How to Make a Dry Ice Bomb

DISCLAIMER: Homemade fireworks of any kind are inherently dangerous. They could cause extreme injury or death. It is important that you understand the risks you are taking before following any of these instructions.

New Years wasn't too long ago and nothing makes me happier than to ring in the New Year with explosives. Store bought fireworks are great but there's a certain satisfaction that comes from making your own pyrotechnics. Usually I would harvest the black powder out of cheap fireworks to use in explosives of my own design, but this year I didn't have the resources to do that. I had to improvise. I had heard of dry ice bombs, but I had never actually tried to make one. Turns out it's easier than I thought.

Step 1: Acquire an Empty 2-Liter Bottle

A 16 oz water bottle works too if you want a less aggressive explosion. 

Step 2: Add Dry Ice Chunks

Actually getting dry ice is the hard part. My grocery store sells it for 99 cents per pound. A pound is more than enough. Some states require you to be at least 18 years old to purchase dry ice. 

Step 3: Fill bottle about 1/4 With Warm Water

Warm water makes the dry ice sublimate faster

Step 4: Squeeze the Bottle a Bit and Cap It

Squeezing the bottle before you cap it acts as a fuse. The carbon dioxide gas has to fill up that much more of the bottle before it can explode and this gives you time to run.

Step 5: Run Away

Run. Far. Away.

Step 6: Ready Your Bowels

It would be a shame if you shit yourself . A 2-liter bomb is comparable to a gunshot so be prepared. It doesn't go off right away so there is plenty of time for the suspense to build. 

Step 7: Enjoy and Repeat

Just don't blow your hands off.

What's left after the explosion

-Me, The Pyrotechnic