
                               MAKING THERMITE
                                 BY X CALIBUR

  THERMITE IS A POWERFUL SUBSTANCE WHICH CAN BURN THROUGH PRACTICALLY
ANYTHING, SAVE TUNGSTEN. IT IS ESPECIALLY OF USE IN TRYING TO CRACK
OPEN A FORTRESS FONE.  NOW HERE'S HOW YOU MAKE IT. IT IS VERY SIMPLE.

  THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING THERMITE IS TO MAKE HEMATITE. IN LAYMAN'S TERMS,
HEMATITE IS IRON OXIDE (RUST). HERE IS A GOOD METHOD OF MAKING LARGE QUANTITIES
OF RUST. OU WILL ELECTROLYZE A METAL ROD, SUCH AS A COMMON NAIL. YOU WILL
NEED A SOURCE OF DC POWER AS WELL. AN ELECTRIC TRAIN TRANSFORMER IS PERFECT.
ATTATCH THEROD TO THE POSITIVE WIRE.
                      ^^^^^^^^

THEN PLACE THE ROD AND THE NEGATIVE WIRE IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF A GLASS JAR
FILLED WITH WATER. PUT A LITTLE SALT IN THE WATER, JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE IT
CONDUCT WELL (A TEASPOON). LET THE SETUP SIT OVERNIGHT. IN THE MORNING,
THERE WILL BE A DARK RED CRUD IN THE JAR. FILTER ALL THE CRUD OUT OF THE
WATER OR JUST FISH IT OUT WITH A SPOON. NOW YOU WILL NEED TO DRY IT OUT. HEAT
IT IN AN IRON POT UNTILL IT ALL TURNS A NICE LIGHT RED.

  THE OTHER INGREDIANT YOU WILL NEED IS ALUMINUM FILINGS. YOU CAN EITHER
FILE DOWN A BAR OF ALUMINUM, OR (AS I SUGGEST) BUY ALUMINUM FILINGS AT
YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE SHOP. (IF YOU BUY THE BAR USE NO LESS THAN 94% PURE
ALUMINUM. IT IS CALLED DURALUMIN.)

 THAT'S ALMOST IT. NOW, MIX TOGETHER THE RUST AND ALUMINUM FILINGS. THE
RATIO SHOULD BE 8 GRAMS OF RUST PER 3 GRAMS OF ALUMINUM FILINGS. THAT'S
THERMITE!

  NOW, TO LIGHT IT! STICK A LENGTH OF MAGNESIUM RIBBON IN A PILE OF THE
THERMITE. (EITHER STEAL IT FROM CHEM LAB OR BUY IT AT YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE
STORE. IF NOT, ORDER FROM A CHEMICAL SUPPLY HOUSE. IT'S PRETTY CHEAP.)
THE RIBBON SHOULD STICK INTO THE

 THERMITE LIKE A FUSE.  NOW YOU LIGHT THE MAGNESIUM WITH A BLOWTORCH. (DON'T
WORRY. THE TORCH ISN'T HOT ENOUGH TO LIGHT THE THERMITE.) WHEN THE BURNING
MAGNESIUM REACHES THE THERMITE, IT WILL LIGHT. WHEN THE THERMITE BURNS,
GET THE HELL BACK! THAT STUFF CAN VAPORIZE CARBON STEEL. IT DOES WONDERS ON
HUMAN FLESH.


