HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: khartman@fnalo.fnal.gov
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Newbie idiot question
Date: 20 Dec 92 03:27:26 GMT
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab
NNTP-Posting-Host: fnalo.fnal.gov

In article <1992Dec17.200158.858@walter.cray.com>, radner@cray.com 
>(Lauren Radner) writes:
> Please forgive me for the high level of ignorance I have about pyrotechnics.
> You folks seem like the right ones to ask about this, and I apologize if 
> this is covered in your FAQ (which I couldn't find) or has been asked
> 10,000 times before. I know how annoying that is!

	Don't worry about it.  There are always new people reading this
newsgroup, so many questions keep popping up over and over.

 
> Anyway, my question. I was just in a toy store doing Christmas shopping
> (for my *parents*) and I bought this little packet of explosive doo-dads
> for a buck at the front counter. There's no indication of ingredients or 
> even of a company that makes it/them, just that they're from "Brazil".
> 
> In the plastic-fronted/cardboard-backed package were about six or seven
> little cotton bags - about the size of garden peas - tied with string. 
> Inside the bags it looked like little greyish brownish pieces of gravel - 
> a lot like the stuff people buy for their fish tanks. 
> 
> You guys are probably all already nodding, "yeah, yeah, it's just <some
> abstruse chemical formulation of fermented ferrous fairy dust>. what
> about it?" Well, anyway, these little bag things explode gloriously
> with relatively little provocation (eg, impact with the floor) and I
> LIKE IT <glazed look of budding pyrotechnomanic>.


	The chemical on this gravel is Silver Fulminate, a shock sensitive
compound that is related to Mercury Fulminate.  Mercury Fulminate WAS (as
has been pointed out to me by several people on this group), used as a primer
for ammunition.  Fulminates in general are dangerous.
 

> My question is, how can I make equivalent miniature explosives like
> these of my own? Preferably out of ingredients that your average 
> not-connected-to-a-scientific-warehouse-type person can purchase ?


	You can make Silver Fulminate easily.  The hardest part is getting
the Nitric Acid that you need for the process.	

 
> Or do I have to move to Brazil?
> 
> I apologize for intruding on all the talk of REAL explosives (things that
> remove chunks of skyscraper as opposed to merely startling nearby crickets).


	No need to apologize, Lauren.  This group exists to discuss ANY 
pyrotechnic device or explosive.  About your subject line, there is no
such thing as a Newbie Idiot Question when you are dealing with explosives.
The only idiots are the people who don't ask questions and get hurt.


> Thanks!
> 
> -Lauren
 
 

Ken
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: romingk@pell3l0.alleg.edu (Karl Rominger)
Subject: Re: fog
Organization: Allegheny College
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 04:06:26 GMT

In article <1992Dec7.231701.20286@ncsu.edu> elada@eos.ncsu.edu (ERIC   
LADA) writes:
> 
> 
> 
> Speaking about fog.  I herd somwhere that the military had some
> experiment with fog on a large scale to cover up troop movements and  
such.
> Have any of you herd or no any ideas of how this might be done?  Say  
like you
> wanted to cover a vallty with a 5' visibility fog cover even though its  
June 
> and 80 degrees outside.  
> 	Thanks

Several thousand gallons of Rosco fog fluid, and several hundreds of  
portable fog machines ?  Or how about 50 tons of dry ice dropped in a  
small lake?  Would be neat to see anyhow.

Karl
From: rpeacock@cudnvr.denver.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Any Ideas for Starbursts?
Date: 14 Dec 92 11:33:56 GMT

I hope I don't get flamed for asking but here goes. I was wondering if anybody
had come up with any particular design for starbursts. I mean the kind that are
launched from a mortar. I've read the FAQ, and a few of the books listed in it.
I was just wondering if someone had a favorite they had worked out. I was
thinking of making a couple for New Year's Eve.

Thanks!
Organization: Doctoral student, Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 22:04:34 -0500 
From: Lawrence Curcio <lc2b+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: RDX

First of all, every bit of this stuff is dangerous. Of *COURSE* you can
blow your head off. Haven't you been told?

