# How Do Daredevils Do The 'Box Of Dynamite' Act? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026 "2018-06-29T23:29:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/21 "2018-07-01T17:30:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > I missed Tri-Polar’s response: > Actual dynamite may or may not be used (what’s the difference between say 1/4 stick of dynamite and an amount of explosive equal to 1/4 stick of dynamite? Nuclear weapons don’t use TNT, but they’re measured in comparable tons of TNT…), but I stand by what I said: it’s theatrics coupled with an element of risk. The point is that an M-80 is NOT equivalent to 1/4 stick of dynamite even if it may look like it’s right shape and size. Nuclear weapons are compared to tons of TNT based on the total explosive force produced, not on their physical resemblance to a mountain of TNT. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/22 "2018-07-01T17:39:12Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > That’s funny. > > Perhaps there’s an alternate explanation you favor? Maybe the performer merely pushes the box open with their arms and legs, while simultaneously turning on flashlights and small smoke bombs? > > It seems perfectly reasonable that these performers are using enough explosives to blow the box apart, while using a small enough amount to keep from killing themselves. It’s more flash than bang, but there’s definitely a lot of bang to it. > > How do you think it’s done? In the video link I’ve provided below, here’s my take on it. You can see as he’s lifting the lid the construction is probably some type of rigid foam skinned with maybe a thin fiber cardboard. When he lifts one end it has a bit too much ‘give’ at the other. Also the pieces that are left after the explosion aren’t broken in the way wood would have broken and exactly as rigid styrofoam would have. When he climbs in he clearly positions himself toward the ‘head’ end. As the box explodes you can see the explosion happens beyond (or below) his feet. How I believe it’s done is he climbs in in such a way that there is a board between his feet and the explosives. Probably has a string to detonate the device, much like a party popper. Extra thick shoe soles, good set of earplugs and he’s set to go. Given that the box itself has little structural stability, it wouldn’t take much of an internal explosion to blow it apart - FAR much less than a stick of dynamite. After the explosion stagger around a bit for effect and you’ve got a show. I’ll also add that I don’t believe that there are so few dynamite daredevils because it’s so dangerous. It’s more likely that this is because they probably don’t make that much and jobs are few between. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fhO_Npsz6RA/hqdefault.jpg "Watch a guy blow himself up in a box, 1976: CBC Archives | CBC") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhO_Npsz6RA) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/23 "2018-07-01T17:48:31Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I’ll also add that I don’t believe that there are so few dynamite daredevils because it’s so dangerous. It’s more likely that this is because they probably don’t make that much and jobs are few between. > > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fhO\_Npsz6RA](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fhO_Npsz6RA) These guys were all over the place in the 70s. The fad died out quickly because it really wasn’t a very good show, plenty of hype leading to what turns out to be a quick and rather lame event. All the audience gets to see is a box being blown up. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/24 "2018-07-01T18:45:17Z")
As noted, the flimsiness of the box is key. It takes hardly any explosives to tear one of those into a million pieces. Looks impressive. It isn’t. Well, if your ears and eyes are protected. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/25 "2018-07-03T02:46:32Z")
Id expect the box to be flimsy, something has to give, human bodies dont enjoy overpressure very well, can kill you with a very small explosive if i can contain all the pressure. Go build a nice sturdy box of 3 inch oak and you will be dead long before i can get the box to blow apart. Wont make for much of a show. I doubt it is terribly safe, the 70’s elvis guys video, you could see his body bounce and he isn’t exactly Twiggy. Not my idea of a fun job ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/26 "2018-07-03T18:57:20Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/27 "2018-07-03T21:51:13Z")
Sorry to take a small tangent but not every carnival trick is an actual trick. I might have posted this story elsewhere in another context, but I have a friend who used to do “participatory” features for newspapers. I went along with her once when she did a story about being the lady spinning on a wooden wheel while knives were thrown at her (all of the knives hit wood, not her.). I was standing nearby but not close enough to examine the knives or the wheel, so I asked her later if it was a put-on (eg knives popping out of hidden compartments in the wheel). She said no, the guy was really throwing knives and she was terrified. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/28 "2018-07-03T22:05:00Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Sorry to take a small tangent but not every carnival trick is an actual trick. I might have posted this story elsewhere in another context, but I have a friend who used to do “participatory” features for newspapers. I went along with her once when she did a story about being the lady spinning on a wooden wheel while knives were thrown at her (all of the knives hit wood, not her.). > > I was standing nearby but not close enough to examine the knives or the wheel, so I asked her later if it was a put-on (eg knives popping out of hidden compartments in the wheel). She said no, the guy was really throwing knives and she was terrified. I don’t think anyone is saying all such acts are rigged, just that some definitely are, and there’s no point in a daredevil using actual dynamite in this stunt. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/29 "2018-07-03T22:36:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t think anyone is saying all such acts are rigged, just that some definitely are, and there’s no point in a daredevil using actual dynamite in this stunt. I know. Just thought the thread had reached the point where I could go to a related area, as it bears on the overall credibility or not of “carnies.” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/30 "2018-07-04T02:58:19Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > I know. Just thought the thread had reached the point where I could go to a related area, as it bears on the overall credibility or not of “carnies.” And the proof that’s it’s real because the carny girl says it was? Color me skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026/31 "2018-07-04T04:08:48Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > And the proof that’s it’s real because the carny girl says it was? Color me skeptical. You didn’t read my first post at all, did you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-daredevils-do-the-box-of-dynamite-act/817026.md?page=1)