Is it just me or does anyone else love the smell of fireworks after shooting them off?

I think I’m sold on removing the tops now. I can’t stand raking up label debris! Plus, it’s more fun to put the extra time in before the show (while you’re still excited and filled with anticipation) instead of after the show when you’re hot, dirty, and exhausted

I never was sure if the top labels should or should not be removed, but I also think it’s super helpful for cleanup afterwards.

Yes there’s A LOT of repetition in this video but some things cannot be stressed enough, especially when we are dealing with EXPLOSIVES :)

I like to cut them open to see what I'm working with for a show. If it's damaged you can prevent a mishap.

I've loved fireworks since I was about 4 years old

Unless your a rare breed who likes cleaning up paper trash, cut the tops

The only reason I don't cut the tops off anymore is because you automatically will know when something didn't fire. I love your videos because they are very informative

1) less mess 2) check for damaged tubes 3) the angle of the tubes Those are my basic 3 reasons. I love showing guys how to fuse and do small shows and I try to get them into the habit of removing the top labels.

I feel like having the tops off is better..mostly the mess issues like u've stated. Nice video keep um coming!

I agree i always take the top off i don't like cleaning the mess up

I like the mess afterwards. It’s really photogenic and I don’t clean it until the next morning anyway. It’s fun to reminisce about the night before and usually I have a bonfire when I’m doing fireworks so I rake all the debris in the fire pit and they slowly burn off. I’m still new enough at backyard fireworks that it’s exciting to see the boxes the next morning.

On one of the tours i was on, I had a fire Inspector in Texas do a walk around with me showing him all the pyro positions behind the stage, he made a comment about the plastic thats wrapped around the big Type4 mines. he said "Wont the plastic affect the height of them firing?" then i tore of the plastic off one of the mines... I said " stretch this out in front of your face and i will punch it at full speed" then he said " OK!, i get it"

I agreed with you on taking tops off the cake. Let's also not forget that professional pyros do cover their shells with plastic to protect against rain. Which doesn't affect how the shells performance.

😮A shirt with a cake and letters saying take your top off would be awsome🤣😂

I always take the tops off, especially if I'm doing a display on someone else's property. Waaay easier clean up!!

I’m glad you went into detail about this I allways removed the top just in case

I’ve always loved lightning fireworks and making malotov cocktails with gas. A pyromaniac indeed, I very much enjoy your videos.

I always remove the tops off to see if their are any loose tubes or defects. I have a Running on Empty 500 gram 25 shot fan cake this year that had a broken/loose section on the outer edge of the cake so I taped it up with duct tape and it's good as new. Had I not checked it someone may have been injured by a faulty cake that I lit so I could be responsible for any injury. It's in everyone's best interest to do this.

One of the best things you’ve said in this video is that “ you do actually care about ur subscribers”!!! That is such a true statement. Truly one of the best channels on KZfaq my friend. 👍👍👍 and again too...send me a link to where u sell ur “labels” please. Thanks cody

My feedback: Cody, you blow Up a lot of fireworks so keep it up.

I do both. I cut the top mostly off, leaving just a corner attached but keep the label covering the top. I'll secure the top on the opposite corner with a very small piece of tape if it's windy. This seems to cut down on mess as the whole top usually just blows right off on the first shot but also offers some protection from anything that could fall into the cake before it is fired.

I would like to thank you for your videos Cody. I am planning a big 4th of July party this year. I have bought over $2000 in fire works from Red Apple. By watching your videos I have learned many things, like fusing mortar tubes, cakes together. and I enjoy the different fireworks you shoot off. Always looking for a different cake or shell to help my show. thanks again.

I love your vids bro, I used to be so afraid of fireworks when I was little and now I’m in love with them and the 4th is my favorite holiday , you inspire the pyro in me (I turned 19 yesterday)

Thank you for taking to time to always acknowledge your fans. Definitely the best firework channel.

so remove tops on smaller cakes so they don’t tip over just in case

I always remove the tops from ALL my cakes simply to reduce the clear up at the end of the show.

Where we shoot we dont have to worry about paper confetti and cleanup, benefits of having a place to shoot with big fields!

Take em off...makes a HUGE difference on clean up... Totally agree!!! Great job Cody

That tipping thing happened to me shot one at the house

Clean up is a big thing, But people seem to forget that the clean up is flammable paper, With a big show I imagine all the shredded paper would be a bit of a fire hazard as well.

Great vid Cody. I personally leave the paper on...less chance of fuse jump and mainly when shooting a bunch of cakes it is easy to tell if the cake shot or not.

We once lit up a cake without taking off the lid, and although it shot through, it had very little momentum and shot sideways into a tree. The tree almost caught fire but luckily didn't. Every time I light a cake, I remove the lid, however, even the idea that the first shot will shoot lower than the rest is enough for me to remove it.

