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*> Title: various chemical explosives
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*> Date: 5/29/89
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*> Time: 12:41 am
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[0;31;1m]
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[0;32;1m
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[0;34;1mPyrotechnics and Explosives - Part I
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[0;34;1m4/7/88
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[0;34;1m3:33 pm
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[0;32;1m
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Part 1 Preparation of Contact Explosives
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This is part of a series of files on pyrotechnics and explosives. It's serious
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stuff, and can be really dangerous if you don't treat it seriously. For you
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kids out there who watch too many cartoons, remember that if a part of your
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body gets blown away in the REAL world, it STAYS blown away. If you can't
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treat this stuff with respect, don't screw around with it.
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Each file will start with a set of safety rules. Don't skip over them. Read
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'em and MEMORIZE 'em!! At the beginning, there will be a set of general rules
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that always apply. Then there will be some things that you HAVE TO KNOW about
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the materials you will be using and making this time. Read it thoroughly
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before starting anything.
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Pyrotechnic preparations and explosives are, by their very nature, unstable,
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and subject to ignition by explosion or heat, shock, or friction. A clear
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understanding of their dangerous properties and due care in the handling of
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ingredients or finished products is necessary if accidents are to be avoided.
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Always observe all possible precautions, particularly the following:
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1. Mix only small batches at one time. This means a few grams, or at
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most, an ounce or so. Don't go for big mixes -- they only make for
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bigger accidents. The power of an explosive cubes itself with
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every ounce. (9 Ounces is 729 times as powerful as one ounce.)
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2. When weighing chemicals, use a clean piece of paper on the scale
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pan for each item. Then discard the used paper into a bucket of
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water before weighing the next ingredient.
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3. Be a safe worker. Dispose of any chemicals spilled on the
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workbench or equipment between weighings. Don't keep open
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containers of chemicals on your table, since accidental spillage
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or mixing may occur. When finished with a container, close it, and
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replace it on the storage shelf. Use only clean equipment.
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4. Where chemicals are to be ground, grind them separately, NEVER
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TOGETHER. Thoroughly wash and clean equipment before grinding
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another ingredient.
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5. Mixing of batches should be done outdoors, away from flammable
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structures, such as buildings, barns, garages, etc. Mixes should
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also be made in NON METALLIC containers to avoid sparks. Glass
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also should not be used since it will shatter in case of an
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accident. Handy small containers can be made by cutting off the
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top of a plastic bottle three or four inches from the bottom. Some
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mixes may most conveniently be made by placing the ingredients in
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a plastic bottle and rolling around until the mixture is uniform.
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In all cases, point the open end of the container away from
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yourself. Never hold your body or face over the container. Any
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stirring should be done with a wooden paddle or stick to avoid
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sparks or static.
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Powdered or ground materials may also be mixed by placing them on
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a large sheet of paper on a flat surface and then rolling them
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across the sheet by lifting the sides and corners one at a time.
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6. Never ram or tamp mixes into paper or cardboard tubes. Pour the
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material in and gently tap or shake the tube to settle the
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contents down.
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7. Store ingredients and finished mixes where they will not be a fire
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hazard away from heat and flame. Finished preparations may be
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stored in plastic bottles which will not shatter in case of an
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accident. Since many of the ingredients and mixes are poisonous,
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they should be stored out of reach of children or pets, preferably
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locked away.
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8. Be sure threads of screw top containers and caps are thoroughly
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cleaned. This applies also to containers with stoppers of rubber
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or cork and to all other types of closures. Traces of mixture
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caught between the container and closure may be ignited by the
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friction of opening or closing the container. Throughout any
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procedure, WORK WITH CLEAN CONDITIONS.
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9. ALWAYS WEAR A FACE SHIELD OR AT LEAST SHATTERPROOF SAFETY GLASSES.
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Any careful worker does when handling dangerous materials. Be sure
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lenses and frames are not flammable.
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10. Always wear a dust respirator when handling chemicals in dust
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form. These small particles gather in your lungs and stay there.
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They may cause serious illnesses later on in life.
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11. Always wear gloves when working with chemicals.
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12. Always wear a waterproof lab apron.
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13. If you must work indoors, have a good ventilation system.
