# Ask the guy who hasn't yet blown his hand off in a drunken 4th of July accident **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500 "2011-07-01T13:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/1 "2011-07-01T13:31:44Z")
Go on. Ask me anything. I’ll type as long as I can. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/2 "2011-07-01T13:37:58Z")
What’s your technique? I find it difficult to both blow things up AND hold a cold beer at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/3 "2011-07-01T13:38:51Z")
Have you ever tried to blow up a beer can with an M-80? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/4 "2011-07-01T13:43:28Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > What’s your technique? I find it difficult to both blow things up AND hold a cold beer at the same time. The key, like Willie Nelson said, is to know when to hold 'em, know when to throw 'em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run like hell 'cause it’s gonna blow. The problem is practice. You have no idea how many times I’ve forgotten which hand holds the beer and thrown away a perfectly good Natty Light. > [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > Have you ever tried to blow up a beer can with an M-80? I gave up on that when I was a teenager. For me, it’s beer bottles or nothing. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/5 "2011-07-01T14:08:04Z")
My husband, and 12 of his firefighter buddies are going to a cabin in the woods to do some “work,” you know, fixing things that broke during the long, hard winter. He’s taking money for poker, a half gallon of Black Velvet he got for his birthday and never opened and two drills, a power saw and other misc. tools. One of the other guys called yesterday, asking if he should bring the fireworks left over from two years ago. Of course, the answer was YES! Gee, alcohol, power tools and fireworks. I wonder if everyones’ life and health insurance is paid up. Boys and their toys… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/6 "2011-07-01T14:17:40Z")
How about starting a grass fire before you blow your hand off? Those are always fun. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/7 "2011-07-01T14:26:10Z")
Build a campfire, have everyone stand around it and pour your entire bag of fireworks on top. Now you’ve upgraded your party to a Testicle Festival. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/8 "2011-07-01T14:32:59Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > The key, like Willie Nelson said, is to know when to hold 'em, know when to throw 'em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run like hell 'cause it’s gonna blow. Nitpick: I think it was Kenny Rogers, not Willie Nelson. Anyway, do you know the trick with the tin can and a firecracker? Punch a little hole in the unopened end of an empty metal can, a hole just big enough to squeeze a firecracker into, with the fuse in the open. Place the open end of the can on a plate or pie tin with just enough water in it to seal the edges around the bottom. Light the firecracker. The can will blow into the air. If you do it just right it will jump as high as an ordinary power line. I have experience, you see. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/9 "2011-07-01T14:43:53Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > How about starting a grass fire before you blow your hand off? Those are always fun. Grass fires can be cool if you manage to catch the entire forest on fire. All those chipmunks going “chitter chitter chitter” which roughly translates to “you blew it up! Damn you all to hell!” But most days I’ll just take a good explosion and pretty sparkly lights. > [@Baker](#): > > Nitpick: I think it was Kenny Rogers, not Willie Nelson. > > Anyway, do you know the trick with the tin can and a firecracker? Punch a little hole in the unopened end of an empty metal can, a hole just big enough to squeeze a firecracker into, with the fuse in the open. Place the open end of the can on a plate or pie tin with just enough water in it to seal the edges around the bottom. Light the firecracker. The can will blow into the air. If you do it just right it will jump as high as an ordinary power line. I have experience, you see. Little known fact: put a 500 gram aerial repeater inside an oil drum just right and you have to start explaining to national security why an ICBM showed up on their radar. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/10 "2011-07-01T14:47:40Z")
Goex or Elephant Powder? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/11 "2011-07-01T14:58:49Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Goex or Elephant Powder? Gosh, what do you have against KiK\*? [sub]\*Yes, I completely looked that up. I don’t know anything about any of them[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/12 "2011-07-02T17:39:25Z")
Are you the same guy who dodged a bottle rocket while the yard was on fire? And whose neighbor said this is one fourth you will always remember…I mean, you won’t forget? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/13 "2011-07-02T17:51:31Z")
I’ll bet the Fourth at **Tripler’s** house is _awesome._ ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/14 "2011-07-02T18:41:44Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Go on. Ask me anything. I’ll type as long as I can. what is your shoe size? when did you start feeling a strong attachment to your hands? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/15 "2011-07-02T19:08:24Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > … > Gee, alcohol, power tools and fireworks. I wonder if everyones’ life and health insurance is paid up. > > Boys and their toys… Don’t worry, they’re professionals. Yeah, right. I’ve had firemen pals most of my life and they’re more dangerous than most other folks. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/16 "2011-07-02T19:33:56Z")
Should be a good Fourth at my house. 10 Lbs of AN 1 Lb of German Dark Aluminum Powder Electric Blasting Caps LONG spool of two conductor wire 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/17 "2011-07-03T22:02:30Z")
I’m not sure if [this](http://www.heavy.com/comedy/2011/01/20-worst-fireworks-fails/) is the same one I saw last year. But even if it’s not, it’ll do. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/18 "2011-07-03T22:16:39Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I’m not sure if [this](http://www.heavy.com/comedy/2011/01/20-worst-fireworks-fails/) is the same one I saw last year. But even if it’s not, it’ll do. #9 is the fake one for sure. Editing and results are just pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/19 "2011-07-03T22:17:33Z")
Do you have anything spectacular planned for when you do blow your hand off? ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500/20 "2011-07-03T22:33:57Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > Do you have anything spectacular planned for when you do blow your hand off? Won’t that be spectacular enough on its own? -D/a [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-hasnt-yet-blown-his-hand-off-in-a-drunken-4th-of-july-accident/587500.md?page=2)