I take off the top so i can put some shells inside and recycle it.

I have done both. The clean up is more intense when you don't remove the top. Does save time for set up. Of I remove the tops, I'll do it the day before the show to help save time.

Great demo, thank you for sharing! I’ve always been a fan of removing the tops just for the mess. Never heard of any of the other silly stuff.

Like yourself, I prefer to cut the top off and you're right it makes less of a mess. Thanks Cody!

Removing the paper top before lighting reduces the paper mess from blown paper

What I like about leaving on the tops is the art on the cakes. I'm big on the visual aspect as well as performance obviously but I can see the pros and cons of leaving on the tops and taking of the tops now that I've watched this video. Thanks for the video definitely informative.

The only reason I might take the top off is that it makes me feel like I'm a professional lmao. I get fireworks from redapple every year shipped to here in Houston, and every New Year people think I am some firework guru but I really barely know anything about the hobby and am just a glorified middle-man for my family and friends lol.

That’s why I used to be a pyro for class B shoots I love the multiple breaks in the sky Cody did a great Job explaining pros and cons I love the smells afterward of a big shoot

During the pgi shooter course they shoot 4 inch shells through 1/2 inch plywood to show how powerful lift in

Usually if im just shooting a few i remove the tops for mess. But when im doin a big show i leave em because it makes it easier to tell if a cake stopped midway through. So i dont throw a half shot cake in the burn pile

I always remove my tops... The less stuff it has to go through the higher it goes... Thanks for sharing....

I never even knew this was an argument. I've never removed the tops but the point that it makes easier to clean up is going to make me from now on.

Ooh beach blowout great cake !!!!! God Cody people need2 hear these safety and correct issues 💯❤️ I loved this demo for real Cody thank you now I can show others

Just found your videos this year, great content!! Love cutting the tops off as well for less mess plus some of the pics I use for scrap books for my next year research.

The only known pro of not taking them off that I know of is that you will know if the entire cake blew or not easy in the dark.

Another con to taking off the tops, especially in the summer when the sun sets is moisture. In which case you can actually end up with low breaks from taking off the tops. I'll leave them on or cover the tops with foil if the humidity is high.

Thank you so much man, lol I’ve been thinking about this for a while if I should do it with the top or without it, and I think I like the top less method better, I like how you really went into details for your viewers, and make us see the pros and cons, amazing job on that bro, again, thanks for the information, I really appreciate Keep up the good work my friend

Yeah I like to take the tops off because I am to lazy to clean up.

Pro # 4 lowers risk of cake or fountain catching fire. Pro #5 if cake is cheaply made you can strap a wire around it to prevent it from blowing apart. I usually cut on three sides and fold over right before shoot time . hopefully this helps. You

I just got my fireworks ready for new years eve. $4k in fireworks and that was alot of tops I had cut off. It just felt right for me to do it. Nice to see they shoot alot easier. Thanks for the tip and Happy New Years!🎆

I’m trying to up my game on fireworks but am a newbie for the cake style. This was very helpful!

I agree with Ando, hate mess, more excited before the show for setting up...

As part of the clean-up crew, those tops will be removed!

I have always wondered that about some mortar boxes. Thank you.

I always remove the tops I’d rather spend a few secs cutting off than raking them up later. I found cardboard under the wrapper on some 200g cakes yesterday. I’m sure it helps them go higher also.

Thank you for this video. It is my 1st time setting off cake fireworks and I couldn't find anything about removing the top until this video. The box with out the top seemed much better. I'm not sure if that is just a coincidence, but I'll be taking the top off of mine for ease of clean up if nothing else.

I agree with why you take the tops off. I personally do it because I really don’t want stuff over the top anyways and it helps cut down on the mess really! I’m looking forward to seeing possibly you doing The Predator shells from BOOM WOW. (I’m really looking forward to them hitting the market whenever they do come around here)💙

Cody it would be cool to see your top 10 favorite novelties.

I actually looking for this. Thank's for the good info! ~Greetings from the Philippines!

Thanks, these don't come with instructions. Didn't know if I should remove the top cover.

I like taking the tops off for less cleanup.. Been seeing more and more cakes lately with a thin cardboard square under the paper so folks stop pushing their fingers through tops of cakes ruining the labels of products on shelves. At the same time the cakes usually seem to function well either way. Have seen the sides of tubes blow-out and the inserts go flying sideways before mainly on unripped cakes. :)

Love it when you shoot off those 500 gram cakes, Saturn missiles are really cool to when you shoot those off as well ...epic video

we recommend for 2 key reasons saves on cleanup and the shells go a little higher when they dont have to blast thru extra plastic and cardboard. we also say to cut 3 sides and make a flap that you either peel off or just fold back before lighting to help if not covered from a spark.