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14. Never smoke anywhere near where you are working.
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15. Make sure there are NO open flames present, and NO MOTORS (they
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produce sparks inside.) No hot water heaters, furnaces, or pilot
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lights in stoves!! Sparks have been known to very readily explode
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dust floating in the air.
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16. ALWAYS work with someone. Two heads are better than one.
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17. Have a source of water READILY available. (Fire extinguisher,
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hose, etc.)
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18. Never, under any circumstances, use any metal to load chemicals or
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put chemicals in. Fireworks with metal casings are worse to handle
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than a live hand grenade. Never use any metal container or can.
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This includes the very dangerous CO2 cartridges. Many people have
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been KILLED because of flying fragments from metal casings. Again,
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please do not use metal in any circumstance.
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19. Always be thoroughly familiar with the chemicals you are using.
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Some information will be included in each file, but look for
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whatever extra information you can. Materials that were once
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thought to be safe can later be found out to be dangerous stuff.
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20. Wash your hands and face thoroughly after using chemicals. Don't
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forget to wash your EARS AND YOUR NOSE.
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21. If any device you've built fails to work, leave it alone. After a
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half hour or so, you may try to bury it, but never try to unload
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or reuse any dud.
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22. If dust particles start to form in the air, stop what you are
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doing and leave until it settles.
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23. Read the entire file before trying to do anything.
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24. NEVER strike any mixture containing Chlorates, Nitrates,
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Perchlorates, Permanganates, Bichromates, or powdered metals don't
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drop them, or even handle them roughly.
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These rules may all look like a lot of silly nonsense, but let's look at one
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example. When the move "The Wizard of OZ" was made, the actress who played the
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good witch was severely burned when one of the exploding special effects got
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out of hand. The actress who played the bad witch got really messed up by the
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green coloring used on her face, and the original actor who played the Tin Man
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got his lungs destroyed by the aluminum dust used to color his face. The actor
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we know of as the tin man was actually a replacement. The point is, these
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chemicals were being used under the direction of people a lot more knowlegable
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of chemicals than you are, and terrible accidents still happened. Don't take
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this stuff lightly.
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The contact explosives we will be describing use only a few chemicals. Some do
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need extra caution to keep from causing trouble.
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Iodine Crystals
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Though most people don't realize it, Iodine is not a brown liquid, but a
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steel-grey solid. The tincture of iodine you buy at the drugstore actually
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contains just a tiny bit of iodine dissolved in a jarful of inexpensive
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alcohol, and resold at a huge mark up. We'll be using iodine in the crystalline
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form. On contact with your skin, it will produce a dark stain that won't wash
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off with soap and water. We'll talk about removing these stains later. If it
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gets hot, it vaporizes into a purple cloud, that smells like the chlorine in a
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swimming pool. This cloud is dangerous to inhale, since it will condense in
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your lungs, and is corrosive. Since we won't need to heat this stuff, it is not
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a problem, but you should make sure that you don't let any iodine crystals
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spill onto a hot surface. If you don't touch it and keep it away from your
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face, you shouldn't have any troubles.
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Ammonium Hydroxide
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This is just good old household ammonia. Be sure to get the clear kind. The
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sudsy stuff won't be too useful. It is made from ammonia gas dissolved in
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water, and every time you open the bottle, it loses some of its strength, so be
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sure to use fresh stuff. We need it to be as strong as possible. Some of the
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formulas given here use lab grade concentrated ammonium hydroxide. It is much
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stronger than the supermarket kind, and is very unkind to skin or especially
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the eyes. It is a good idea to wear eye protection with even the supermarket
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grade. Though we don't usually worry about this when using household ammonia
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for cleaning, we usually dilute it for that. Here we'll be using it straight
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out of the bottle, and it is much more corrosive in that form. Never use this
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material if you don't have real good ventilation, as the ammonia vapors can be
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overpowering.
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Potassium Iodide
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This is a reasonably safe chemical. You get Potassium ions in some of the fruit
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you eat, and Iodide ions (usually as Sodium Iodide) are added to the table salt
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you buy at the store. So, while you don't directly eat this chemical, you do
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eat the components that make it up. Don't be scared of this stuff.
