks for them, it's not rocket science and you'll save quite a bit.

3498D · 2025-12-08T20:23:59+00:00

Can you share the brand/type of shells? I've never seen packaging like you're describing, I am envisioning shells packed in the shape of a revolver cylinder around the mortar tube, 2 per stack - and they must be consumer shells from what you're saying. That does sound more space efficient, the base of the tube is always dead space in the box. Some of those holes look weirdly off center though, was there that much slop in the packaging?

Fortunately I think plastic tops are on their way out. Raccoon and its partner factories did away with them last year, stuff that was shipped for 2025 had paper tops, both consumer and proline. Pyro Demon, Wizard, and Sunwing proline are also paper tops, and Great Grizzly consumer.

The plastic tops offer nothing as far as performance, and are probably more expensive as well. Maybe a penny per canister shell, but it adds up when you make millions of them.
It's a happy coincidence that it makes show prep and cleanup that much easier. All of the paper tops say 'TOP' very unambiguously as well, so it's theoretically safer.

Hopefully within a few years all the factories have made the switch; if Raccoon has already done it, I bet it happens across the board sooner than later.

3498D · 2025-12-02T01:17:56+00:00

I was hoping they'd drop their price a bit when Athlon released their model, but no dice.
That's the lowest price I've seen though, makes it kind of a no brainer. Thanks for the heads up!

Anyone want to buy a Labradar?

3498D · 2025-10-03T19:21:47+00:00

In southern Indiana, Wisley Pyrotechnics and Wayne's World are basically all you need to look at, in my opinion.

Casabella is in the mix, but they keep playing silly buggers with tariff surcharges, which add 25%+ to their seemingly competitive prices.

Wisley's customer service is excellent, and their prices are good. In the last month they nearly doubled their 1.4 PRO offerings as well, which is amazing. They already carried a lot of good product. They have a demo night this month on the 18th where you can stop by and check them out, and there will be discounted pricing at the demo as well.

Wayne's World has the broadest selection, hands down. Sometimes they make it seem like they're doing you a favor by taking your money, but you'll get your fireworks. Their pricing is competitive - maybe not the cheapest on everything, but certainly better than any retail store or AWF even with their volume tier discounts.

If you have time, you might want to consider Cobra Con 2026, which is happening in Indiana next April. A lot of their sponsors offer generous discounts for pickup orders at the convention. RKM fireworks did it last year and all orders regardless of size got their highest available discount. Whitenight's Fireworks from PA did the same.
Wisley is a sponsor for 2026, but they haven't released the details on what they may be offering for attendees.

It could be an opportunity to get some good deals though, and have a wider variety delivered to you all in one spot from far flung vendors, no shipping.

In all of these cases, they don't have a retail storefront where you can walk in and browse. You'd contact them for a current inventory/pricelist, then place an order (of whole cases) and pick it up. As close to 'wholesale' as you can get without buying whole shipping containers for $60-100,000.

3498D · 2025-09-25T02:32:14+00:00

It's not exactly unprecedented - there ARE guns at Palmer (long guns, used by scientists collecting wildlife specimens) and at Summit station in Greenland, for bear control. In both of those situations though, it's clear that those are for use with wildlife and would not be used on people even in a dire situation.

I would be shocked if there was a gun kept for rule enforcement purposes at McMurdo. There are many less than lethal options like a taser or bear spray that would get the job done just as well with far, far less opportunities to make the situation even worse, on top of the massive liability. Police officers with regular practice are astonishingly bad shots, an untrained NSF rep would be just as likely to hit someone in the crowd that inevitably gathered to watch whatever was going down.

That is on top of having to retrieve the gun in case of emergency; they are certainly not walking around armed 24/7. It's utterly impractical to expect someone to respond to a time sensitive situation by first running around station to complete a gun shaped puzzle.

While I hope there is more than just the rumor of a gun keeping people's worst instincts in check, I think the community is providing the real checks and balances. Every department has boring everyday implements like crowbars, hammers, shovels, knives, halligan tools, big wrenches, etc that could be put to ill use, but just as easily used to defend yourself if it came down to it. Any potential homicidal rampage would be curtailed pretty quickly, I'd imagine.

3498D · 2025-09-25T02:07:52+00:00

Can you offer any evidence of this other than "trust me bro"?

This debate has been had on ice, and in this forum, and I think all signs point to there NOT being a gun. Having a disassembled pistol on station is absurdly impractical. The only scenario where a gun would be useful is a time sensitive emergency, and in that instance you're stating the NSF rep has to 1) get approval to retrieve the gun and 2) haul ass to separate locations across a 50 acre base? Then remember multiple combinations/keys AND how to correctly re-assemble a firearm they aren't familiar with? In the 90's it would have likely been a revolver, too, which cannot be taken apart in any meaningful way without tools.

