8 replies to this topic

[GuiltyCol]

For some reason this post gives me the feeling of impending flaming from the esteemed members of this forum, but here goes anyway:


I was chatting to a mate last night and talking about my fledgling interest in pyrotechnics etc, and he suggested I look at this:

The Big Book of Mischief main site here

Of specific interest were the sections on mixing some chemicals to make others that were more useful, e.g. ammonium perchlorate from perchloric acid and ammonium hydroxide, where it claims that perchloric acid can be obtained openly from chemical wholesalers and ammonium hydroxide can be found in CLEAR household ammonia available from your local supermarket!

I've searched these forums for "Mischief" and got a single unrelated hit, so I'm asking myself, is this:

• a previously unknown resource that would be useful to the members here?
• dangerous rubbish that should be deleted on sight?
• something that could be of use, providing it's wrapped with appropriate safety instructions

Opinions?

[Rhodri]

Hi

* A small amount of flame has been generated..... *

This is NOT a good resource.

[GuiltyCol]

Lol @ Rhodri. That's the answer I was expecting, would you mind enlightening me as to why? By understand what your objections are, I will start to learn where the boundaries of safety and sensibility are. Thanks.

[Richard H]

Well the title says it all. 'The Big Book of Mischief'. It is best to learn from recognised literature like Lancasters P&P, or IPP.

Any publication referring to b*mbs in its content should not be regarded as something worthy of reading in my opinion. We are interested in fireworks here, not information useful to osama bin-liner and his terrorist cronies!

[Steve]

Perchloric acid - LMAO
If you could get hold of that stuff, and get it posted without a problem, then you'd have to be the sort of person that wouldn't be needing it to make Potassium perchlorate from.

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Now I have stopped laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of using perchloric acid I shall quote from Mellors inorganic chemistry:
Perchloric acid is a volatile colourless fuming liquid; specific gravity 1.764 at 22?C, boils at 19? under pressure of 11 mm Hg, and freezes at -112? to a crystalline solid. If a drop of the acid be brought in contact with paper or wood, instant and violent inflammation occurs; if a drop of the acid be brought in contact with charcoal, a violent explosion occurs. [snip] the pure acid is also said to be liable to darken and to explode after standing some days.
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There is no useful information in the big book of mischief, the anarchist cookbook or any similar document.

[Mumbles]

It is very rare to have anhyrous Perchloric Acid which is what is described by steve. Even in industry or chemical research, it is rare for it to be used unless where absolutly neccesary. Generally, it is used as it's azeotrope which I believe is 70%. It is much more sane at this concentration. It is actually pretty labor intensive, not to mention dangerous, to make anhydrous. I have worked with 70%, and I was still scared. It is one of those things you throw away everything it touches out of safety.

[GuiltyCol]

Lol, I have *ALOT* to learn.

[fishy1]

the big book of mischief i think has how to make pipe b**bs in it, and also a few things with flash such as hammering it. it could well have info on how to ram AP(the naughty type), none of these are good ideas.

[BigG]

The discussed publication have so many errors in it, so many references to unstable chemicals, so many mixtures that are likely to blow in your face, that it is not even worth the discussion. Also note that we do not allow the discussion of High Explosives or any other items with intent to destroy property or lives.

For beginner material, search beginner questions thread. Or beginner?s books. There are some excellent references.