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Sodium Thiosulfate
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Otherwise known as photographic hypo. When dissolved in water, this will remove
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the iodine stains left by touching iodine crystals, and exploding contact
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explosive. Not particularly nasty stuff, but make sure to wash it off after
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cleaning yourself with it.
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General Information
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This is a powerful and highly sensitive explosive. A dust sized particle will
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make a sharp crack or popping sound. A piece the size of a pencil lead will
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produce an explosion as loud as any of the largest firecrackers or cherry
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bombs. It cannot be exploded by any means when wet, and therefore can be
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handled and applied with safety. When dry, it will explode with the touch of a
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feather, or a breath of air.
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The strength of the ammonia water you use will have a direct effect on the
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strength of the final product. If you use supermarket ammonia, the explosive
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will work, but not as spectacularly as if you use a 15% or higher (10 to 15
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molar) solution. The stronger it is, the better. You'll also need filter paper,
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and a funnel. A properly folded coffee filter will do nicely if you don't have
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the filter paper. If you're not sure how to fold filter paper, check an
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elementary chemistry textbook.
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Methods of Preparation
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1.) Granular Explosive. This is the easiest kind, and the only kind that will
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work reasonably well with supermarket ammonia. Crush enough iodine crystals to
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make a pile of powder equal to the volume of a pencil eraser. Do not grind into
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a fine powder. Put about 4 ounces or 1/2 measuring cup of strong ammonia water
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into a small container with the iodine, and seal it for about 5 to 10 minutes,
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shaking frequently. While the mixture is reacting, get your filter paper ready.
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While it is best to consult a book that shows how to do this, you take the
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circle of filter paper, fold it in half, fold it again at right angles to the
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first fold, and then open it to form a cone. Open or close it as needed to make
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it conform to the angle of the funnel, and moisten it a little to make it stick
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in place. Place the funnel over a container that will catch the waste liquid.
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Let the mixture settle long enough for the sediment to settle, and pour off as
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much of the clear liquid as possible before filtering the sediment. Pour the
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remaining liquid and sediment into the filter. The sediment (and the filter
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paper covered with it!!!) is your explosive. The small amount you have made
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will go a lot farther than you realize. Particularly if you used good strong
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ammonia. Place the explosive in an airtight leakproof pill bottle. As this
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explosive is unstable by nature, fresh amounts give better results than stale
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ones that have been sitting around for a day or so. Best results are obtained
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with small fresh batches. But as you'll see, there are a few tricks you can do
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with this material that do require it to sit for a day or more.
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The explosive should be stored and applied while wet.
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2.) Paint type explosive. This will use up a lot of iodine crystals. Make up a
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strong tincture of iodine using about 4 ounces or 1/2 measuring cup of rubbing
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alcohol, denatured alcohol, or wood alcohol. Wood alcohol is preferable. Add
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iodine crystals and shake thoroughly until no more will dissolve. Pour the
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liquid into a fruit jar. Add the ammonium hydroxide and stir the mixture until
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the mixture is a chocolate brown and shows a little of the original color of
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the iodine. The amount of ammonia necessary will depend on its strength. An
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equal volume of ammonia is usually sufficient for a 15% or higher solution. The
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solution should be filtered at once, and shouldn't ever wait more than 10 or 15
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minutes, because it starts to dissolve again.
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The explosive again should be stored and applied while wet. This material is
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chemically the same as the granular explosive, but because it was precipitated
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from a solution, it is much more finely divided, and the reaction happens
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almost simultaneously, so you can get it out before it all vanishes back into
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the solution.
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3.) Paint type #2. Dissolve 1 gram of potassium iodide in about 90cc of
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18%-22% ammonium hydroxide. Add 4 grams of pulverized iodine. A deep black
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sediment should start forming. Let stand, and stir frequently for five minutes.
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Then, filter as usual. While the potassium iodide is not an integral part of
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the chemical reaction, the dissolved potassium iodide will allow the iodine
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crystals in turn to dissolve, and its common ion effect will cause less iodine
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crystals to be wasted. Since the iodine is by far the most expensive
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ingredient, you'll save money in the long run by using it.
