HOW TO MAKE A WORKING LETTER-BOMB 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 POWER 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 SEPERATE, 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 sONE 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!