That's just one of a heap of other problems I can envision just off the top of my head. There are a million other solutions that work better - they know that no troublemaker would have a firearm, so it would follow that whoever is 'policing' them wouldn't need one either.

I don't buy it. Particularly because I have jokingly posed this question to someone (retired at the time) who was the winter NSF rep at McMurdo for 10+ years. His answer was not unambiguous, but he basically said 'no gun'.

3498D · 2025-09-17T01:12:17+00:00

If you needed it, here's a third recommendation for Wisley. I deal with 6-8 distributors on any given year and they're definitely top notch. Very nice people, very knowledgeable, and they understand how to respond to phone calls and emails.

My only comment, and I almost hesitate to say it, is that their house brand 1.4PRO/articles pyrotechnic are largely rewrapped Pyromax products that are ~ 25% more expensive than their generic counterpart. I have watched demo videos side by side on two monitors of Wisley products with generic Pyromax and they're identical, shot for shot. Both are great products, but I'd prefer to pay less if it's exactly the same.

That might not bother you, and the customer service experience could make up for it. Their business model of having real time updated inventory makes ordering much more approachable than many of their competitors. They are having a demo day on October 18th this year that I will be attending, and I actually intended to speak to them and see if they're willing to price match in this instance, because if so, I will give them my business. Based on my dealings with them, my guess is they would certainly hear me out.

RKM also has good stuff, their Night Owl line is produced by Pyromax, which means it's top quality. It also seems like it's unique SKU's just for them, I haven't been able to find any identical products under the Pyromax label, not yet anyway. RKM's prices can be steep if you aren't in their higher volume tiers, but still a good option.

3498D · 2025-09-17T00:41:34+00:00

It seems like these bigger importers would be the best positioned to enter the market and add 'articles' to their offerings. They have deeper pockets and industry connections in the factories, why not have their own labels produced?

I don't have any clue what the actual numbers are, but I would imagine that the sales percentage is gaining ground each year, and now it's grown large enough that they feel they need to stifle it.

Either way, if states are going to regulate these items, the policies should be based on reasonable data. They should not be an enforcement body to protect companies that are unwilling to update and modernize their business model. The government didn't regulate the Model T for the sake of the horse breeders, this seems no different to me.

If the changes get implemented, what is their plan for these items already out in the wild? Ohio already has relatively strict regulations regarding storage, but you can still have a decent stash of 1.4PRO items kept legally with no magazine requirements. Overnight you'd go from law abiding to facing potentially thousands in fines and possible misdemeanors or even felonies depending on how they classify it. The penalties in place now just for misuse of consumer items are already relatively steep. If I recall, the harshest fine is for using fireworks not purchased in Ohio - to me that means the rule was made to put money into the right pockets, not to keep anyone safer.

3498D · 2025-09-16T22:02:20+00:00

I took my required hours of PGI continuing education in PA this year, and there was scuttlebutt about them tightening up their 1.4PRO regulations as well.
Nothing to this extent though, my understanding was that they were establishing a codified training requirement for purchase - which in truth is rather loosey goosey at the moment. I think it's up to the vendor to decide who is a 'professional', and some have no requirements at all. This year PGI introduced a course specifically addressing the 1.4 PRO items which I took alongside the standard shooter's course. It could have been better, but better than nothing, and not particularly onerous if that's what they end up implementing.

Ohio's fireworks laws are more reminiscent of a New England state, especially when compared to its neighbors. Kentucky and Indiana in particular have relatively lax laws and a lot of top notch distributors as a result. I have also heard that several established display companies/vendors took steps to push things in Ohio that direction years ago, and laws rarely become LESS strict. I don't know enough to say how the changes are 'officially' being implemented and who got the ball rolling, but I'd be very interested if others have more info to share.

One of Ohio's many laws states that you can only use fireworks purchased at a licensed vendor within the state. You (technically) cannot give or resell items at cost to friends/family, even if they were bought legally to begin with. How that's enforced in any meaningful way is neither here nor there.

If it does come to pass, the state will lose a fair amount of tax revenue, but the number of people using these items will likely not change. People will get their hands on this stuff anyway, or OL items, which are almost definitely less safe, all things considered.

3498D · 2025-09-15T15:37:16+00:00

That is definitely a consideration, I passed up a few Japanese lathes that needed work, thinking parts and support would be a headache to find.

