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- Detonators
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-
- The most common time-delay device is an ordinary safety fuse. These
- fuses usually consist of a black-powder core surrounded with a fabric and
- then a layer of waterproof material. Although there are many different types,
- it can generally be said that safety fuses burn between 30 and 45 seconds
- per foot; however, check these figures when you make your purchase. Fuses
- can be bought from any mail-order pryotechnics company. Two with whom I have
- dealt are:
- Ecco Products
- Box 189
- Northvale, New Jersey 07647
-
- Westech Corporation
- P.O. Box 8193
- Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
-
- Double-coated waterproof fuse usually sells for 20 to 25 dollars for
- a thousand to fifteen hundred feet. I would advise purchasing this equipment,
- since homemade fuses are not to be trusted.
- Bombs can be detonated in many ways. The detonation and use of
- certain devices are based mainly on the cleverness and imagination of the
- saboteur. In the following section I have discussed several basic forms of
- detonators, both nonelectric and electric. However, there is an infinite
- number of variations, which may be better suited to individual situations.
- The first type is referred to either as a tension-release, or a
- wiretrap device. It operates on the principle of releasing the tension
- caused by a wound spring, on the firing pin, and allowing it to strike and
- set off a nonelectrical blasting cap. The nonelectrical blasting cap will in
- turn generate the necessary heat to ignite the TNT or dynamite. This can be
- implemented in many ways. A common method in which the wire-trip device can
- be employed is stretching a trip wire six inches above the ground. Another
- equally popular method of employing the tension-release device is attaching
- the taut wire to the back of a door, so that, when the door is opened, the
- tension is released, and the explosive ignites.
- A device very similar to the last one is the pull-trigger electric
- detonator. It functions in the same manner, in that a safety pin is removed
- from the striker or firing pin, causing it to move forward and connect with a
- metal plate. This connection with the metal plate completes the electrical
- circuit. The batteries have been connected by wires to an electrical
- blasting cap, a metal plate, and finally to the firing pin. Although
- professional supplies for this equipment are available at reasonable prices,
- the device can be constructed from household items. The construction of this
- device is as follows: two flashlight batteries are connected to each other,
- and then one wire is run from one end of the batteries to the electrical
- blasting cap, the other wire from the opposite end of the batteries to the
- metal plate. A third wire is run from the blasting cap to the firing pin.
- This now completes the fully cocked device.
- In the same manner as the explosive is detonated, so is the common
- military grenade. The principle of a tension release is the same. After the
- pin is pulled out of the military grenade, the spring is free to react,
- causing the primer to ignite the lead-spitter fuse, and it in turn will ignite
- the lead oxide and pentolite. The pentolite will release enough heat to
- ignite the TNT and cause fragmentation of the metal casing.
- The next type of detonating device I am going to discuss is called the
- pressure-trigger device. It is based on the application of pressure rather
- than its release, as in the previous devices. This mechanism is primarily
- used when an electrical circuit is employed. The plunger is pushed down; it
- forces one thin metal plate against another thicker metal plate. The batteries
- are connected, via the blasting cap, to each of these metal plates. Therefore,
- when they touch, the electrical circuit is complete, and the explosive will
- ignite.
- This type of device has several important advantages. First of all,
- it can be constructed away from the area it will be used in. This will cut
- installation time down to seconds. Later the in the chapter, I discuss a
- type of booby trap that can be rigged into the ignition system of a car.
- Although the ignition-system booby trap works very well, it takes time to
- install. This pressure-trigger device will act almost in the same manner if
- placed beneath the drivers seat, and can be installed in a lot less time.
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