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Care in Handling And Storage
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Because this material is so unstable it deteriorates quickly. Don't make any
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more than you need to use in the next 24 hours. If you can't use it all
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immediately, the container you keep it in should be recapped tightly after use
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and the mouth wiped clean. The explosive can cause dark stain damage to things
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as rugs, clothing, chair seats, wallpaper, and light or clear plastics. A
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strong solution of sodium thiosulfate is effective for removing stains from
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hands and clothing before they set. Never leave the container of explosive in
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direct sunlight for more than a few minutes, as it will weaken the strength. Do
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NOT attempt to make a large explosion as it is dangerous and can cause
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deafness. All equipment used should be thoroughly washed and the used filter
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paper flushed down the toilet. Under no circumstances attempt to handle the
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dried material which is!Sxtremely explosive and hazardous. If you can avoid
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storing the material in a container at all, there will be no chance that a
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loose stopper will let the material dry out and become a potential bomb. Tiny
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bits of this can be great fun, but it has to be handled with care.
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Application
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Although largely a scientific curiosity, this explosive finds itself well
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suited for practical jokes. It may easily be painted on the bottom side of
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light switches, sprinkled on floors, painted in keyholes, pencil sharpeners,
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doorknobs and in hundreds of other unsuspected places. It is also ideal for
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catching locker thieves and desk prowlers. It will leave a dark stain on his
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hands when it explodes, and only you will know how to remove it.
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Reaction Equations
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Ammonium
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Ammonium Ammonium Nitrogen
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Iodine Hydroxide Iodide Tri Iodide Water
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3I + 5NH OH ---> 3NH I + NH NI + 5H O
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2 4 4 3 3 2
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The theoretical yield of explosive from pure iodine is 54.1% by weight. The
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remainder of the iodine may be recovered for reuse from the ammonium iodide
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waste product by evaporating the waste liquid and treating with chlorine if a
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chemistry lab is available. The contact explosive is Ammonium Nitrogen
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Tri-Iodide, which explodes into iodine, nitrogen, and ammonia.
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Ammonium
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Nitrigen
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Tri-Iodide Iodine Nitrogen Ammonia
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2NH NI ---> 3I + N + 2NH
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3 3 2 2 3
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Some Clever Uses For This Material
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1.) Contact Explosive Torpedos. Get some gelatin capsules, the kind pills are
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made of. Fill the small half with uncooked dry tapioca until it is half full.
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Then place a wet blob of contact explosive about 4 times the size of a straight
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pin head on top of it. Either the granular or paint type explosive will work.
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The capsule is then filled the rest of the way up with tapioca until, when the
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capsule is put together, the grains of tapioca are packed tightly, and none are
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loose. If this is not done properly, the torpedos could go off prematurely, and
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the joke would be on you. The torpedos are then moistened at the joints to seal
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them and stored until the next day. They are not sensitive enough until the
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next day and too sensitive the day after, so plan your activities accordingly.
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These torpedos are the most fiendish devices made. You can lay one on top of a
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door, where it will roll off when the door is opened, and it will explode on
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contact with the floor. If you toss one some distance away it will appear as if
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someone else was responsible for the explosion. These torpedos are ideal as
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booby traps or for pulling practical jokes with. They may be carried in a small
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box filled with cotton until needed. Just treat the box gently, and all will be
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well.
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2.Contact Explosive Booby Traps. Prepare a small amount of contact explosive.
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Cut strips of newspaper 1 1/2 inches wide and 1 foot long. Cut a piece of
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string 1 foot long. Put a small amount of wet contact explosive on the strip of
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paper 1 inch from the end. Double the string. Now pull one end of the string
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back until there is a double loop in the string about 1 inch long. Do not tie.
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Lay this double loop across the wet contact explosive and tightly roll the
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paper and glue the end. Put away for a few days until thoroughly dry. When dry,
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pull the ends of the string and the booby trap will explode. The strings, when
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pulled, rub against the dry contact explosive, and make it explode.
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Getting The Materials
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There are quite a few chemical supply houses that you can mail order the
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materials you need. You'll have to sign a form stating that you're over 21 and
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won't use the chemicals for the types of things we're learning here. Note that
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the people who run these supply houses know what Iodine Crystals and Ammonium
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Hydroxide can do when mixed together, and if you order both from the same
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place, or in the same order, it may arouse some suspicion.
