Random Thought Thread

TRfromMT said:
I remember 10th grade chemistry. Teacher mixed up about a half cup of Thermite (aluminum powder and iron oxide?) And lit it off out in the parking lot as a demonstration. Students were in a circle, about 60 ft around. I remember feeling the heat off that from 30 ft away. Good lord those were the days.

Made our own hunting knives andeather sheaths in shop class. Still have that knife.

Then one time the teacher got pissed at one student and super glued his fingers together. But that's another story...
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Yep. Aluminum + iron oxide = thermite.

Experimented with the stuff in HS. Wanted to see how much it would take to burn through an old padlock. Small padlock turned into slag :p
 
bluemax_1 said:
Yep. Aluminum + iron oxide = thermite.

Experimented with the stuff in HS. Wanted to see how much it would take to burn through an old padlock. Small padlock turned into slag :p
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My chemistry teacher told a story of it being used to burn through German tanks in WWII. A small bucket of it set on top of a tank would burn through to the ground and incinerate those inside. No idea if that's true or not, but it's how I remember the story.
 
TRfromMT said:
My chemistry teacher told a story of it being used to burn through German tanks in WWII. A small bucket of it set on top of a tank would burn through to the ground and incinerate those inside. No idea if that's true or not, but it's how I remember the story.
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The coincidence is funny.

I remember watching the news footage of freedom fighters lob Molotov cocktails at invading Russian tanks right around the time I was messing with thermite, and thinking, "Those Rooskies are lucky they don't have nutters like me. I'd teach everybody how to make thermite".
 
bluemax_1 said:
Buying a baggie of magnesium shavings? Don't they sell those magnesium fire starter blocks where you are?

P.S.
What is it with 99% of the contestants on Survivor, smacking the flint rod with the knife, to light the pile of shavings? Do none of them understand the concept of scraping the blade down the flint rod? Much better shower of sparks, AND you don't risk breaking the flint rod (which I've seen them do, including during the $1,000,000 firemaking challenge at the end). Why would you NOT practice all this before going on a show where you're competing for $1,000,000?
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The shavings light really good with a Bic. Try it. Making my own shavings with a CPK; not gonna happen!
 
bluemax_1 said:
Oh, I don't doubt they light easily and burn well, I just meant one of those magnesium fire starter blocks will make a lot of shavings for ~$3.
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But then I have to sit around and make then collect shavings. I don't even have a knife I'd be willing to sacrifice, and for I think $9 I bought a bag probably 5-6 years ago that is still 3/4 full. They were from a machine shop that sold them as a value add from some magnesium work they were doing. It's not a bad plan really.
 
VashHash said:
Does not work like in the movies.
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No kidding. I shot a full BBQ tank with a .300 weatherby mag when I was a teenager. Huge disappointment having the propane spew out with no explosion.
Me and my friend shot tracers through cans of ether and other solvents, nothing.
What does work is API ammo for our 50bmg.
I have a video of blowing up a propane tank and destroying various other stuff. For some reason my friend had to shoot a teddy bear soaked in kerosene...
 
Richard338 said:
No kidding. I shot a full BBQ tank with a .300 weatherby mag when I was a teenager. Huge disappointment having the propane spew out with no explosion.
Me and my friend shot tracers through cans of ether and other solvents, nothing.
What does work is API ammo for our 50bmg.
I have a video of blowing up a propane tank and destroying various other stuff. For some reason my friend had to shoot a teddy bear soaked in kerosene...
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API or if you really wanna get frisky, MK211 :D
 
Richard338 said:
No kidding. I shot a full BBQ tank with a .300 weatherby mag when I was a teenager. Huge disappointment having the propane spew out with no explosion.
Me and my friend shot tracers through cans of ether and other solvents, nothing.
What does work is API ammo for our 50bmg.
I have a video of blowing up a propane tank and destroying various other stuff. For some reason my friend had to shoot a teddy bear soaked in kerosene...
Click to expand...

Back in 2006, up north of Cincinnati, there was a guy with some land who for $5 would let you shoot anthing you wanted out there. Full auto was fairly common. .50 cal incindiary raounds and propane tanks happenend. It was spectacular.

We chained down the tank with a length of logging chain through the flange and then to a semi truck tire that was laying around. We lit a small camp fire about 5' away from the tank, then went back to our shooting stand about 400 yards back. See? It was all safe and proper. Propane tank couldn't go spiraling off. Fire to ensure ignition (can't be polluting with unburned hydrocarbons). Good safe distance away. We thought of everything.

I want to say the fireball was a good 100' in diameter. It went up a couple hundred feet and looked like we were out at the Bikini Atoll.

The smaller camp stove canisters were good too.
 
TRfromMT said:
Back in 2006, up north of Cincinnati, there was a guy with some land who for $5 would let you shoot anthing you wanted out there. Full auto was fairly common. .50 cal incindiary raounds and propane tanks happenend. It was spectacular.

We chained down the tank with a length of logging chain through the flange and then to a semi truck tire that was laying around. We lit a small camp fire about 5' away from the tank, then went back to our shooting stand about 400 yards back. See? It was all safe and proper. Propane tank couldn't go spiraling off. Fire to ensure ignition (can't be polluting with unburned hydrocarbons). Good safe distance away. We thought of everything.

I want to say the fireball was a good 100' in diameter. It went up a couple hundred feet and looked like we were out at the Bikini Atoll.

The smaller camp stove canisters were good too.
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Nice! I went to a couple of the machine gun shoots they had in Eden VT around 2005. Some pretty wild stuff. What kind of gun is that? Oh, General Electric.
( They had some motorized Gatlings)
You could give some of the guys $20 to dump a clip from an HK51 or similar.
 
bluemax_1 said:
The coincidence is funny.

I remember watching the news footage of freedom fighters lob Molotov cocktails at invading Russian tanks right around the time I was messing with thermite, and thinking, "Those Rooskies are lucky they don't have nutters like me. I'd teach everybody how to make thermite".
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Shoot me a pm
 
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