How can the thermite experiment be done safely (may be wrong forum)? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

mike3 · 07-15-2009, 10:20 PM

Hi.

I am not at all sure if this belongs in this section, I'm only posting it here because that's where the original thread was posted. I saw this post in an old thread on this forum titled "Thermite". You'll have to google it as I can't post a link yet (not enough post count).

From "Lebell":
"I would STRONGLY encourage everyone to NOT do this at home.

Far too many amature chemists end up hurting themselves and others.

Yes, I do have professional training and I do know EXACTLY what I am talking about."

But would it take a huge amount of super-expensive training just to understand how to do this one thing safely? Is it that subtle? Because I'm curious about this stuff, and I've toyed with the idea of experimenting with it, but I'd want to do it as safely as possible. And where would one get this training? Finally, what would be a better place to do it other than at home?

Plan9 · 07-15-2009, 10:48 PM

Oh, heh... I'd imagine the whole "Don't do this at home." thing is a catchy way of saying "Don't do this! Period."

That being said, Thermite/Thermate is fun if you're in the military attending some school and wanna melt steel.

The old US Army Sapper Leader Course used to do a block of instruction on it. Rumor has it that got axed, though.

Zeraph · 07-15-2009, 11:00 PM

That shit is scary. I'd stay away from it. I can only imagine what it'd do to flesh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

The_Jazz · 07-16-2009, 05:06 AM

Maybe you can get on-the-job training at an explosives demolition contractor. That's about the only civilian application that I can think of. Anything else is going to be military, so there are your choices: join up or get a new job.

And look at it this way: any error you make with this stuff is going to be catastrophic. That means you're dead, injured or homeless. And possibly your neighbors too, if they're close enough. Lebell's a very smart guy, and he gave some VERY good advice.

JamesB · 07-16-2009, 05:17 AM

Its not actually -that- dangerous.

I've worked with it before in a non-civvy capacity as well as "for fun". Termite used to be employed in rail-way tie jointing, as well as some special ground wire bonding applications for antennas and Faraday cages.
Its not rocket science. The main concern is splashing of molten steel really .. but aside from that, its not explosive - it just burns really, really hot.

If you -really- are going to experiment with it, just do some research at your local library and be sure you are comfortable with what you are doing. Safety considerations would be to use a crucible (clay pot) to contain the reaction and/or direct the slug, remote ignition (or fused) using magnesium strip or the preferred barium nitrate, and experiment location.

Having said all that, you of course take all responsibility for your actions. Just because people say its not as dangerous as some make it out to be doesn't absolve you of your own responsibility.

Redlemon · 07-16-2009, 06:28 AM

Thermite - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

For the lazy, here's the original thread. Perhaps a mod could drop it into the original post.

Plan9 · 07-16-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesB

Its not actually -that- dangerous.

Hey, neither is driving a car or operating a firearm.

Zeraph · 07-16-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

Thermite - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

For the lazy, here's the original thread. Perhaps a mod could drop it into the original post.

Not that I posted this but I wouldn't call him lazy. I just tried doing two identical searches (as far as I could tell) and not only got two different results, but neither contained the thread you mentioned.

Redlemon · 07-16-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeraph

Not that I posted this but I wouldn't call him lazy. I just tried doing two identical searches (as far as I could tell) and not only got two different results, but neither contained the thread you mentioned.

Oh, just to be clear, I didn't call mike3 lazy. He's a new poster, he's not allowed to post links yet. I was just saving time for anyone who kind of wondered what thread he was posting about, but didn't feel like trying to find it on their own.

Also, just FYI, if you search on Google, that thread is the first hit for tfp thermite.

SSJTWIZTA · 07-16-2009, 01:42 PM

stick in a stick of magnesium, light that with a torch, and run the fuck away.

avoid using water or ice to put the shit out....unless you want to see a gnarly explosion.

mike3 · 07-20-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

Maybe you can get on-the-job training at an explosives demolition contractor. That's about the only civilian application that I can think of. Anything else is going to be military, so there are your choices: join up or get a new job.

And look at it this way: any error you make with this stuff is going to be catastrophic. That means you're dead, injured or homeless. And possibly your neighbors too, if they're close enough. Lebell's a very smart guy, and he gave some VERY good advice.