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Check the classified ads in the back of magazines like Popular Science for the
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current supply houses. Order as many catalogs as you can find. Not all sell
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every chemical that you may want for this series. Also, you can break the
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orders up so as not to look suspicious. Lastly, some houses are used to selling
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to individuals, and will provide chemicals in 1 or 4 ounce lots, while others
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prefer to sell to large institutions, and sell their wares in 1 or 5 pound
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jugs. Split up your orders according to the quantities of each item you think
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you will be needing. An ounce of Iodine Crystals will cost three or four
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dollars an ounce, and an ounce bottle of iodine is pretty tiny, but it goes a
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long way. If you had to buy that by the pound, you might just want to forget
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the whole thing.
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Title: Pyro. & Exp. Part 2
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Date: 11/1/87
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Time: 2:24 pm
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PYRO2.TXT Touch Paper, Self Igniting Mixtures, Percussion Explosives
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This is part of a series of files on pyrotechnics and explosives. It's serious
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stuff, and can be really dangerous if you don't treat it seriously. For you
|
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kids out there who watch too many cartoons, remember that if a part of your
|
|
body gets blown away in the REAL world, it STAYS blown away. If you can't
|
|
treat this stuff with respect, don't screw around with it.
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|
|
Each file will start with a set of safety rules. Don't skip over them. Read
|
|
'em and MEMORIZE 'em!! At the beginning, there will be a set of general rules
|
|
that always apply. Then there will be some things that you HAVE TO KNOW about
|
|
the materials you will be using and making this time. Read it thoroughly
|
|
before starting anything.
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|
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Pyrotechnic preparations and explosives are, by their very nature, unstable,
|
|
and subject to ignition by explosion or heat, shock, or friction. A clear
|
|
understanding of their dangerous properties and due care in the handling of
|
|
ingredients or finished products is necessary if accidents are to be avoided.
|
|
Always observe all possible precautions, particularly the following:
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We will be using many more chemicals this time, and some can be quite
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dangerous. Please read the following information carefully.
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Sodium Azide - NaN
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3
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This white powder is very poisonous. It is also a bit unstable, so treat it
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gently.
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Lead Nitrate - Pb(NO )
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3 2
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This contains poisonous lead and is very water soluble so your body will
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absorb it quickly, given the chance. The government has banned leaded paints
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and is phasing out leaded gasoline because the stuff slowly accumulates in
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your body and can screw up all sorts of important innards. If you are careless
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with Lead Nitrate you can do a few lifetimes' worth of damage in one
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afternoon.
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Ammonium Nitrate - NH NO
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4 3
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Commonly used as fertilizer, this stuff is somewhat dangerous in large
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quantities, particularly if it gets very hot. (Entire shiploads of this
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material have been known to go up all at once.) When heated gently, it
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decomposes into water and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Farmers sometimes use
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it to blow up tree stumps by mixing it with fuel oil and setting the gunk off
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with a detonator. We'll have a very different use for it here.
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Potassium Nitrate - KNO
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3
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Also known as saltpeter, this is commercially used as a diuretic for animals.
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It also works as an oxidizing agent in various pyrotechnic mixtures. That is,
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when heated it provides the oxygen needed to make the rest of the mixture
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burn.
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Potassium Potassium
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Nitrate Nitrite Oxygen
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2KNO ---> 2KNO + O
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3 2 2
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Potassium Chlorate - KClO
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3
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A much more spectacular oxidizing agent than Potassium Nitrate. It not only
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yields more oxygen than Potassium Nitrate, it does so more easily. Pyrotechnic
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mixtures containing this chemical will require much less of it, and yet burn
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more fiercely. Even percussion can readily set the mixtures off. This can be
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useful, but it sometimes makes the mixtures more sensitive than you'd like.
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Mixtures containing this chemical must be handled carefully. Potassium
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Chlorate is also poisonous.
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Potassium Potassium
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Chlorate Chloride Oxygen
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2KClO ---> 2KCl + 3O
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3 2
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Aluminum Dust
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Very finely divided aluminum. When put in a glass jar, it almost looks like a
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solid piece of grey metal. In this form it is flammable. Also, it can
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seriously damage your lungs if you inhale it. Be careful not to stir up any
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clouds of dust, and it goes without saying that you shouldn't use it near an
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open flame.