The second cake seems alot better!!!

We cut the tops off last 4th for the first time. It's night and day how much less mess there is to clean up. We will always do it from now on just for that reason.

I took the tops off my last display, after seeing you do it, and it made a big difference in clean up time. I’ll alway cut off the tops from now on.

I know this is weird and a little off topic of video, but I always find it fascinating how intricate the artwork is on different firework brands. A lot of attention focused on disposable housing.

Thanks for the information - had never bought repeaters before always did single shot with 8 launch tubes so this was helpful!

Thanks Cody for explaining the top controversy

I seen about 10 of your videos in the past few days and just wanted to say thank you for all the information.

Great video, as always Cody! I ALWAYS remove the tops to all my cakes, as it does make a difference in how high the breaks are, and I don't really care about the mess, as we do it on private property and we have heavy equipment to just boxblade all the smaller debris into the ground. Fireworks debris that isn't plastic really does put good stuff into the ground! Potassium, nitrogen, charcoal, paper fiber, etc...

I’m from California, we always take our tops off. 😂 Actually, I recommend keeping the tops of Fountains on! Fusing on fountains typically is at the top and needs to be protected from stray sparks. That would be an interesting test video Cody.

Great information as I have yet to shoot off a 500 gram cake, but hope to do so soon! I always seem to learn something new by watching your videos.

always good to fuck with the tops of fireworks after a long day of drinking

Well 500 gram cakes with like 500 shots or shots that barely contain and black powder would be most likely to not work with the label on top. I know it's going to be slower than a bb gun that averages around 400fps (fps) most of the comet cakes do about 80 (fps) with over 200 shots and getting through paper at that speed can be difficult so comet cakes definitely that have a lot of shots but big shell cakes you don't have to worry about.

I think it would be cool to see some nice finale cakes. Even tho I’m sure you’ve done similar vids.

By cutting the tops off there's less firework mess to clear up afterwards

Even if each tube had an individual paper cover, the lifting charge would blow right through it. The thin cardboard cover on the 200 gram cakes shown would get pushed out of the way of the tubes by the lifting charge even if it were not removed. The cardboard gasket around the tubes protects the delay fuses from cross ignition.

I just leave the label on. There's more than enough power to tear through it, just like there's more than enough power for shells to tear through duct tape.

I cut the tops off to reduce the mess, when we have time to during or after setup. We did get rained on one year after setting everything up, actually while removing the tops. Since it was getting dark anyway I went ahead and starting firing the show and most of the cues didn’t do much, however, after analyzing everything at the end, the cues that didn’t fire and/or didn’t completely fire were the cakes where we had already removed the tops. The cakes that did fire were the ones that still had their tops on, I assume because they kept everything dry before firing. After that experience, if there is a chance of rain, I usually leave the tops on. Just something to think about.

I’ve never considered removing the paper. Glad to see this video. Great channel

Just wanted to say I really appreciate this one. Makes a lot of sense. Sadly, never even thought about the clean up! Thanks!

I like how Cody keeps on grabbing random cakes out of thin air

I like to take the tops off because i can see the tubes and it looks more professional plus everything you said. I’m planning on taking the wrapping off of canister shells this year so that theres less of that mess as well.

Love the smell after, been loving it since I was young and will always be shooting off fireworks 🎆.

If it only came down to the myth where the paper can make it dangerous, it is pointless to take it off and it is just wasting energy at that point. But you definitely gave some solid reasoning and now I think I’m gonna start taking the paper off my cakes. 👍 10 out of 10 video man keep it up.

I'm so glad you did this video. My friends just asked me why I cut the tops off. I told them cause I watch Cody on KZfaq

I remove the tops every time as I feel it helps the performance and limits the mess afterwards. The fact that those 200g cakes kicked ass is being overlooked.....lol

My box tipped over last night. Maybe if I removed label, it wouldn’t have tipped over? Pissed me off!

I thoroughly enjoy your videos man I love fireworks even if it's only on a screen lol

Small 200g cakes they tip over easy when having label on ' not square cakes with 4 corners capers with 5 or more corners ''

I have seen videos of taking the paper off the top them wrapping one layer of clean film around for if it’s raining and to stop bits going back in the cake

You have been very helpful. Fireworks like that only recently became legal in my state. I was very reluctant with getting mortars and cakes until watching your Channel.

Can you please do a 500$ budget show mostly cakes

I didn't know that much about the tops but it was better to take them off then I don't have to clean up in the morning at my friends house

Something I was always wondering about and you answered all my questions...thank you!

deer in background at 3:51 haha