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                  :                                     :
                  :  HOW TO MAKE A WORKING LETTER-BOMB  :
                  :                 BY                  :
                  :          THE REBEL WARHEAD          :
                  :                                     :
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  LETTER BOMBS ARE VERY SIMPLE TO MAKE, BUT THE DIFFICULT PART IS MAKING SURE
IT WILL DETONATE PROPERLY, OR THAT IT IS NOT OBVIOUS THAT IT IS A BOMB.

MIXTURES:

  ABOUT 75% ALUMINUM POWDER WITH 25% IRON POWDER IS BEST.  THIS IS A LIGHT
VERSION OF THERMITE, SINCE IT IS IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE (THE ENVELOPE, AS
DESCRIBED BELOW A WAYS).

  MIX THE ABOVE WELL.  THE IDEA IS THIS:  IRON CAN BURN, AT A VERY HIGH
TEMPERATURE, BUT IT NEEDS A LITTLE HELP. THIS IS WHAT THE ALUMINUM IS
FOR. ALUMINUM BURNS AT A RELATIVELY LOW TEMPERATURE, SO IT IS USED AS A
CATALYST OF SORTS. MAGNESIUM IS USED TO FLASH-IGNITE THE ALUMINUM, WHICH
THEN BURNS THE IRON, AT A SUITABLE TEMPERATURE. SINCE THIS IS GOING OFF
IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE, IT WILL BURN MUCH HOTTER AND SLOWER AND WITH MORE
VIOLENCE THAN A NORMAL MIX. I ADVISE YOU PLAY WITH THIS FOR A WHILE,
LEARNING YOUR MIXTURE.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF:

GET AN INSULATED (PADDED) ENVELOPE, THE TYPE THAT IS DOUBLE LAYERED.
SEPERATE THE LAYERS. IN THE INNER LAYER GOES THE WONDERFUL MIXTURE,
ONE YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH. KEEP THIS SECTION SEPARATE, BUT IT MIGHT
BE HANDLE TO TOP IT OFF WITH SOME MAGNESIUM. THE OUTER LAYER CAN BE
EITHER MAGNESIUM, FOR A FLASH BOMB, OR POSSIBLY A MATERIAL OF YOUR OWN
CHOICE.

NOW FOR THE DIFFICULT PART!

THE FUSE...   WE CAN MAKE A FUSE FROM ANOTHER SET OF CHEMICALS:
IODINE CRYSTALS, AND AMONIUM HYDROXIDE, IN LIQUID FORM. MIX THESE TOGETHER,
IN ABOUT AND EQUAL AMOUNT, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE A HEAVY AMOUNT OF
IODINE IF PRESSED FOR TIME. THESE FORM A NEW CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE, ABOUT
AND INCH LONG. THESE ARE HIGHLY VOLATILE, AND I ADVISE KEEPING THEM
PROTECTED. THEY HAVE ABOUT THE IMPACT POWER OF AN M-100 FOR A TEASPOON.
I PUT THESE IN A PROTECTIVE CARD-BOARD LINING, AND PUT THEM AT THE TOP OF
THE ENVELOPE. RIG THIS SO IT PUTS PRESSURE ON THE CRYTALS WHEN THE
PACKAGE IS OPENED, BUT NOT FROM JUST SQUEEZING THE ENVELOPE. THIS IS
TRICKY, AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT HERE. SEAL THIS UP, AND YOU HAVE A WORKING
LETTER BOMB.
  BY THE WAY, SINCE THE BULK OF LETTER BOMBS ARE EASILY RECOGNIZABLE, THEY
RARELY MAKE IT PAST THE POST OFFICE.

*****
I FROWN UPON THE USE OF LETTER BOMBS AS A MEANS OF GETTING EVEN BECAUSE
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IT IS GOING TO DETONATE AROUND, OR THAT IT WILL
EVEN BE THEM.  THERE ARE SIMPLER WAYS OF GETTING EVEN, SO TAKE ONE OF THEM.
IT IS ALSO A FEDERAL OFFENCE TO MAKE AND SEND ONE.  PROCEDE AT YOUR OWN
RISK.
*****
HOW TO AVOID LETTER BOMBS:
SINCE YOU MADE IT THIS FAR INTO THE FILE, I WILL TELL YOU HOW TO AVOID
BEING DETONATED WITH A LETTER BOMB YOU MAY HAVE HAD SENT TO YOU.

1)  NEVER OPEN A LETTER BOMB THE WAY IT WANTS TO BE OPENED!  THIS IS
    THE WAY OF POSSIBLY AVOIDING THE FUSE.  IF IT IS SET TO DETONATE
    ON CONTACT WITH AIR, THEN THIS WILL NOT WORK.
2)  DON'T SQUEEZE, BEND, OR ANYTHING!
3)  IF IT LOOKS LIKE A BOMB, THEN DON'T EVEN TOUCH IT!  THIS IS
    THE BEST WAY TO AVOID PROBLEMS!