Welcome to the WPA and your first WPA Event!
Hey there, new friend—welcome to the Western Pyrotechnic Association! We have two fantastic manufacturing-focused events that are perfect for pyro enthusiasts like you.
First up is DO-IT, our dedicated hands-on manufacturing conference (usually held in September at the racetrack in Hawthorne, Nevada). This is where builders dive deep into creating pyrotechnic items all day and shooting at night in a safe, supportive environment. It has no seminar classes, no world-class shows, and little to no vending—just pure focus on manufacturing, learning by doing, and sharing your creations.
We also host Western WinterBlast (typically in February in Lake Havasu City, Arizona), which includes strong manufacturing opportunities alongside a ton more: plenty of seminar classes, incredible world-class shows, and vending for gear and supplies. It's a bigger celebration of pyrotechnics with networking, education, and spectacular displays.
Both are a blast (pun intended), and even if you're brand new beyond consumer fireworks, you can have an amazing time at either one. I know I did when I was in your shoes!
I showed up years ago knowing basically nothing about professional-grade pyro except that I was fascinated by how it all worked. I brought a decent order of 1.3G stuff from Flying Phoenix, wandered around watching people build, asked questions when folks had a moment, and soaked it all in. Some builders were deep in their process and gave me a polite "not right now," which is totally normal—don't take it personally. Others were super generous with their time and knowledge. I spent time relaxing at the hotel too, reading up on things, and it made the whole trip feel balanced.
The key? Be respectful of people's focus, start small, observe a lot, and don't be afraid to walk around and chat. Many folks are happy to explain what they're doing if you ask nicely at a good moment. After my first one, I came back way more confident, having done extra reading on pyro manufacture between events. I'm still learning after 6–8 of these things—there's always more to pick up, especially when you start teaming up with crews.
Getting There and Settling In
First things first: register and pay online ahead of time through the WPA website (westernpyro.org). It makes arrival smooth. When you drive in, check in at one of the tents to get your badge—this is your ticket to the secured site, especially at night.
If you're planning to manufacture (build your own devices), check in with the Manufacturing lead/manager at the racetrack area. They'll assign you a spot. When you registered for DO-IT, you should've gotten an email with the manufacturing application—it's basically a quick form for safety rules and to let them know what you're building and with whom. That helps them plan space.
Safety briefing is mandatory—usually around 4:30–5 PM in the big dining tent. Just attend one (ideally your arrival day), and you're good.
The club provides some cool shared tools like the WASP machine (speeds up pasting paper ball shells) and a hydraulic press (great for star plates and comet pumps). These are pricey pieces of kit, so the WPA makes them available so newcomers aren't priced out.
Gear and PPE – What You Really Need
Safety comes first—always. Here's the PPE basics:
- Hard hat (wildland fire helmets with headlamp clips are nice; grab one online or at a hardware store)
- Safety glasses (your regular prescription ones are usually impact-rated and fine)
- Leather gloves
- Long-sleeve cotton or Nomex shirt (wildland turnout/bunker gear is top-tier protection)
- Long cotton or Nomex pants (jeans work; again, turnout gear is best)
- Closed-toe shoes + cotton socks (no synthetics—poly can melt and complicate things in an emergency)
For your build site (most people use a 10x10 EZ-up style shade structure):
- Shade pop-up + at least 12 good stakes (ground is hard and rocky—concrete form stakes, auger screws, etc.; bring a hammer or hammerdrill for pilot holes; skip plastic stakes)
- 8+ straps (ratchet straps are fast and easy)
- At least 3 five-gallon buckets (mixing, washing tools, random uses—even as a seat)
- Screens (start with a good 40-mesh; it'll handle most jobs)
- Non-stainless mixing bowls (shiny metal can focus sunlight and ignite stuff)
- Ziplock bags (gallon size is super handy)
- Kraft paper (70lb bond or thinner rolls from Walmart/office section—great for tables, mixing, drying burst; avoid coated butcher paper)
- Utility knife + extra blades
- Non-sparking anvil cutters (for fuse)
- Trash bags
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Table + chair(s)
- Sharpie(s) (you'll lose them constantly)
- Non-sparking brass awl ("PyroPoke"—multi-use)
- Hammer(s) (one light, one heavy for the desert dirt)
- Pen/notebook (take notes!!)
- Good digital scale + backup batteries
- Plastic spoons/tubs for weighing
- Sturdy plastic storage containers (avoid cheap ones with brittle lids)
- Nitrile gloves
- Measuring tools (ruler/tape)
- Sturdy box/ammo can for in-progress devices/comps
Power: A generator (with fuel) + extension cords/power strips (100'+ to keep it downwind) makes life easier—glue gun, lighting for evening work, etc. Lighting is key since manufacturing often goes into the evening while open shooting happens.
Other nice-to-haves: Tape dispenser (for masking/strapping tape), glue gun + sticks, hole punch set, small propane torch (Bernzomatic TS4000 or similar), ammo cans for sealed storage (great against moisture).
For shells specifically (paper or plastic):
- Comfortable chair, folding table, shade + tie-downs
- Cooler for drinks
- Anvil cutters, scale
- Large container for rice hull/Meal-D burst
- Slow Visco fuse
- Newspaper for mixing/drying
- Solvent (if plastic shells) + applicator
- 1/4" drill (for fuse holes in plastic)
- Dixie cups for lift charges
- Tape (masking & strapping)
If you're newer and want something achievable: Try alcohol-based "rubber" stars—they dry fast and can be used same-day/next-day. Chems from fireworkscookbook.com or pyrochemsource.com; rice hulls from feed stores; coat hulls with Meal-D/dextrin burst.
Tips from the Field
- Work clean: Limit live material out at once, clean up often. Put kraft paper on your table—it keeps things tidy and is perfect for jotting notes.
- Start small—don't rush to buy fancy tooling (star plates, rocket sets, etc.). Figure out your goals first. Work with experienced folks if you can; many specialize in just one or two devices.
- Pockets galore (carpenter jeans > apron for me) when hands are full.
- Buckets double as seats/toolboxes.
- Ammo cans are gold for tool and unmixed chem storage.
- One solid 40-mesh screen can last years.
- Clean up frequently = working safe.
The event is about learning, making friends, and having fun in the desert. Walk around, watch what people are building, say hi. If you're there, come find me—I'll be happy to chat or show you what I'm working on.
You've got this. See you at the WPA event—let's make some noise!
The WPA crew