The Anarchist Cookbook (43 page)
Syringe
Source of Nitric Acid:
Elsewhere in this Cookbook
Industrial metal processors
Source of Mercury:
Thermometers
Mercury switches
Old radio tubes
Procedure:
Dilute 5 teaspoons of nitric acid with 2-« teaspoons of clean water in a glass container by
adding the acid to the water.
Dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of mercury in the diluted nitric acid. This will yield dark red fumes.
NOTE: It may be necessary to add water, on drop at a time, to the mercury-acid
solution in order to start a reaction.
CAUTION: Acid will burn skin and destroy clothing. If any is spilled, wash it
away with a large quantity of water. Do NOT inhale fumes!
Warm 10 teaspoons of the alcohol in a container until the alcohol feels warm to the inside
of the wrist.
Pour the metal-acid solution into the warm alcohol. Reaction should start in less than 5
minutes. Dense white fumes will be given off during the reaction. As time lapses, the
fumes will become less dense. Allow 10 to 15 minutes to complete reaction. Fulminate
will settle to the bottom.
CAUTION: This reaction generates large quantities of toxic, flammable fumes.
The process MUST be conducted outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, away
from sparks or open flames. DO NOT inhale fumes!
Filter the solution through a paper towel into a container. Crystals may stick to the side of
the container. If so, tilt and squirt water down the sides of the container until all of
the material collects on the filter paper.
Wash the crystals with 6 teaspoons of ethyl alcohol.
Allow these mercury fulminate crystals to air dry.
CAUTION: Handle dry explosive with great care. Do not scrape or handle it
roughly! Keep away from sparks or open flames. Store in a cool, dry place.
132.Improvised Black Powder by The Jolly Roger
Black powder can be prepared in a simple, safe manner. It may be used as blasting or gun
powder.
Materials:
Potassium Nitrate, granulated, 3 cups (3/4 liter)
Wood charcoal, powdered, 2 cups
Sulfur, powdered, « cup
Alcohol, 5 pints (2-« liters) (whiskey, rubbing alcohol, etc.)
Water, 3 cups (3/4 liter)
Heat source
2 buckets - each 2 gallon (7-« liters) capacity, at least one of which is heat resistant
(metal, ceramic, etc.)
Flat window screening, at least 1 foot (30 cm) square
Large wooden stick
Cloth, at least 2 feet (60 cm) square
Procedure:
Place alcohol in one of the buckets.
Place potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in the heat resistant bucket. Add 1 cup water
and mix thoroughly with wooden stick until all ingredients are dissolved.
Add remaining water (2 cups) to mixture. Place bucket on heat source and stir until small
bubbles begin to form.
CAUTION: DO NOT boil mixture. Be sure ALL mixture stays wet. If any is dry,
as on sides of pan, it may ignite!
Remove bucket from heat and pour mixture into alcohol while stirring vigorously.
Let alcohol mixture stand about 5 minutes. Strain mixture through cloth to obtain black
powder. Discard liquid. Wrap cloth around black powder and squeeze to remove all
excess liquid.
Place screening over dry bucket. Place workable amount of damp powder on screen and
granulate by rubbing solid through screen. NOTE: If granulated particles appear to
stick together and change shape, recombine entire batch of powder and repeat steps 5
& 6.
Spread granulated black powder on flat, dry surface so that layer about « inch (1-¬ cm) is
formed. Allow to dry. Use radiator, or direct sunlight. This should be dried as soon as
possible, preferably in an hour. The longer the drying period, the less effective the
black powder.
CAUTION: Remove from heat AS SOON AS granules are dry. Black powder is
now ready to use.
133.Nitric Acid by The Jolly Roger
Nitric Acid is used in the preparation of many explosives, incendiary mixtures, and acid
delay timers. It may be prepared by distilling a mixture of potassium nitrate and
concentrated sulfuric acid.
Material Required:
Potassium Nitrate (2 parts by volume)
CONCENTRATED sulfuric acid (1 part by volume)
2 bottles or ceramin jugs (narrow necks are preferable)
Pot or frying pan
Heat source (wood, charcoal, or coal)
Tape (paper, electrical, masking, but NOT cellophane!)
Paper or rags
IMPORTANT: If sulfuric acid is obtained from a motor vehicle battery, concentrate it by
boiling it UNTIL white fumes appear. DO NOT INHALE FUMES.
NOTE: The amount of nitric acid produced is the same as the amount of potassium nitrate.
Thus, for two tablespoons of nitric acid, use 2 tablespoons of potassium nitrate and 1
tablespoonful of concentrated sulfuric acid.
Source of Potassium Nitrate:
Elsewhere in this Cookbook
Drug stores
Source of CONCENTRATED sulfuric acid:
Motor vehicle batteries
Industrial plants
Procedure:
Place dry potassium nitrate in bottle or jug. Add sulfuric acid. Do not fill the bottle more
than ¬ full. Mix until paste is formed.
CAUTION: DO NOT INHALE FUMES!
Wrap paper or rags around necks of two bottles. securely tape necks of two bottles
together. Be sure that bottles are flush against each other and that there are no air
spaces.
Support bottles on rocks or cans so that empty bottle is SLIGHTLY lower than bottle
containing paste so that nitric acid that is formed in receiving bottle will not run into
other bottle.
Build fire in pot or frying pan.
Gently heat bottle containing mixture by gently moving fire in and out. As red fumes begin
to appear periodically pour cool water over empty receiving bottle. Nitric acid will
begin to form in receiving bottle.
CAUTION: Do not overheat or wet bottle containing mixture or it may shatter.