That said, I followed a similar procedure years ago. I wasn't trying to
get RDX. I didn't know *WHAT* I was trying to get. Nevertheless, I *DID*
get RDX, and here I am alive and telling you about it. Testimonials, of
course, are statistically useless - very small N here. 

Keep the temperature low. Make sure the acid is fresh. Cut down on the
amount - Hey! 50g will set you some kinda FREE if it goes!

With these simple precautions, it's merely *EXQUISITELY* dangerous and
it's usually felonious too. 

BTW, I had trouble drying the stuff. Anyone else solve that problem?
Just curious.

Best Regards,
Larry (lucky to be alive) C. 
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: This is TBBOM ver 1.3
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 08:02:36 GMT

umcormi5@ccu.umanitoba.ca (John Cormier) writes:
: 
: >Use extreme caution with this manual. While it is more accurate than
: >most of a similar nature, it is still not a good reference. Much of
: >the information is either incorrect or incomplete. If you wish to 
: >experiment with some of the formulas, go to your local university and
: >look up the relevant process in a good book on high energy materials.
: >The books will point out the precautions to take, as well as mentioning
: >some of the accidental explosions that have occurred - where professionals
: >in the field were working in the lab.
: 
: >The one section I would trust is the one on flash powders by Dr van Tiel.
: 
: >Bill
: 
: 
: At least the book gives people somewhere to start instead as someone once
: mentioned before, going off and trying some process making something else
: that they don't want or is harmful.

True, it is far better than nothing. Anything you do in the pyrotechnics
or explosives field can be harmful. That is why I so frequently post cautions
about using such material. I am fully in favor of people experimenting, I
just believe that they should learn as much as reasonably possible, before
trying the formulations. In this hobby, without the proper safety procedures,
the first mistake may well be your last.

: The reason I posted is because I was swamped with requests for a copy. 
: Ok.  Whoever wants one, I'll send you one by e-mail even though it will
: take me a few hours to get through all of you.

I wish the person who compiled the document would post again. He may have
copyrighted the material. 

Bill
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Jello Bombs, How to air burst?
Date: 15 Dec 92 23:11:18 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

todd@csrnxt1.ae.utexas.edu (Todd W. Thompson) writes:

: to snap the human spinal cord. And, from experience of being hit by a water
: balloon in the head from a low height, I know that a water balloon from the
: 12th floor (where I live) is probably damn capable of exerting that 12 pounds.
: Sure, it's not going to put a balloon sized hole in someone's torso if it
: hits them in the back, but I'd personally rather not risk breaking someone's
: neck for the sake of a laugh. Besides.. it's really not all that funny
: in the first place. Maybe I've just never understood the humor in hurting
: or humiliating unsuspecting victims. <shrug>

Yeah. About 25 years back, there were some frat rats that were throwing
firecrackers at people walking past on the sidewalk. The police were not
doing anything about it. The rats did not appreciate the humor of my
retaliating by throwing a M-80 into their room. Fortunately, I had a
bunch of friends with me - so they were unable to perform a remodeling
job on my body. They did learn the lesson, however. They quit throwing
firecrackers at people.

Yeah - I know. It was a stupid thing to do. One of them might have been
dumb enough to attempt picking the M-80 up and throwing it back. However,
I was a young college student at the time and not very prone to rational
and reasoned thought.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: TBBOM....again
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 01:07:54 GMT

umcormi5@ccu.umanitoba.ca (John Cormier) writes:
: I would appreciate it if the someone who removed TBBOM last time would
: have informed why they did such a thing.  If you want to remove this post,
: please tell me why so I don't persist. Thanks.
: 
: John

TBBOM is still available on my news system. Maybe it was only deleted at
your site?

Bill
From: eapu168@orion.oac.uci.edu (Lee Furnival)
Subject: Clean Burning Liquid Needed
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 17 Dec 92 23:46:43 GMT
Distribution: usa

What is the cleanest burning liquid that is easily accessible to a
person who has no connections in the chemical world such as myself?
Basically, something that I can buy at a supermarket or drugstore.  By
clean, I mean little or no smoke and little or no odor, and NONTOXIC!
I will be dipping a rod with cotton gauze into it.  I have been using
rubbing alcohol, 70% isopropyl, and that seems to be ok, but it leaves
an odd Bar-B-Que-ey taste in my mouth, so I was wandering if there was
another type of alcohol that would be better...