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Zinc Dust
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Very finely divided zinc. Not quite as flammable as Aluminum Dust, but still
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worth handling carefully. Can also damage your lungs if inhaled.
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Lampblack
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This is very finely divided carbon, usually obtained as a soot from other
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manufacturing processes. It is much more effective in pyrotechnic mixtures
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than powdered charcoal. Tiny spots of this are almost unnoticeable, but they
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stick to your hands and smear incredibly far. If you're not very tidy you
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should expect to find black smears all over your face and hands after using
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this.
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Sulfur
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A yellow powder used as a reducing agent in many pyrotechnic mixtures. Buy
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this in the finely powdered form. You can also get it in hard lumps, but these
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will just waste extra time as you have to grind them yourself.
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Potassium Permanganate
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An oxidizing agent that's somewhat less vigorous than others mentioned here.
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Not usually used in pyrotechnic mixtures because it's more expensive and less
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effective than some of the alternatives. There are a few cases when it's just
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the right thing. Don't let this accidentally come in contact with glycerine.
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If such an accident happens, the resulting mess should be immediately wiped up
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with wet paper towels and buried or flushed down a toilet. It should NOT be
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thrown away in a dry waste receptacle!!!
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Gum Arabic
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A white powder which is mixed with water to make a glue like substance. Useful
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for coating various mixtures or binding them together into a solid mass.
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Sodium Peroxide
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A very strange and dangerous oxidizer. Don't let it get wet and don't let it
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touch your skin.
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Glycerine
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A thick liquid, chemically similar to rubbing alcohol. Though harder to get
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burning, it will burn in the right circumstances. Fairly safe stuff.
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Iodine Crystals
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Pure Iodine is a steel grey solid, which is poisonous and which produses
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poisonous vapors when heated. Smells similar to the chlorine used in bleaches
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and swimming pools. If you accidentally should drop some on a hot surface and
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notice the odor, you should leave the area.
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Touch Paper
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This is an easily made material that acts like a slow burning fuse and is
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ideal for testing small amounts of a pyrotechnic mixture. It is made by
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soaking a piece of absorbent paper, like a paper towel, in a saturated
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solution of Potassium Nitrate. (A saturated solution means that you have
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dissolved as much of the chemical in water as is possible.) Hang the paper up
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to dry, and be sure to wipe up any drips. When dry it is ready. Cut off a
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small strip and light the edge to see how different it acts from ordinary
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paper. This will ignite all but the most stubborn mixtures, and will ignite
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gunpowder, which will in turn ignite most anything else.
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Don't dip the towel in the Potassium Nitrate solution a second time to try to
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make it "stronger". This will actually make it less effective. Some of the
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fancier paper towels don't work too well for this. Best results are obtained
|
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from the cheap folded paper towels found in public restrooms everywhere.
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Self Igniting Mixtures
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Pulverize 1 gram of Potassium Permanganate crystals and place them on an
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asbestos board or in an earthenware vessel. Let 2-3 drops of glycerine fall
|
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onto the Potassium Permanganate. The mixture will eventually sizzle and then
|
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flare. Potassium Permanganate is the oxidizing agent. The glycerine is
|
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oxidized so quickly that heat is generated faster than it can be dissipated.
|
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Consequently, the glycerine is ignited. Because this mixture takes so long to
|
|
catch on fire, it is sometimes useful when a time delay is needed to set off
|
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some other mixture. If you lose patience with this test, DO NOT THROW THE
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MIXTURE AWAY IN A WASTEBASKET!!! Either bury it or flush it down a toilet. I
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|
know of at least one house fire that was started because this was not done.
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Given time, this stuff WILL start to burn.
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This demonstration produces a very nice effect, but sends out a lot of
|
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poisonous fumes, so do it outside. Make a mound of equal volumes of iodine
|
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crystals and aluminum dust. Make a small indentation at the top of the mound
|
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and add a drop or two of water and move away. It will hiss and burst into
|
|
flame, generating thick purple smoke. The fumes are Iodine vapor which is
|
|
very caustic, so make sure you are upwind of the fire. Since this is set off
|
|
by moisture, you should not store the mixed material. Mix it immediately
|
|
before you plan to use it.