But since it _is_ worked with then there _must_ be a way to do it safely, and that's what I'd want to find out. And how would an _explosive_ demolition contractor be where to go, when thermite is not actually an explosive? What I'd like to know is what sort of "professional training" that guy had, how much of it is required specifically for the thermite, and so on.

Plan9 · 07-20-2009, 06:39 AM

Mike3, it's obvious you're about as skilled with explosives as TheJazz. But it appears that the TheJazz has more common sense when it comes to dealing with materials that represent a safety hazard. Probably because he has children and they live in a city where they can get incendiary munitions on the playground next to crack rocks and scratched Bananarama CDs. He keeps spare thermite grenades in a basket next to the door.

Please don't patronize if you're here to learn. A cursory Google search for "sapper leader course handbook" or "FM 5-34" will yield useful information that can educate and entertain you if you're leaning toward the crafty military stuff. I'd recommend staying away from producing the stuff and I've actually mixed it before (when I was a GI Joe). Nothing good comes from a young guy concocting destructive elixirs in his bedroom. I speak from experience there, too.

Slims · 07-20-2009, 12:38 PM

If you choose to ignore the advice given, at least remember these two suggestions: don't watch it burn as it is bright enough to damage your eyes, and don't try to put it out, after it is lit it won't go out and water will flash boil, etc.

mike3 · 07-20-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Mike3, it's obvious you're about as skilled with explosives as TheJazz. But it appears that the TheJazz has more common sense when it comes to dealing with materials that represent a safety hazard. Probably because he has children and they live in a city where they can get incendiary munitions on the playground next to crack rocks and scratched Bananarama CDs. He keeps spare thermite grenades in a basket next to the door.

Please don't patronize if you're here to learn. A cursory Google search for "sapper leader course handbook" or "FM 5-34" will yield useful information that can educate and entertain you if you're leaning toward the crafty military stuff. I'd recommend staying away from producing the stuff and I've actually mixed it before (when I was a GI Joe). Nothing good comes from a young guy concocting destructive elixirs in his bedroom. I speak from experience there, too.

I'm not sure what you are calling "patronizing". What sort of common sense would I _not_ have about this stuff? I don't think it's a toy.

Also, does that last bit mean you had some sort of accident when trying to produce the stuff?

Plan9 · 07-20-2009, 07:07 PM

...why am I getting into law enforcement? oh yeah, i'll never be short of work... ugh...

SSJTWIZTA · 07-20-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

...why am I getting into law enforcement? oh yeah, i'll never be short of work... ugh...

misfits fan in law enforcement!? why do i see problems ahead?

can i call you a badge wearing bitch from now on?

Plan9 · 07-20-2009, 08:01 PM

I AIN'T NO GOD DAMN SONUVABITCH... YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT IT, BAYBEE... heh...

mike3 · 07-20-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

...why am I getting into law enforcement? oh yeah, i'll never be short of work... ugh...

What's that supposed to mean? How does it answer my questions (about the "patronizing" and all that)? Because "patronizing" was not my intention at all, whatsoever.

SSJTWIZTA · 07-20-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

I AIN'T NO GOD DAMN SONUVABITCH... YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT IT, BAYBEE... heh...

ha, where eagles dare aye.

mike.. iron oxide and aluminum powder. stick a magnesium stick in it and run like hell (and also, avoid water and ice if you didnt catch that from slims and i) [who seemed to skip what i had to say])

patronization none here. just light that shit up and experiment for yourself. there is only one way to learn, my friend. well, one way to learn for sure. (anyone with common since needs no warning)

biznatch · 07-21-2009, 03:24 PM

The most cool thing I got out of this thread was Cromps' link. I love field manuals, even though a lot of it I don't understand, and will hopefully never need.

raptor9k · 08-06-2009, 06:53 PM

deleted

MSD · 08-10-2009, 08:42 AM

Wear a welding mask if you don't want to go blind.

07-15-2009, 10:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
mike3 Upright	How can the thermite experiment be done safely (may be wrong forum)? Hi. I am not at all sure if this belongs in this section, I'm only posting it here because that's where the original thread was posted. I saw this post in an old thread on this forum titled "Thermite". You'll have to google it as I can't post a link yet (not enough post count). From "Lebell": "I would STRONGLY encourage everyone to NOT do this at home. Far too many amature chemists end up hurting themselves and others. Yes, I do have professional training and I do know EXACTLY what I am talking about." But would it take a huge amount of super-expensive training just to understand how to do this one thing safely? Is it that subtle? Because I'm curious about this stuff, and I've toyed with the idea of experimenting with it, but I'd want to do it as safely as possible. And where would one get this training? Finally, what would be a better place to do it other than at home?

