Date:         Sun, 08 Oct 1995 11:45:14 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         hseaver@csd.uwm.edu (Harmon Seaver)
Subject:      Re: EXTREME DANGER

On Wed, 27 Sep 95 13:39:26 CDT, Berry Kercheval <kerch@parc.xerox.com> wrote:
> My high school chemistry teacher demonstrated the reaction (so that WE 
> wouldn't I guess :-)

   So did mine, but I already knew about it and how to make it.

> 
> It's dead easy and not recommended.  Mr. Schuyler's demonstration (with a 
> When folks say "don't try this at home", sometimes it's a good idea to heed 
> the warning.

    Geez -- you guys sound like a bunch of old ladies. Thermite is a useful
tool, is widely available, and is not explosive. It burns very hot. You can
buy it at gun shows, plain or loaded into 12ga. shotgun shells. All this 
warning stuff is nonsense. Gasoline is more dangerous. Don't drive your car
it has a gas tank full with enough explosive power to wipe out a house if
set off, eh?
    Besides that, thermite is just plain fun. And it isn't really all that
easy to ignite. 

-- 
Harmon Seaver 
hseaver@csd.uwm.edu
hseaver@nyx.cs.du.edu
seaverh@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu
harmon@buffett.engr.wisc.edu

All is impermanent -- and this too shall pass away.