can you buy explosive bolts without a federal explosives license (USA)? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 11:31:17 pm
content: I always wanted to build something that has a button that can "fire the explosive bolts"is there some kind of exemption that you can buy "explosive bolts" from a explosive bolt company without having to deal with things like high explosive storage requirements etc ?like ones that would be very difficult to re purpose for anything other then detaching themselves by way of explosives? (hence legal and no ATF agents or background checks etc). i assume there is not much explosive in an explosive bolt so there might be some kind of exemption from considering them federally classifiable explosive devicesi dont really care about how big they are, i would be perfectly happy with explosively seperatable 1.5mm thick boltswhy? because I saw dr strangelove waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too many timesgod damnit the chassis screw stripped. FIRE THE EXPLOSIVE BOLTS!!!*i would modify a 8.5 digit multimeter to feature them

author: jwm_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 01:08:21 am
content: Quote from: sarepairman2 on November 13, 2015, 11:31:17 pmI am not sure there are any particularly tough restrictions on them. You can buy all sorts of explosives legally, an explosive bolt does not seem more dangerous than say a bullet, fireworks, model rocket engines, or cans of black powder you can buy over the counter if you are an adult. It's quite common for model rockets to use homemade explosive bolts, hollow out a bolt and throw some pyrodex in there that you buy at the friendly neighborhood hunting or gun shop.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 01:10:20 am
content: I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy (nudge, nudge, wink wink)

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 01:36:48 am
content: Reading the law, I didn't think so but apparently you can if you have a legitimate business reason. A friend of mine got an entire box of similar devices for a product that he developed and later patented. He still has quite a few of them. Another friend of mine developed and manufactured a fire works type device that's used by the US military and by the US Forest Service and he was not required to have any kind of license.The rules seem to be different if you're making something for the US government.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 02:21:04 am
content: Search the internet for pyro cutters and ask the vendors.For example, this onehttp://www.networkselectronic.com/Products/CordWireandTubeCutters.aspx

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 02:21:32 am
content: Quote from: jwm_ on November 14, 2015, 01:08:21 amI do not think the law is very logical in this regard. For instance, sparklers are forbidden in most states. What you are allowed to buy is not related to how dangerous the item is.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 02:33:53 am
content: Whether items are banned is often more about appearances than actual dangers. Sparklers may be illegal, for instance, but road flares are not.The bans on switchblade knives are also like that.

author: bson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 02:43:04 am
content: I don't think there's anything special about them. My 2014 Audi has a mechanically actuated, explosive battery disconnect in case of a serious impact. Some other makes use explosive bolts to release the doors if wrecked.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 03:33:57 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on November 14, 2015, 02:57:49 amOMG! There are bombs installed in my car! How did that pass the regulators?

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 06:39:15 am
content: yes, I know you can make various things easily, but if I do want to make this art project (i think it is as good as hanging a toilet seat in an art gallery) I do not want the goverment telling me I have created pipe bombs or such or created a fragmentation bomb. A commercial product will have certifications etc that prove (in the worst case) to an investigator that the thing will not throw fragmentation, so they cannot say, get the bomb squad to come and try to get me to pay the triple overtime hazard pay the bomb squad guy(s) gets paid for trashing my house, violating my rights, employing lawyers/prosecutors, protecting the children etcgenerally its a very very bad idea to have any kind of fast reacting material in a sealed container when the law gets involved without having either exemptions or permits

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 07:11:53 am
content: Indeed, you don't want to make something like that in a dangerous way. My (very limited) understanding is that an "explosive bolt" is not made of metal at all, but a composite that will break apart. So the problem (for the unwary) could be, fill a relatively stable explosive with a compatible plastic resin to the point where it has very little force driving it apart. Nitrocellulose is not highly controlled, and combining it with ABS might be tough enough to serve as a bolt after machining. But there will already be books written on the subject. MEK should be able to dissolve both. The whole bolt doesn't need to explode, only a cross section at the shear line. The above shouldn't leave any residues that would set off flags.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 07:43:44 am
content: Explosive bolts are only used where there is no other way and you need a strong connector. They do produce a lot of blast fragments, typically either contained in a housing or allowed to dissipate out harmlessly in a rocket. By definition you are driving a pressure vessel to rupture point to cause it to fail, and as you want a complete failure you deliberately build in a failure point in the midline and put in explosive more than sufficient to exceed the bursting pressure so it does separate all the way round. That means there will be some fractured material sent out, and a lot of excess gas.Another method is to use a mechanical release and a solenoid or thermal heater to trip a release.

author: eneuro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 06:50:50 pm
content: Quote from: sarepairman2 on November 13, 2015, 11:31:17 pmAfter yesterday and 11, you'd be better forget about this using strange topic like in this thread, while there is is huge probability that those words are on top list in N S A search patterns in internet communication and cell phone providers and probbaly your smartphone or phone if you have one is since this time invigilated... I would be very supprised if not...If someone want have some fun buys fireworks and wear always safety glasses when playing with this stuff.How to remove big stumps.I see no other reason to look for stuff like this far away from any houses and bought of course from licensed supplier and filmed everything to ensure you have document you used this stuff to do right thing...

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 09:21:08 pm
content: Quote from: helius on November 14, 2015, 02:33:53 amYes, dogma and superficialities are at odds with a good, sound risk/benefit analysis. It is a shame that people in this thread seem to be rushing headlong into making the same mistake. Any relative risk assessment between sparklers and road flares should include an in depth consideration typical use-cases of each...on second thought, I already know what happens when I piss into the wind, so.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 09:45:27 pm
content: And here's the ying to your yang

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 12:20:43 am
content: Quote from: eneuro on November 14, 2015, 06:50:50 pmdo you enjoy non coffee stimulants recreationally?