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Shred a small piece of newspaper and place on it a small amount of sodium
|
|
peroxide. Add two drops of hot water. The paper will be ignited. CAUTION: Keep
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|
Sodium Peroxide from moisture and out of contact with organic materials (your
|
|
skin, for example.)
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Ammonium Nitrate, 5 grams, 1 gram of Ammonium Chloride. Grind these
|
|
SEPARATELY, and add 1/4 gram of zinc dust. Form a cone and add 2-4 drops of
|
|
water. A bright blue flame with large volumes of smoke forms. Depending on the
|
|
quality of your zinc dust, you may need to increase the quantity of zinc.
|
|
Since this is ignited by moisture, you should not attempt to store this
|
|
mixture.
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Percussion Explosives
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This section will not only introduce a couple of mixtures with interesting
|
|
possibilities, but it will also demonstrate how sensitive mixtures containing
|
|
Potassium Chlorate can be. Keep in mind that Chlorate mixtures can be a LOT
|
|
more sensitive than the ones shown here.
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Mix 1 part by weight of Sulfur, and 3 parts Potassium Chlorate. Each should be
|
|
ground separately in a mortar. They should be mixed lightly without any
|
|
pressure on a sheet of paper. A small amount of this mixture (less than one
|
|
gram!!) placed on a hard surface and struck with a hammer will explode with a
|
|
loud report.
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Mix the following parts by weight, the same way as above,
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Potassium Chlorate 6
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Lampblack 4
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Sulfur 1
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Both of these mixtures are flammable. Mix small quantities only.
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Lead Azide Pb(N )
|
|
3 2
|
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|
Unlike many explosives that must be enclosed in a casing to explode, and
|
|
others that require a detonator to set them off, Lead Azide will explode in
|
|
open air, either due to heat or percussion. Mixed with gum arabic glue, tiny
|
|
dots of it are placed under match heads to make trick exploding matches. The
|
|
same mixture coated onto 1/2 " wood splinters are used to "load" cigars. In
|
|
larger amounts, it is used as a detonator. A moderately light tap will set it
|
|
off, making it much more sensitive than the percussion explosives already
|
|
mentioned. It is very easy to make.
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Take about 1.3 grams of sodium azide and dissolve it in water. It's best not
|
|
to use any more water than necessary. In a separate container, dissolve about
|
|
3.3 grams of Lead Nitrate, again only using as much water as needed to get it
|
|
to dissolve. When the two clear liquids are mixed, a white precipitate of Lead
|
|
Azide will settle out of the mixture. Add the Lead Nitrate solution, while
|
|
stirring, until no more Lead Azide precipitates out. You may not need to use
|
|
it all. Note that the above weights are given only for your convenience if you
|
|
have the necessary scales, and give the approximate proportions needed. You
|
|
need only continue to mix the solutions until no more precipitate forms.
|
|
|
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The precipitate is filtered out and rinsed several times with distilled water.
|
|
It is a good idea to store this in its wet form, as it is less sensitive this
|
|
way. It's best not to store it if possible, but if you do, you should keep it
|
|
in a flexible plastic container that wont produce sharp fragments in case of
|
|
an explosion. (NO MORE THAN A GRAM AT A TIME !!!!) Also, make sure that the
|
|
mouth of the container is wiped CLEAN before putting the lid on. Just the
|
|
shock of removing the lid is enough to set off the dry powder if it is wedged
|
|
between the container and the stopper. Don't forget that after you've removed
|
|
the precipitate from the filter paper, there will still be enough left to make
|
|
the filter paper explosive.
|
|
|
|
Lead Azide is very powerful as well as very sensitive. Never make more than a
|
|
couple of grams at one time.
|
|
|
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Reaction Equations
|
|
|
|
Lead Sodium Lead Sodium
|
|
Nitrate Azide Azide Nitrate
|
|
|
|
Pb(NO ) + 2NaN ---> Pb(N ) + 2NaNO
|
|
3 2 3 3 2 3
|
|
|
|
Don't try to salvage the Sodium Nitrate that's left over (dissolved in the
|
|
water). Sodium nitrate is cheap, not really useful for good pyrotechnics, and
|
|
this batch will be contaminated with poisonous lead. It's worthless stuff.
|
|
Dump it out.
|
|
|
|
To demonstrate the power of a little bit of Lead Azide, cut out a piece of
|
|
touch paper in the following shape
|
|
|
|
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|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
! !
|
|
! !
|
|
! ---------------
|
|
! !
|
|
! ---------------
|
|
! !
|
|
! !
