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* Black Star's Library *
* File #37             *
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The pyrotechnic's guide to explosives pt 1

 +====================================+
 !     THE PYROTECHNIC'S GUIDE TO     !
 !          EXPLOSIVES PART  1        !
 !                                    !
 !          BROUGHT TO YOU BY:        !
 !             WIZARD 2000            !
 !       AND THE THIEVES OF THORIA    !
 !                                    !
 +====================================+

  I. SODIUM CHLORATE
     MATERIALS:
     -2, 1 IN DIAMETER X 5 IN LONG CARBON OR LEAD RODS
     -SALT
     -DILUTED SULFURIC ACID (FROM CP(BATTERIES)-CAR BATTERY (STILL IN CAR)
     -WATER
     -2, 6 FT, 16 GAUGE WIRES
     -GASOLINE

     1. MIX 1/2 CUP SALT WITH 3 QUARTS WATER IN A 1 GALLON JAR
     2. ADD 2 TEASPOONS OF SULFURIC (CAR BATTERY) ACID WITH THE
        SALT WATER AND STIR VIGOROUSLY FOR 5 MIUTES
     3. STRIP ABOUT 4 INCHES OFF BOTH ENDS OF THE 2 WIRES
     4. SHAPE 2 STICKS TO STRIPS OF WOOD 1'' X 1/8'' X 1 1/2''. TIE
        THE STRIPS OF WOOD TO THE CARBON/LEAD RODS SO THAT THE
        RODS ARE 1 1/2'' APART
     5. CONNECTS THE RODS TO THE CAR BATTERY WITH THE 16 GAUGE WIRE
        SUCH THAT THE POSITIVE LEAD IS CONNECTED TO ONE ROD WHILE THE
        NEGATIVE LEAD IS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ROD
     6. SUBMERGE THE RODS 4 1/2'' INTO THE SALT WATER SOLUTION
     7. RUN THE CAR FOR 2 HOURS, THEN TURN IT OFF FOR ANOTHER 2 HOURS
     8. REPEAT THIS PROCESS FOR A TOTAL OF 64 HOURS (32 HOURS TOTAL
        RUNNING, 32 HOURS TOTAL OFF.)
     9. REMOVE THE RODS FROM THE WATER AND DISCONNECT THE WIRES FROM
        THE BATTERY
    10. DRAPE A HEAVY CLOTH OVER A FLAT PAN
    11. POUR THE LIQUID OVER THE CLOTH, LEAVING THE SEDIMENT IN THE
        BOTTOM OF THE JAR
    12. REMOVE THE CLOTH AND ALLOW THE WATER IN THE PAN 16 HOURS TO
        EVAPORATE AT ROOM TEMP. THE RESULTING RESIDUE IS AT LEAST
        60% SODIUM CHLORATE, GOOD ENOUGH FOR OUR PURPOSES

 II. PLASTIQUE
     MATERIALS:
     -POTASSIUM CHLORATE (BEST) OR SODIUM CHLORATE IF YOU CAN'T
         GET POTASSIUM CHLORATE (NOTE POTASSIUM CHLORATE IS
         AVAILIBLE AT DRUG STORES AS SALT PETER)
     -VASELINE

     1. SPREAD CHLORATE OVER HARD SURFACE AND GRIND TO A FLOUR
        LIKE POWDER
     2. MIX 9 PARTS POTASSIUM/SODIUM CHLORATE TO 1 PART VASELINE 
        AND KNEAD IT INTO A PASTE IN A LARGE MIXING BOWL.

     FORM OF IGNITION:
     BLASTING CAPS (SEE PART 3, I)

III. POTASSIUM NITRATE

     MATERIALS:
     -3 1/2 GALLONS SOIL CONTAINING OLD DECAYED ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE
         MATTER
     -1/2 CUP BURNT PAPER
     -1 3/4 GALLONS WATER
     -1 GALLON RUBBING ALCOHOL

     1. PUNCH HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF A LARGE BUCKET WITH AN ICE PICK
        OR SIMILAR OBJECT.
     2. SPREAD A PIECE OF LIGHTLY WOVEN CLOTH OVER THE BOTTOM INNSIDE
        OF THE BUCKET
     3. LAY THE ASHES OVER THE CLOTH THEN PLACE ANOTHER PIECE OF
        LIGHTLY WOVEN CLOTH OVER IT.
     4. FILL THE REST OF THE BUCKET WITH THE DIRT.
     5. PLACE THE BUCKET OVER A SHALLOW PAN.
     6. BOIL THE WATER AND POUR IT OVER INTO THE BUCKET A LITTLE
        AT A TIME SO THAT IT DRAINS INTO THE PAN THROUGH THE HOLES.
        LET IT SETTLE FOR 1 OR 2 HOURS.
     7. POUR THE LIQUID INTO A HEAT RESISTANT CANISTER. DISCARD ANY
        SLUDGE LEFT. 
     8. BOIL THE LIQUID FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. SMALL GRAINS OF SALT
        SHOULD APPEAR. SCOOP THESE OUT AS YOU SEE THEM.
     9. WHEN THE LIQUID HAS BOILED DOWN TO ABOUT HALF ITS ORIGINAL
        SIZE, REMOVE IT FROM THE FIRE. LET IT SET FOR ABOUT HALF AN
        HOUR.
    10. TAPE SOME PAPER OVER ANOTHER BUCKET. POUR THE LIQUID OVER
        THE PAPER. THE SMALL WHITE CRYSTALS WHICH REMAIN IS THE
        POTASSIUM NITRATE 

 IV. GUN POWDER

     MATERIALS:
     -3 CUPS GRANULATED POTASSIUM NITRATE
     -2 CUPS POWDERED CHARCOAL
     -1/2 CUP SULFUR
     -5 PINTS RUBBING ALCOHOL
     -3 CUPS WATER

     1. PLACE THE ALCOHOL IN A 2 GALLON BUCKET.
     2. PLACE POTASSIUM NITRATE, CHARCOAL, AND SULFUR IN A HEAT
        RESISTANT 2 GALLON BUCKET. ADD 1 CUP OF WATER AND MIX VERY
        THOROUGHLY UNTIL ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS ARE DISSOLVED.
     3. ADD 2 MORE CUPS OF WATER THEN PLACE THE BUCKET OVER AN OPEN
        FIRE AND STR UNTIL YOU SEE SMALL BUBBLES FORMING.
     4. REMOVE THE BUCKET FROM THE FIRE AND POUR ITS CONTENTS INTO
        THE ALCOHOL BUCKET WHILE STIRRING.
     5. LET THE MIXTURE SET FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. STRAIN THE LIQUID
        THROUGH A THICK CLOTH, THEN SQUEEZE THE CLOTH IN SUCH A WAY
        THAT THE POWDER LEFT ON IT IS FORMED INTO A GOOD SIZE CLUMP.
     6. PLACE SOME SCREENING OVER A DRY BUCKET, AND RUB THE CLUMP
        OF POWDER OVER IT.
     7. POUR THE POWDER IN THE BUCKET OVER SOME SUN-STRIKEN CEMENT
        TO DRY. REMOVE FROM SUN AS SOON AS IT'S DRY. YOU NOW HAVE
        ABOUT 2 POUNDS OF GUN POWDER.
