Things to do this weekend.

[A-BOMB]

This Weekend I think I'll be detonating some AN based explosives and would like to get you ideas of how much AP to use as a detonator.

Heres some pics.

1.
This is a 100 watt lightbulb filled half way with 155 grams of AN/styrofoam.

<img src="ftp://ewf:df447jh4@209.195.155.80/-=Uploads=-/Linked%20Pictures/Picture%2039.jpg" alt="" />

2. This here is a 2 pound block of a AN/Doublebase smokeless powder mix, the batter is for scale.

<img src="ftp://ewf:df447jh4@209.195.155.80/-=Uploads=-/Linked%20Pictures/Picture%2042.jpg" alt="" />

3. Now this is the only one I think won't detonate, its 126 grams of AN/styrofoam.

<img src="ftp://ewf:df447jh4@209.195.155.80/-=Uploads=-/Linked%20Pictures/Picture%2043.jpg" alt="" />

So any ideas on how much AP to use. I sure hope I can get before and after pics (i have to put my digital camera back together).

So what else is anyone detonating or doing this weekend?

[Madog555]

do you mean NM? i sure hope you do

[kingspaz]

don't think he does....
it may work ok actually. the styrofoam will lower the density substantially making it much more cap sensitive. i've interested in the detchord idea...
how about this?
dissolve styrofoam in acetone, mix AN into it. could make some sort of explosive paste? detonated once hardened around the object you want to do damage to...

ah, i won't be doing pyro much this weekend since i have alot of school work to do...
but next weekend if i get the work done i'll try making nitric without distillation. i think i have a way around the problem of sulphate built up...i'll tell you all about it if it works.

edit: almost forgot! i'd use some AP but use a base charge of PETN or something else with a high VoD. thats if you did mean AN <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

<small>[ March 28, 2002, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: kingspaz ]</small>

[Anthony]

I think the critical diameter of the AN mix in the detcord will be too high to allow the detonation to propogate along the length of teh cord.

That "2 pound" block of smokeless/AN looks a bit small to weigh 2lb, is it in the cap of an aerosol can?

[mark]

For AP caaps, youll want to detonate the cap for a higher velocity. Have a .223 of AP detonate a filmacanister full for example. That way youll get a det velocity of 5300m/s for sure.

Btw, why are you using a lightbulb as a container? Dosnt seem particularly strong or safe, as well as very delicate.

<small>[ March 28, 2002, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: mark ]</small>

[A-BOMB]

Ya its in a areosol can cap buy it packed in there tight and its really dence and it has estimated weight of 2 pounds because my scale only goes to 1.75 pounds but it goes way past it so I think it must be around 2 pounds, and I have no more PETN at this time I used it in a bunch of caps a while ago. And I used a light bulb because its the only thing I had at the time to put it in. I'll let you know how it goes (and pics if I can get my camera to work when its not hooked up to the computer.)

[DBSP]

The styrfoam/AN could work if you had a strong enaugh det. A filmcan could do it. As Anthony said the diameter of the AN-cord is far to small for such a stubborn explosive. I have no idea about the smokless one but it might work.

Have you got any NM?

[Bignutsami]

question: why would you use powdered styrofoam when diesel is far easier to get, and make it far more sensitive. I will be very suprised if it works, seeing that ANFO isnt even cap sensitive. With such a small amount, and in a lightbulb(??) she'll just spread everywhere.

[mongo blongo]

Umm.. he is using styrofoam because the det cord will be solid (wouldn't be very good with diesel). :)
ANFO IS cap sensitive but not very.

[DBSP]

Is styrfoam harder to get then diesel, styrfoam is everywhere allmost everyone has it in their home. Both diesel and styrfoam could be an idea. Could be reasonibly cap sensitive.