As an added precaution, place bottle to be heated in heat resistant container
filled with sand or gravel. Heat this outer container to produce nitric acid.
Continue the above process until no more red fumes are formed. If the nitric acid formed
in the receiving bottle is not clear (cloudy) pour it into cleaned bottle and repeat steps
2-6.
CAUTION: Nitric acid should be kept away from all combustibles and should be
kept in a SEALED CERAMIC OR GLASS container. DO NOT inhale fumes!
134.Dust Bomb Instructions by The Jolly Roger
An initiator which will initiate common material to produce dust explosions can be rapidly
and easily constructed. This type of charge is ideal for the destruction of enclosed areas
such as rooms or buildings.
Material Required:
A flat can, 3 in. (8 cm) in diameter and 1-« in. (3-3/4 cm) high. A 6-« ounce tuna can
serves the purpose quite well.
Blasting cap
Explosive
Aluminum (may be wire, cut sheet, flattened can, or powder)
Large nail, 4 in. (10 cm) long
Wooden rod - ¬ in. (6 mm) diameter
Flour, gasoline, and powder or chipped aluminum
NOTE: Plastic explosive produce better explosions than cast explosives.
Procedure:
Using the nail, press a hole through the side of the tuna can 3/8 inch to « inch (1 to 1-«
cm) from the bottom. Using a rotating and lever action, enlarge the hole until it will
accommodate the blasting cap.
Place the wooden rod in the hole and position the end of the rod at the center of the can.
Press explosive into the can, being sure to surround the rod, until it is 3/4 inch (2 cm)
from the top of the can. Carefully remove the wooden rod.
Place the aluminum metal on top of the explosive.
Just before use, insert the blasting cap into the cavity made by the rod. The initiator is
now ready to use.
NOTE: If it is desired to carry the initiator some distance, cardboard may
be pressed on top of the aluminum to insure against loss of material.
How to Use:
This particular unit works quite well to initiate charges of five pounds of flour, « gallon (1-
2/3 liters) of gasoline, or two pounds of flake painters aluminum. The solid materials may
merely be contained in sacks or cardboard cartons. The gasoline may be placed in plastic
coated paper milk cartons, as well as plastic or glass bottles. The charges are placed
directly on top of the initiator and the blasting cap is actuated electrically or by a fuse
depending on the type of cap employed. this will destroy a 2,000 cubic feet enclosure
(building 10 x 20 x 10 feet).
Note: For larger enclosures, use proportionally larger initiators and charges.
135.Carbon-Tet Explosive by The Jolly Roger
A moist explosive mixture can be made from fine aluminum powder combined with carbon
tetrachloride or tetrachloroethylene. This explosive can be detonated with a blasting cap.
Material Required:
Fine aluminum bronzing powder
Carbon Tetrachloride or Tetrachloroethylene
Stirring rod (wood)
Mixing container (bowl, bucket, etc.)
Measuring container (cup, tablespoon, etc.)
Storage container (jar, can, etc.)
Blasting cap
Pipe, can or jar
Source of Carbon Tetrachloride:
Paint store
Pharmacy
Fire extinguisher fluid
Source of Tetrachloroethylene:
Dry cleaners
Pharmacy
Procedure:
Measure out two parts aluminum powder to one part carbon tetrachloride or
tetrachlorethylene liquid into mixing container, adding liquid to powder while stirring
with the wooden rod.
Stir until the mixture becomes the consistency of honey syrup.
CAUTION: Fumes from the liquid are dangerous and should not be inhaled.
Store explosive in a jar or similar water proof container until ready to use. The liquid in
the mixture evaporates quickly when not confined.
NOTE: Mixture will detonate in this manner for a period of 72 hours.
How to Use:
Pour this mixture into an iron or steel pipe which has an end cap threaded on one end. If a
pipe is not available, you may use a dry tin can or glass jar.
Insert blasting cap just beneath the surface of the explosive mix.
NOTE: Confining the open end of the container will add to the effectiveness of the
explosive.
136.Making Picric Acid from Aspirin by The Jolly Roger
Picric Acid can be used as a booster explosive in detonators, a high explosive charge, or
as an intermediate to preparing lead picric.
Material Required:
Aspirin tablets (5 grains per tablet)
Alcohol, 95% pure
Sulfuric acid, concentrated, (if battery acid, boil until white fumes disappear)
Potassium Nitrate (see elsewhere in this Cookbook)
Water
Paper towels
Canning jar, 1 pint
Rod (glass or wood)
Glass containers
Ceramic or glass dish
Cup
Teaspoon
Tablespoon
Pan
Heat source
Tape
Procedure:
Crush 20 aspirin tablets in a glass container. Add 1 teaspoon of water and work into a
paste.
Add approximately 1/3 to « cup of alcohol (100 milliliters) to the aspirin paste; stir while
pouring.
Filter the alcohol-aspirin solution through a paper towel into another glass container.
Discard the solid left in the paper towel.
Pour the filtered solution into a glass or ceramic dish.
Evaporate the alcohol and water from the solution by placing the dish into a pan of hot
water. White powder will remain in the dish after evaporation.
NOTE: The water in the pan should be at hot bath temperature, not boiling,
approx 160øF to 180øF. It should not burn the hands.
Pour 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of concentrated sulfuric acid into a canning jar. Add the white
powder to the sulfuric acid.
Heat canning jar of sulfuric acid in a pan of simmering hot water bath for 15 minutes; then
remove jar from the bath. Solution will turn to a yellow-orange color.
Add 3 level teaspoons (15 grams) of potassium nitrate in three portions to the yellow-
orange solution; stir vigorously during additions. Solution will turn red, then back to a