07-15-2009, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Oh, heh... I'd imagine the whole "Don't do this at home." thing is a catchy way of saying "Don't do this! Period." That being said, Thermite/Thermate is fun if you're in the military attending some school and wanna melt steel. The old US Army Sapper Leader Course used to do a block of instruction on it. Rumor has it that got axed, though. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 07-15-2009 at 10:51 PM..

07-16-2009, 05:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Maybe you can get on-the-job training at an explosives demolition contractor. That's about the only civilian application that I can think of. Anything else is going to be military, so there are your choices: join up or get a new job. And look at it this way: any error you make with this stuff is going to be catastrophic. That means you're dead, injured or homeless. And possibly your neighbors too, if they're close enough. Lebell's a very smart guy, and he gave some VERY good advice. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

07-16-2009, 05:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
JamesB Insane Location: Ottawa	Its not actually -that- dangerous. I've worked with it before in a non-civvy capacity as well as "for fun". Termite used to be employed in rail-way tie jointing, as well as some special ground wire bonding applications for antennas and Faraday cages. Its not rocket science. The main concern is splashing of molten steel really .. but aside from that, its not explosive - it just burns really, really hot. If you -really- are going to experiment with it, just do some research at your local library and be sure you are comfortable with what you are doing. Safety considerations would be to use a crucible (clay pot) to contain the reaction and/or direct the slug, remote ignition (or fused) using magnesium strip or the preferred barium nitrate, and experiment location. Having said all that, you of course take all responsibility for your actions. Just because people say its not as dangerous as some make it out to be doesn't absolve you of your own responsibility. __________________ -- apt-get install spare_time --

07-16-2009, 06:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Thermite - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community For the lazy, here's the original thread. Perhaps a mod could drop it into the original post. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

07-15-2009, 11:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	That shit is scary. I'd stay away from it. I can only imagine what it'd do to flesh. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

07-16-2009, 01:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
SSJTWIZTA Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator. Location: Windiwana	stick in a stick of magnesium, light that with a torch, and run the fuck away. avoid using water or ice to put the shit out....unless you want to see a gnarly explosion. __________________ First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller

07-20-2009, 06:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Mike3, it's obvious you're about as skilled with explosives as TheJazz. But it appears that the TheJazz has more common sense when it comes to dealing with materials that represent a safety hazard. Probably because he has children and they live in a city where they can get incendiary munitions on the playground next to crack rocks and scratched Bananarama CDs. He keeps spare thermite grenades in a basket next to the door. Please don't patronize if you're here to learn. A cursory Google search for "sapper leader course handbook" or "FM 5-34" will yield useful information that can educate and entertain you if you're leaning toward the crafty military stuff. I'd recommend staying away from producing the stuff and I've actually mixed it before (when I was a GI Joe). Nothing good comes from a young guy concocting destructive elixirs in his bedroom. I speak from experience there, too. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 07-20-2009 at 06:43 AM..

07-20-2009, 12:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	If you choose to ignore the advice given, at least remember these two suggestions: don't watch it burn as it is bright enough to damage your eyes, and don't try to put it out, after it is lit it won't go out and water will flash boil, etc. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

07-20-2009, 07:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	...why am I getting into law enforcement? oh yeah, i'll never be short of work... ugh... __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

07-20-2009, 08:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	I AIN'T NO GOD DAMN SONUVABITCH... YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT IT, BAYBEE... heh... __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

07-21-2009, 03:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	The most cool thing I got out of this thread was Cromps' link. I love field manuals, even though a lot of it I don't understand, and will hopefully never need. __________________ Check it out: The Open Source/Freeware/Gratis Software Thread

08-06-2009, 06:53 PM	#21 (permalink)
raptor9k Crazy Location: Earth	deleted Last edited by raptor9k; 09-08-2021 at 04:52 AM..

08-10-2009, 08:42 AM	#22 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Wear a welding mask if you don't want to go blind.