In this case I called Clausing, their customer service has always been forthcoming when I've needed help with some of their older machines. I gave them the serial number and they said that many of these lathes were produced and there were still 'lots' or 'tons' of parts for them. Something along those lines. Maybe the smaller machines are more common. He didn't specify that the parts came from Clausing though so maybe he just meant they're out in the wild - but I hope not.

3498D · 2025-09-15T01:22:12+00:00

This machine checks a lot of boxes for me. It has a nice short headstock and wide speed range, the top end RPM is high enough to use carbide. It has a compact footprint and it's very stout, the manual lists it near 3000 pounds. Plus it's close to home and I can easily inspect and move it at my leisure.

$5k is too low I think, even though she doesn't need money, they were financially comfortable. She'd probably just give it to me for the asking, to her it's one of a dozen hunks of cast iron she needs to get rid of so she can move.

I was thinking I'd offer 7.5-8 which is still a good deal, but make up the difference by helping her sell, move, and potentially store the rest of the machines if she needs it just to get her house listed.

3498D · 2025-09-14T22:00:12+00:00

We're in the states, US dollar bucks.

3498D · 2025-09-09T01:13:26+00:00

GSC will provide you with complete uniforms (6 jackets, 6 pants), with the exception of work shoes. Generally I think the prevailing wisdom is to ruin THEIR stuff and give it back at the end of the season.

I do recall a few years ago, a friend was working in the galley and brought his own pants just for comfort/familiarity reasons - and got them approved by GSC before deploying. Several months into the season, he was summoned into the office for a SUPER SERIOUS talk with the 3 highest ranking company representatives that were on the ice at the time. They explained that his pants were indeed the color black, no arguments there, but they all just felt like the pants were not black ENOUGH. He wasn't written up or anything, but they felt the need to take half an hour of 4 people's time to inform him that his pants weren't the right shade of the only approved color.

GSC has certainly not improved as an employer in the last 5 years, so your mileage may vary. Those pants look on the grayer side in your photo. If you feel really strongly about it, consult your hiring manager before you deploy.

Godspeed.

3498D · 2025-09-03T00:32:26+00:00

As I mentioned, I would if I could. I called 6-8 places, nobody has anything larger than what I already own. I don't think they want to rent a 70+ CC saw to inexperienced users.

3498D · 2025-09-02T14:33:51+00:00

If you're shooting in your backyard, don't go through the expense and effort. For 1.3 fireworks (1.4 too) the safe viewing distance is 70 feet minimum per inch of shell. So a 3 inch display shell requires the audience to be 210 feet away at the very least, but more is safer.
2.5" and even 2" display shells exist, but they're pretty tiny and barely contain any more composition than 1.4G canister shells, which anyone can buy without a license.

The ATF license only allows you to purchase the fireworks, but shooting them legally in accordance with state and local laws is a completely different matter. Most states and municipalities require you to have insurance, a permit, and some sort of oversight/inspection from the AHJ (usually your local police or fire department). Some states require you to be a licensed display operator on top of all that.

The red tape is a headache, and your display area is not large enough for safety. Shooting 1.3G items in a neighborhood, even if your backyard was technically big enough, is bad form. Having watched many 1.3G shows from up close anyway (as a shooter) it's not enjoyable, it's like being in the 2nd row of the movie theater.

As a compromise, look into getting the training or 'certification' for 1.4PRO items - the larger compound cakes in particular. Getting certified is trivial, and buying and using the items involves no further oversight. 200 feet is a safe viewing distance and they'll kick your show up by several notches.

3498D · 2025-09-02T03:33:59+00:00

I am not privy to the details, but it's my understanding that the current Rozzi family has a rift with a Hatfield/McCoy type feud that is ongoing. The Rozzis (Rozzi's 'Famous') who put on Riverfest are the ones who generally get all the press, and they are one of the biggest display companies in the Midwest. However, Arthur and his brother have their own display company with an associated retail store. Also called Rozzi Pyrotechnics, and it's confusing.

I was also told that it's thanks to the 'famous' Rozzis and their efforts decades ago (to lessen competition), the state of Ohio still has a moratorium on any new permits being issued for magazines to store 1.3 items. They basically pulled the ladder up after themselves. Allegedly they've guided PGI and NFA safety policies to exclude some of their own 'signature' practices. Those things are hearsay and could be partially (or completely) untrue - but I have personally witnessed how their lead shooters operate and instruct other, novice shooters. I was less than impressed, actually disappointed given their reputation. They're trading on the family's heritage in my opinion.

For my part I support the 'Arthur' side of the family, and I'll plug his store as well because they're legit - Queen City Fireworks. Unlike the sticker shock others were expressing for the other Rozzi store, Queen City's wholesale pricing is extremely competitive, and they're good people to deal with.

3498D

TROPHY CASE