From:	Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:	Re: RENEGADE'S EXPLOSIVES
Date:	Tue, 1 Aug 1995 00:49:31 GMT

> Actually, I thought dynamite is made by letting nitroglycerine soak into
> some or another substance, which improves both its stability and the
> explosion that results when you set it off. Shouldn't dynamite have a
> greater rating than nitroglycerine (now it's 3 vs 5)?

Nope: you soak kielsguhr (a diatomaceous clay, according to the book)
in nitroglycerine to make it safe to handle. The dynamite is only 25%-40%
nitro by weight, so is less powerful: but it's a stick rather than a
greasy liquid, and much more stable.

Also, nitroglycerin can be absorbed by skin contact and causes low blood
pressure, blackouts, faintness and pounding headaches. (It is used in
medicine to treat hypertension, in *small* doses!) Dynamite reduces this.

One small point: don't get dynamite hot or it "sweats" droplets of
nitroglycerine... and then it's very, very touchy! :-)

--
When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better
or for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him.

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk