Posted: 9/20/2007 9:20:07 AM EDT
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I remember being fascinated by what thermite was capable of ever since I first heard about it as a kid. The stuff is impressive, to be sure. We've all seen the videos on the net of it burning through 50gal drums, hoods of cars all the way through the engine blocks, etc... Now I know that stuff that you can shoot that goes "bang" is popular here (I'm embarrassed I can't remember the name of the stuff, someone help me out here) so I figure something like thermite would be the cats ass among this crowd. Is it legal to make a little thermite on your own for some "backyard" fun? (by backyard I mean multiple acres of land where your neighbors won't be calling DHS or the ATF b/c they think you're some Michigan Militia nut). Is it even possible to make on your own even if it is legal? What I mean is, are the ingredients available to civilians legally and is it within the realm of someone who has studied it to synthesize w/out some laboratory? I guess what I really want to know is if it is legal to make and if it is how one would do so and if anyone here had done so and had some fun doing it and if they made a cool video of such fun? PS: Put the tin foil hat back in the cabinet... I don't work for the government. 
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I used to sell it on eBay before they stopped allowing it. I still have about 50lbs. It's perfectly legal. Don't get it from unitednuclear.com. They charge amazingly high prices for it, and it's very gritty (I haven't personally used it, but I saw a video of it). They charge $2/oz. I used to sell it for $10/lb, and it was fine as flour. Don't get me wrong, UN.com is an awesome site, but some of the things they sell are way too overpriced. I got the ingredients for my thermite from eBay. Ebay is definitely the way to go. Just buy black or red iron oxide and fine aluminum powder, mix in 1:3 Al:FexOx, and light it with magnesium, or with a mixture of 1:3:6 S:Al:KNO3 and a fuse. That powder mixture burns hot enough to ignite thermite, and is cheap to make. It also burns incredibly bright. I made a 1cm. tube of the powder, and it cast a distinct shadow onto trees about 75 feet away! I have a few videos of my thermite on YouTube, but I can't access the site right now. My YouTube name is Greenhorn82, so you can look it up. I have a bunch of other chemistry videos too. |