This article has some very dangerous information in it. The information is provided for education purposes only. Most of the information on this page will get you KILLED unless you are an extremely well qualified explosive ordinance technician. Please do not attempt to make your own explosives or explosive devices.
To understand
what is a detonator you have to understand that there are two explosives. Low
explosive that expands slowly like gun powder can be ignited by a flame or fuse.
High Explosives include fast expanding charges like C4, TNT and Plastic
Explosives. High explosives have to be set off by a detonator or a blasting cap.
In such a case the detonator is considered as the Primary explosive and the High
Explosive as the Secondary explosive.
Detonators can be
electrical, mechanical, chemical or fused. This article will delve into
electrical and fused detonators.
Detonators work
by releasing an immense amount of heat, pressure and friction at high velocities
in a confined place. All these characteristics are obligatory for an effective
detonator. There are very few chemicals that exhibit all of the above when
ignited by a direct flame one of which is mercury fulminate. A few detonators
are a complete system in one, i.e. they are composed of primary and secondary
charges so as to gain more effective detonation properties, however detonators
are not always better because they are more powerful.
Where should a
detonator be placed in a charge? To direct the explosion into one smaller area
the explosive would have to be confined in a cone of hard material. The
detonator is placed in the peak of the cone and the open peak covered with clay.
The direction of the explosion will be towards the larger open end of the cone.
There are three
main types of detonators available. J1, #8 and a compound detonator.
#8 blasting
cap
Materials required are a 10 inch waterproof fuse, a spent 223 cartridge,
smokeless gunpowder from a pistol cartridge, mercury fulminate powder, sulphur,
Potassium Chlorate powder. The last two are optional.
Combine 1 part
Potassium Chlorate with 1/8 part sulphur. This is mix 1. Mix one part mercury
fulminate with 1/2 part mix1. This is the final mix. Fill the 223 shell half
full of smokeless gunpowder. Fill the rest of it with the final mix. Put the
fuse in the shell and close it off with water resistant glue. This is a #8
detonator which can be ignited by flame.
J1 Detonator
Materials required are a 12 inch waterproof fuse, a spent 223 cartridge,
smokeless gunpowder from a pistol cartridge, mercury fulminate powder, sulphur,
Potassium Chlorate powder.
Combine 1 part
Potassium Chlorate with 1/8 part sulphur. This is mix 1. Mix 2 part mercury
fulminate with 1/2 part mix1. This is the final mix. Fill the 223 shell to the
rim with final mix and the rest of the shell should be filled with smokeless
powder. Place the fuse in the 223 shell, pinch and glue.
Compound
detonators
Compound detonators are very useful in a situation with negative environmental
factors such as dust, rain, heat and cold. These detonators are a sure way of
being sure the charge goes off.
Materials
required are 15 inch fuse, Mercury Fulminate, smokeless powder, Potassium
Chlorate and a spent 30 06 shell.
Mix 1 part
mercury fulminate with 1/8 part Potassium chlorate, this is mix 1. Mix 1 part
mix1 with 1/8 part smokeless powder. This is the final mix. Put the final mix in
the shell. Insert the fuse, pinch and seal.
Electric
detonator
To convert any of the above detonators into an electric detonator an electric
igniter as used for rocket engines is used. This can be found at hobby stores.
The igniter can be inserted instead of a fuse and sealed but not pinched in the
shell.
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