Any info appreciated, and e-mailed info appreciated even more.
Thanks,
Lee Furnival
eapu168@orion.oac.uci.edu
 
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: rubin@godzilla.cis.ohio-state.edu (Daniel Rubin)
Subject: Re: Any Ideas for Starbursts?
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 02:59:54 GMT

>aerial shells. Some are easy to make, some are very difficult.
> 
>My favorite is a rising comet to a color changing peony with "dust".
>
>Bill

Wow that description gives me a warm fuzzy feeling...  You care to post the
detail on the construction of that device.  I guess the most intriguing part
is the "dust".  I would love to make a shell that just ending in a cloud of
flickering dust.  

A suggestion I wanted to post in the past, but never got around to it...

At the PGI convention every year there is competition for different classes
of shells.  I know that some of the people who read this group placed in
some of the competitions from reading my last PGI bulletin.  It hit me then
that if the winners would kindly write up the process they use to make the
winning shells the competition would get better and better every year. 
As a consequence the members of the PGI would be world renound for the shells
they make :-)  It would be more like a thousand minds working together each
discovering a new technology and sharing it with other so they can build on
it...

I have never seen a individual share how they constructed a unique shell in
any of the PGI bulletins I have received or in any issue of AFN.  Sure there
have been construction articles for rockets, cone fountains, quickmatch and
other stuff that is ordinary but nothing really new and innovative...

Just a thought                                                   - Dan
-- 

             Daniel Joseph Rubin     rubin@cis.ohio-state.edu 
     
                       GO BENGALS!      GO BUCKS!
From: gt8303a@prism.gatech.edu (Andy Entrekin)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Anarchists' Handbook
Date: 18 Dec 92 13:39:29 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pyrotechnics
Organization: Ga Tech Research Inst., Aeroacoustics

In article <1992Dec17.010123.9657@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>,
buda@star.enet.dec.com (Mark A. Buda) wrote:

> You can decide.  Bill has provided insight to a document.  I suggest you
> buy it, try EACH and every experiment and let us know how
> they work.  When you do not respond after 3 months we will know
> that something went wrong and we should ignore you...
> 
> 	- mark

Well, excuse the hell out of me!  Thanks, Bill, for the insight.  I have
no plans of buying the book.  I've seen a copy and got a good laugh.  And
you, Mark, can go straight to hell, without passing go or collecting $200.
And what if I were to try one of the experiments and send it to you?  Nice
Christmas present, eh?  Please give me more credit than you have.  I'm not
as stupid as you think.  

Andy Entrekin
Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Research Technician (translation: A little o' everything)
Ga Tech Research Institute
Aeroacoustics Lab
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: romingk@pell3l0.alleg.edu (Karl Rominger)
Subject: Archive sites
Organization: Allegheny College
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 05:35:03 GMT


Could anyone email me, or just post the address of any FTP sites with  
archives for this group?

Karl
romingk@alleg.edu
From: pierson@cimcad.enet.dec.com (Dave Pierson)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Containment
Date: 11 Dec 92 16:07:00 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


	The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions
	Congess of United States/Office of Technology Assessment
	1989
	OTA-ISC-414

	Today ... depth of burial can be approximated...:

		Depth= 400(yield)**1/3

	Depth is in feet,
	Yield in KT
	This is for a vertical "drill hole" set up.

	For the trivial case (8)>>) of the 1 KT ANFO shot:

		Depth = 400 feet

	For a slightly less trivial 27 KT (a noprize for why i picked that
	yield...)

		Depth = 1200 feet.

	Treaties limit design yields to 150KT (?)

	(this is presumably optimized for the rock/soil conditions at the
	Nevada test site.)

	There have been some leakages, but these were early on, and dealt with
	by adjusting the "400" factor.
	
thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
40 Old Bolton Rd		|I am the NRA.
Stow, Mass 01775 USA		pierson@msd26.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: gak@wrs.com (Richard Stueven)
Subject: Re: Jello Bombs, How to air burst?
Reply-To: gak@wrs.com
Organization: Wind River Systems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 20:10:20 GMT

In article 14775@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
>
>If you wish to risk the wrath of 350 lb "Murgo the Mangler" when hit with
>such a contrivance, that is your choice.