[zaibatsu]

I believe the original idea of adding styrofoam to ANFO was to be used in the place of glass microballoons. These are used in ANFO to lower the density, and as styrofoam is very light, this can also be used. However, it wouldn't be a good idea in ANNM <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[xoo1246]

Don't you use glass particles to create hot spots?

[DBSP]

They are and can be used for both applications. Buy I think they are primarily used for reucing the density thus making it more cap sensitive.

[mark]

Abomb, are you kidding? You couldnt find any other contaner execpt a lightbulb? How about newspapers and duct tape? A role of toilet paper? It'll never go off in the lightbulb.

[RTC]

There's no harm in trying!

[Bignutsami]

"Is styrfoam harder to get then diesel, styrfoam is everywhere allmost everyone has it in their home."

Diesel would be like the second most common liquid after water.. and its not the getting of styrofoam, its the powdering of it, I think I remember trying a coffee grinder myself ages ago and there was no way that would work. Perhaps you could disolve it in petrol, dry it then sand it down. How did you do it A-bomb.

[mongo blongo]

I *think* that styrfoam, when made in the factory, is that very brittle plastic used in biro pens.Maybe you could put lots of them in a ball mill or coffee grinder?

<small>[ March 30, 2002, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: mongo blongo ]</small>

[A-BOMB]

I didn't grind it to powder I put it through a large paper shreder
to cut it up into small chunks and mix it into the AN as to fill in all the empty spaces that were left and add a 1.75 cups more of AN then I took a eyedropper of acetone and dropped it all over it to make it into a puddy. Then i had to put it in the containers quickly because it dries amazingly fast into a rock hard plastic. Which makes me think you could use it in making bodies and nose cones for model rockets and that like because it is very light (when minus the AN) and sandable, and allmost free (just the cost of the time and acetone) when you get it from the rubbish from a store.

[A-BOMB]

It seems that I can't get my digital camera to work, so I'm going to detonating them anytime soon because I what to get pics. So I have two options, the first one is I make a exstention cord for my webcab(does anyone know the maxium length of a USB cable?) or second I buy a new digital camera (which costs money :( something I don't have, there seems that there is not a large market these day or time of year for a proffessial animal killer, I think I'll have to go back to a being a old farm equipment remover.)

[RTC]

Just get a few USB extension cables, there pretty cheap compared to a new digital camera.

There's no limit really, as long as your computer can sustain a power line down the USB cable, if not just buy a USB hub plug in after two or three cables and then plug in as many as it takes as the USB hub provides you with the power you need.

[Zambosan]

For high-speed devices, you can connect up to a maximum of 5 USB hubs with 5-meter interconnecting cables for a total distance of 30 meters. Not very cost-effective, though. And the main issue with cable length is not power distribution, it's signal degradation due to RF interference and cable RLC transmission-line effects.

[nbk2000]

For what you would spend on cables and hubs, you could buy a digital camera for less. If you know anyone with a camcorder you could borrow, use that. Than buy a cheap video capture card or dongle (less than $50), convert the video, then return the capture device for a refund. Simple.

Or, you could buy a $7 one-time camera, take pictures, have them developed, and send it to one of the forumites here to be scanned in. :)

[A-BOMB]

I have a scanner NBK, and that would work but theres one problem the
get it developed as in at a store with evil pig snitches. And I got the camera working again now I just need to put it in a new case and I'm in business.

[matjaz]

Originally posted by kingspaz
dissolve styrofoam in acetone, mix AN into it. could make some sort of explosive paste? detonated once hardened around the object you want to do damage to...

Isn't the whole point of styrofoam in being full of microscopic gas bubbles? So if you want to use it to reduce density and make AN more sensitive... wouldn't dissolving it bubble the gas out and make it plain dense plastic again?

[blindreeper]

"Gas" or petrol will act as the fuel and the styrofoam will also be a fuel and the think thatr makes it sticky or modlable. Yes that was the point of the styrofoam (microspheres) but whats wrong with using it as a fuel? Just a new idea nothing else.