Detonator fragmentation

[spotter]

I was lucky enough today to be invited to an explosives demonstration,the one thing that i thought would be of interest to people is the damage a single detonator can do, small and not very harmless looking they can cause severe injury.
The example shown to us was detonated inside a large empty can but imagine it going off in your hands,be carefull small does not mean harmless......

 

[highlandotter]

What kind/size was this detonator?

 

[exat808]

Number 8 strength Bickford zero delay.

 

[beihan62]

Thanks Allan,a nice illustration of just how powerful those things are,also an interesting fragmentation pattern shown by the perforations in the can,
Cheers,
Don,

 

[exat808]

The detonator was suspended through a central hole in the closed base of the can. It was suspended with the base of the detonator approximately 2cm above the open rim of the can. The whole can with detonator inserted was suspended freely approx 1.5m above the ground and then fired.
The resulting fragmentation is from the aluminium body of the detonator perforating the can. The explosive content was in the region of 1 gram.
As Spotter has noted; this is a very potent and potentially lethal article. Please always handle these items with extreme caution.

 

[highlandotter]

Thanks. Very fine demo of the power of a wee bit of explosive.And a steel can is tougher than human meat.