Home Workshop Explosives [Paperback]

Uncle Fester (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1990

This book details the manufacture of demolition strength high explosives. The thorough and clear descriptions of the processes involved in making these explosives is possible because while I was in college, I used to like making these explosives for entertainment purposes. The book also details the further processing of the explosives into gelatine or plastique forms for greater safety in handling.

Editorial Reviews

Review

And then there are the dangerous ones. Humble men .Men like Uncle Fester. This book is Da Bomb! -- Rich Butts, San Fran [X] Press

Explosives covered include the kind of stuff it may be easier to make yourself because it's such a nuisance buying. -- David Hinckley in New York Daily News --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

The initial publication of this book was delayed for several months due to the messy and incompetent help of my third world friends Mad Abe, Evil Joe, and Rick the Jap. Thanks guys! I couldn't have done it without you! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 122 pages
• Publisher: Festering Publications (December 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970148526
• ISBN-13: 978-0970148520
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,286,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is incredible! But read with caution XD, November 16, 2010

By 

B. Estorga "Country mouse stuck in the City" (beautiful California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Home Workshop Explosives, Second Edition (Paperback)

Seriously, this book is way better than I thought it would be. I don't know what I was expecting really; I bought it because I was looking for information on explosives after watching a ton of Mythbusters and getting questions from my kids that I couldn't answer (they blow up something in almost every episode). This was recommended by Amazon when I was searching and although it's not quite what I was really looking for, it's so interesting that I couldn't stop reading it! XD

However there is a caveat: don't try any of this stuff at home! There's some warnings in the front of the book about this too but I just want to say... this gives VERY detailed explanations about how -EXACTLY how!- to make many different types of extremely potent explosives. In the wrong hands this could be very dangerous.

But for inquisitive and curious minds that love just knowing how things work, oh my gods this book is a dream come true. Love it! 5 stars and more if I could.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Book for Education and Reference, January 17, 2010

By 

B. Davey "goshtac" (Upper MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Home Workshop Explosives, Second Edition (Paperback)

I recently purchased the Home Workshop Explosives book and found it an interesting and quite fascinating read. The author appears to have an extensive knowledge in the subject matter. I grew up with model rocketry and experimenting with chemistry as a hobby. Although now retired, I still enjoy learning about technical things in how things are made, science and electronics. But I mention this with a caveat - just because you study a subject doesn't mean you should try to create everything you learn about.

Being prior military and retired law enforcement as well as still being involved in Emergency Management, I can see legitimate purposes for this book as a informative and educational treatise on how certain chemicals react with each other as well as what type chemicals first responders may want to acquaint themselves with for safety purposes. Actually my primary reason for purchasing the book was I hoped to find some safe and legal pyrotechnic information that I could use in my special effects photography and 3D art. But I discovered this book does not go into this type chemistry at all but just focuses on how an individual could create high explosives in their garage workshop. Having worked with commercial / military explosives in my earlier careers on a limited basis, I must say that if a person has a legitimate need for explosives, I would highly suggest they obtain them legally with the proper permits. Obtaining this book for educational and informative purposes is one thing - fiction writers would also have some great reference materials for realism in their writing. But I cannot stress this enough that formulas such as presented in this book should not be attempted by the reader. Homemade explosives of this nature are not only highly dangerous to make, but will subject a person if he survives his workshop chemistry project to severe legal ramifications on both Federal and State levels. I don't mean to come across as an old stick in the mud as this book is quite a fascinating read, but it is well known in both the military and law enforcement that people who play with such chemistry without the required expertise frequently manage to blow themselves up. This applies to both weekend science buffs who just want to see if they can create explosives for their idea of fun to those who have much more sinister purposes. So please, if buying this book - enjoy the read, but please don't try to create any of the actual formulas as you are just risking too much including your life. Nuff Said!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars practical and usefull, October 17, 2004

By 

Peter Goossens "pierre" (Belgium) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Home Workshop Explosives, Second Edition (Paperback)

this book really has all you need to become a conoisseur of the finer explosives. It covers everything from material choice, recipes for the main high explosives through to detonators, safety and storage tips. Each recipe also includes a very good explanation on how to procure certain of the chemicals needed without leaving a paper trail 5 miles long. I can say from personal experience that these recipes do indeed work, and with a bit of creative chemistry one could convert these recipes to work with some of your day to day bathroom, tool shed or cleaning products to produce some crude yet effective explosives(I have succeeded in this without any chemical experience whatsoever).
the book gives an insight that explosives are within the grasp of any DIY terrorist with even half a decent brain.
learn how to protect yourself from them, BUY THIS BOOK!