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Where the size of the wide rectangle is no more than one inch x 1/2 inch, and
|
|
the length of the little fuse is at least 3/4 inch. Apply a thin layer of wet
|
|
Lead Azide to the large rectangle with a paint brush and let it dry
|
|
thoroughly. When done, set this tester out in the open, light the fuse at the
|
|
very tip and step back. If done properly, the tiny bit of white powder will
|
|
produce a fairly loud explosion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Lead Azide Booby Trap
|
|
|
|
Get some string that's heavy enough so that it won't break when jerked hard. A
|
|
couple of feet is enough to test this out. You may want to use a longer piece
|
|
depending on what you plan to do with this. Fold a small "Z" shape in the
|
|
center of the string, as shown in figure 1. The middle section of the "Z"
|
|
should be about one inch long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------.
|
|
.
|
|
.
|
|
.
|
|
--------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Figure 1. Fold string into a small Z
|
|
|
|
Next, twist the Z portion together as tightly as you can. Don't worry if it
|
|
unwinds a bit when you let go, but it should still stay twisted closely
|
|
together. If it doesn't, you will need a different kind of string. Figure 2
|
|
tries to show what this will look like.
|
|
|
|
-------------//////////////////-----------------
|
|
|
|
Figure 2. Twist the Z portion tightly
|
|
|
|
Next, apply some wet Lead Azide to the twisted portion with a paint brush. The
|
|
Lead Azide should have a bit of Gum Arabic in it to make it sticky. Cut
|
|
out a piece of paper, two inches by 6 inches long, wrap it around the twisted
|
|
portion, and glue the end on so that it stays put. You should now have a two
|
|
inch narrow paper tube with a string sticking out each end, as shown in figure
|
|
3.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
! !
|
|
----------! !-------------------
|
|
! !
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
|
|
Figure 3. The completed Booby Trap
|
|
|
|
You should now set the booby trap aside for at least two weeks so that the
|
|
Lead Azide inside can dry completely. Don't try to speed up the process by
|
|
heating it. When the two ends of the string are jerked hard, the friction in
|
|
the wound up string will set off the Lead Azide. The booby trap can be
|
|
attatched to doors, strung out as tripwires, or set up in any other situation
|
|
that will cause a quick pull on the strings. Be careful not to use too much
|
|
Lead Azide. A little will go a long way. Before trying this on an unsuspecting
|
|
soul, make a test booby trap as explained here, tie one end to a long rope,
|
|
and set it off from a distance.
|
|
|
|
The paper wound around the booby trap serves two purposes. It keeps the Lead
|
|
Azide from flaking off, and it pads the stuff so it will be less likely to get
|
|
set off accidentally. A good vigorous swat will still set it off though, so
|
|
store these separately and keep them padded well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Getting The Chemicals
|
|
|
|
As always, be sure to use your brains when ordering chemicals from a lab
|
|
supply house. Those people KNOW what Sodium Azide and Lead Nitrate make when
|
|
mixed together. They also know that someone who orders a bunch of chlorates,
|
|
nitrates, metal dusts, sulfur, and the like, probably has mischeif in mind,
|
|
and they keep records. So break your orders up, order from different supply
|
|
houses, get some friends to order some of the materials, and try to order the
|
|
things long before you plan do do anything with them. It's a pain, and the
|
|
multiple orders cost a lot in extra shipping charges, but that's what it costs
|
|
to cover your tracks. DO it!
|
|
|
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[0;32;1mLeeched from The Forbidden Passage (713) 774-0449
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[0;32;1m
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[0;1m/es
|
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/es
|
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Leached off SSC (713) 497-2312
|
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