If you drop a Jello bomb from 150 feet onto 350 lb "Murgo the Mangler",
you deserve what you get.

gak

---
Richard Stueven       AHA# 22584 |----------| O sibili, si ergo
Internet:            gak@wrs.com |----GO----| Fortibus es inero
ATTMAIL: ...!attmail!gakhaus!gak |---SHARX--| O nobili, deus trux
Cow Palace:            107/H/3-4 |----------| Vatis inem?  Causan dux.
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: our FAQ ? (Was Re: NH3.NI3)
From: <DEY101@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 19:16:01 EST
Organization: Penn State University

Any one ever seen part five of the group of postings that are commonly
associated with the FAQ? I think pt. 4 was about making casings etc., and
pt. 5 was to continue with something similar.

If you have it and could send it to me, please do so before my account
expires on sat. :-( :-(, other wise I'm not sure if my Id will be the
same next sem. Also are there more than five parts??

===============================================================================
   ---> Merlin <---       |   It's not the length of the wand that matters,
                          |       - it's the magic that's in the stick.
->DEY101@PSUVM            |
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: hleaves@gems.vcu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Jello Bombs, How to air burst?
Date: 14 Dec 92 00:52:24 -0400
Distribution: na
Organization: Medical College of Virginia

In article <1992Dec10.190148.3852@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
> mf3s+@andrew.cmu.edu (Martin David Frankel) writes:
> However, how would you like to be hit on the head by a blob of jello
> that had had 12 stories to gain velocity. It would not be comfortable.
> 
> I certainly would not want to risk the wrath of someone who decided
> that strawberry flavored hair was not the epitomy of fashion.
> 
> Evaluate the risks carefully - people. Remember, a water balloon, dropped
> from an overpass, can shatter an automobile window - even if the auto
> is traveling fairly slowly.
> 
> Bill

A Jello balloon from dropped onto someones head from 12 stories would probably
cause a serious neck injury and maybe even break their neck. This is coming
from someone who had a sore neck for weeks after having a water balloon dropped
on his head from just 5 or 6 feet.

-- 
*******************************************************************************
** Hugh L. Eaves                      ** Internet: hleaves@ruby.vcu.edu      **
** Medical College of Virginia        ** Bitnet: hleaves@vcuruby             **
** Department of Human Genetics       ** Voice: (804) 371-8754               **
***************** All non-incendiary communication welcome! *******************
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: acs@leland.Stanford.EDU (Alexander Caldwell Schneider)
Subject: Re: RDX  Non feild expediant methods
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 00:44:05 GMT


Are the processes in _Chemistry of Powder and Explosives_ any more reliable
because they are "laboratory" procedures?


Organization: Doctoral student, Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 09:59:48 -0500 
From: Lawrence Curcio <lc2b+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Al Powder containing Stearic Acid

Stearic acid is almost inert. That's probably why it's used in the AL -
to coat the surface and prevent oxidation. The grlycerol ester of
stearic acid is the primary constituent of beef fat. You can probably
ignore the stuff, though it might slow your flash powder very
marginally. 

If you don't like it, you can wash it out with an organic solvent.
Kerosene would work, but you'd probably leave more than 4% residue. You
can get stearic acid in hobby shops as chemistry set refills - test it
with more convenient solvents.
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: ua123@freenet.victoria.bc.ca (Matthew A. Skala)
Subject: Re: Glycerin, Glycerol, ...
Organization: Camosun College, Victoria B.C, Canada
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 19:28:15 GMT



Glycerin and Glycerol are the same thing.  However, many fluids
such as antifreeze contain *glycol*, which is a different animal
altogether.
-- 
CENSORSHIP SUCKS!  UP WITH THE PEOPLE!

Matthew Skala - VE7MSK - ua123@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
From: dstine@cisco.com (David Stine)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: ka-Boom!
Date: 17 Dec 1992 09:21:44 GMT
Organization: 9th Flying Pig Combat Squadron
NNTP-Posting-Host: regal.cisco.com
Keywords: the big ones...

