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green beret
March 1st, 2003, 12:05 AM
I had this idea:
Make det cord using AP and flexible 6mm OD (really any diameter should work above 5mm) plastic tubing (the clear type).

I tried this on a small scale, heres what I did:
I took about 2 feet of the tubing, sealed one end with duct tape, double layered, this is so the AP reaches right to the end of the cord as opposed to using epoxy or silicon.

I then poured the AP in, gently shaking the tube periodically to get more AP in and slightly raise the density. I then sealed the end with duct tape.

To test this I made two small AP charges in cardboard tubes (about half the size of toilet rolls) and inserted the cord about 1 inch into the top of both.
I then buried the two charges up to the tops of the cardboard.
Then I got .22 case full of lightly pressed AP,fused with 2mm green visco, and made a slit in the tube and gently placed it in.

I lit the fuse and retreated.

Result:
Loud characteristic AP bang. On closer inspection, the det cord worked and fired both charges.

Applications:
If long lenghts of this cord work (which I'll try when I get more H202) it could be used to fire simultanious charges of ANNM, APAN, or anything really, by simply inserting the cord in to the detonator of the main charge. The cord could be hooked most ways a regular det cord could.

So, let me know what you all think. It works (on a small scale definatley), and I beleive its quite practical for firing multiple charges without electrics.
Maybe flashpowder would work in place of AP but I'm not sure. Maybe someone could try it.

ALENGOSVIG1
March 1st, 2003, 12:52 AM
Your not the first one to think of this.
AP works, but its painfully slow to pack a long tube full of AP. Nitro works much better becuase you can just pour it in, you can calculate the the volume of the tube so you know how much nitro you need for x length of tubing, plus its more powerful.

<small>[ March 01, 2003, 12:05 AM: Message edited by: ALENGOSVIG1 ]</small>

static_firefly
March 1st, 2003, 01:07 AM
I was considering something simmler, except i was going to use MEKP as its a liquid, so its easy to fill the tube, its pretty much always at max density, its more stable then AP, and pretty easy to set off. Is still try this out but i dont have tube or anywhere to try this

<small>[ March 01, 2003, 12:12 AM: Message edited by: static_firefly ]</small>

carbonated
March 1st, 2003, 10:45 PM
Would the MEKP eat through the plastic tube?

PyroTech
March 2nd, 2003, 03:33 PM
If you only have acces to AP, you could make something like a det cord with normal tape.
Lay a piece of tape on a flat surface, sticky side up. Put a really small line of AP in the middle of the tape, a small line will work! You don't have to use alot of AP. When the line is done, just flip the tape in width.
It's not new, I know. But for beginners this will do the trick, atleast in my opinion.

green beret
March 2nd, 2003, 07:55 PM
I hadnt heard this anywhere before, but I had a fair idea that it would've been thought of before. Yes, I know liquids would work better, but all I have at this stage is AP, so thats what I was working with. I hope to synthesize some MEKAP soon, and I'll do some testing with that. I have never manufactured NG but I've handled NG based explosives, it gave me pretty bad headaches, I'm not really prone to headaches but the NG concentration was high (60%+). But still, it would (as was said) be farm more powerful than AP, but if youre just working with AP as a main charge and/or primer, this cord would do.

EP
March 2nd, 2003, 09:03 PM
Hm, I hadn't thought of using liquids before! I can make plenty of MEKP, so I'll have to try that. To test the tubing before acutally filling it I'd stick a piece of it in some MEKP to see if it dissolves it or whatever.

static_firefly
March 4th, 2003, 04:00 AM
With AP iv found alfoil has some benifits. Place your AP in a strip and fold it over a few times then twist, this compresses it a bit. Quite loud. You must know what your doing with this and use nutralised Dry AP. I had some some fuse size det "cord" with slighty damp and unnutralzied (cheap firecrackers) start smoking on me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> but it didnt explode.

Skean Dhu
March 23rd, 2003, 01:02 AM
all this talk of MEKP/MEKAP has got me wondering. how is it made, i did a search for it a few weeks back but to no avail.
also why not use APrc to fill the tubing, granted it might take longer but it would make it a little bit safer to handle with regards to shock and such.

VX
March 23rd, 2003, 12:42 PM
Thats odd, I just did a search and got 47 hits. The one that you want is <a href="http://www.roguesci.org/cgi-bin/ewforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=001333#000007" target="_blank">other peroxides</a> .

I think I can also remember a whole topic called MEKP, but must be in the archives by now, as it didn't come up in my search.

Skean Dhu
March 23rd, 2003, 03:28 PM
yea, i forgot to search the archives, i found a few posts regarding the making of MEKP(i also saw it as MEKAP), but there seems to be some contraversy on whether or not MEKP is a solid like AP or a liquid explosive. which is it?

The only thing i can think of to explain this is some people in the archived topic were using PVC primer, although it contains MEK it also contains acetone so would this cause the crystilization(sp?) that the archived posts are talking about? Does pure MEK yeild an explosive liquid?

also could someone please share some of their experiences(dreams what ever you wanna call them) about MEK(A)P.

NERV
March 23rd, 2003, 07:10 PM
Every time I made MEKP it came out as a whitish/ clear liquid. IIRC it's the dimeric form that is liquid, and the trimeric form is solid. Also the dimeric form is supposed to be more stable, also the dimeric isomer is the produced more frequently produced during MEKPs manufacture.

vurr
March 26th, 2003, 10:42 AM
AP melting results:
pure stuff little bit below water bp.(~96<sup>0</sup>C)
mixed with paraffine:60<sup>0</sup>C
pure with lead pellets:bang in a 2 minutes(?)

Gargoylebrother
April 14th, 2003, 11:57 AM
Hmm well i would think that AP would be of poor use in detcord the power of AP or MEKP is signifently less that PETN. If it was me i would probably use RDX or NG saturated sawdust or even AN it would prove to be signifently more powerful also an APAN or ANFO mix could be used then just crimp a detonator on and fire it.

Anthony
April 15th, 2003, 03:35 PM
AN?! You said AP wasn't brisant enough!

Plus AN's critical dimater is going to mean some truly massive det "cord"...

rooster
April 17th, 2003, 06:56 PM
The critical diameter of AN would be big, but a lot smaller if mixed with NG. However, this mix would be harder getting into tubes, etc. as it tends to get clumpy. The RDX or PETN is a good idea, it would not be as dangerous as AP to fill in longer cords.