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

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

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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.

Please have a look through some of our related articles:

• guide to getting even
• The Improvised Munitions Black Book, Section V (Part III)
• NITRIC ACID
• The Improvised Munitions Black Book, Section V (Part I)
• THE FIRST BOOK OF [ PYROMANIACS ]