In article <1992Dec16.122727.1@vaxr.llnl.gov> mccauley@vaxr.llnl.gov writes:
>To everyone in the newsgroup:  Yes, I'm an actual LLNL Mad Bomber, 
>otherwise known as an MFWBB.  I was personally involved in the Nuclear Test 
>Program here for many years.  To the extent I can, I'll be happy to comment 
>on nuclear matters.  Just discovered this newsgroup, and look forward to 
>further reading.

Well, Bill that's a very generous offer. If I should ask any questions you
can't answer, simply don't include them in any followup that you might post.
I know how that clearance thing is... ;-)

I do have a couple of questions that come to mind...

1. In an effects test, do you go for the smalled possible yield that will
   still give you the particular particles/emissions that you want, as 
   opposed to a yield test, where you pop off a device and measure
   the effective yield to see how much "bang" you get for your material?

2. Again, in an effects test, how are the blast boors slammed shut? The
   write-ups I've seen say that they are driven home by some explosive;
   I would guess that they are triggered by some timing device which feeds
   off the same clock as the main detonation, right?

3. And the one which has puzzled me for some time: just how is
   yield measured? After all, if the reaction is perfect, you get the
   theoretical results. I would assume that theory only goes so far; the
   actual yield will deviate due errors in theory, material impurity
   and actual device construction. The stuff we get to hear is that
   a device is "thus-n-such kilo/mega tons", where it is assumed an 
   equivalent amount of TNT. I'm curious as to how one compares yields,
   esp. when you might have produced a contained kiloton explosion of 
   chemical explosives for a baseline, but then the nukes are possibly
   1 to 4 orders of magnitude larger in yield; how approximate are
   yield measurements as a result of this interpolation?

thanks muchly, (if you're able to offer any comments)
dsa
My opinions, all mine.




Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: munitions plants accidents
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 18:39:24 GMT

jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
: 
: >I would thiink wax would activate it.  It supplies fuel for the excess oxygen
: >that AN contains.  Also, AN is usually activated with diesel fuel, and wax is
: >chemically very similar, just longer hydrocarbon chains, that's all.
: 
: The report I recall reading in school was that the ship in texas had leaked
: fuel oil into the cargo hold so a near perfect ANFO mix likely
: existed.

No, I believe that further research indicated that there was no fuel oil
leakage.

: Raises an interesting question.  If the explosive hazards of ANFO were
: known, what would one do with a shipload of cocked-and-loaded ANFO?
: Besides run for Alaska, of course :-)

It was not known, at that time, that there was a high explosive hazard.
I think the Texas and Brest explosions convinced people that AN could
undergo the DTD transition. Prior to this, such an occurrance was not
thought to be possible.

Bill
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
From: mellob@cary108.its.rpi.edu (Yosemite Sam)
Subject: RE: Chemicals Needed
Reply-To: mellob@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:38:57 GMT



      Electronic Hobbyists use Ferric Chloride to etch copper traces

	on PC boards. You can buy some at Radio Shack or probably any
	
	other electronics store. At RS it costs $2.69 for 16 oz.
From: sherlock@sleuth.eskimo.com (Jonathan Marsh)
Newsgroups: rec.pyrotechnics
Subject: Re: Containment
Distribution: world
X-NewsSoftware: GRn 1.16e (7/4/92) by Mike Schwartz & Michael B. Smith
Date: 18 Dec 92 21:53:06 PST
Organization: Perpetual Motion Machines Ltd.

    Much data deleted...

> To everyone in the newsgroup:  Yes, I'm an actual LLNL Mad Bomber,
> otherwise known as an MFWBB.  I was personally involved in the Nuclear Test 
> Program here for many years.  To the extent I can, I'll be happy to comment 
> on nuclear matters.  Just discovered this newsgroup, and look forward to 
> further reading.
>  
> Happy bombing,
>  
> Bill 

    Amazing Stories! I've met a couple of "Mad Bombers" over the years & have
found them to be... not so mad at all. :-) So, a question.
    Some years back when digging trenches & expanding NG reserves with nuclear
devices proved a little risky, the whole concept I suppose was dropped. But with
the advent of "cleaner" bombs, if indeed a neutron bomb can be considered
"clean", might there be a future for using these devices to solve large scale
projects?

--

    sherlock@sleuth.eskimo.com           Phone 206-782-4359