Explosive Table?

EnglishPatriot_2003 · Post by **EnglishPatriot_2003** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 6:18 pm

How do you make a small safe explosion on a table?

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:36 am

i would go through this forum and look for explosion threads or be a little more specific with what u need

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:55 pm

Yeah, I keep getting asked stuff like "I need to make an explosion"! It doesn't really help you know! We need more info!I'll quote Number 5 on this one: "INPUT! NEED MORE INPUT!".

The type of explosion depends on what you're trying to blow up or the effect you're tryig to achieve. If you plan on blowing up a model oil-reninery, you need something that gives a good fireball. If you have a garden shed you want to blow up (and neighbours and your house not nearby!), then you need something that's going to be able to splinter the wood apart. If you want to create a land-mine effect, or mortar fire, you don't need something that's all that powerful, but just gives the effect it is.

You'll also need to consider safety. You don't want to lose fingers and eyes. If your explosive goes off prematurely, then you're in big trouble, especially if it's for a larger explosion. Grant still has Caustic Soda scars from when something went wrong, and I've electrocuted myself twice (Which some of you lot would probably think would account for why I am like I am!)!

EnglishPatriot_2003 · Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:23 am

Its a bazooka that is fired at a table in a bar and the bar explodes and the two people sitting there are thrown to the wall.

Any idea how to go about this?

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:30 am

well that is different then.
Hmmm what is the table and bar made of? This is a factor

EnglishPatriot_2003 · Post by **EnglishPatriot_2003** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:45 pm

The bar is uneffected its just the table that blows up. And its made out of wood suprisingly. This aint no posh pub its just an ordinary one.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:33 pm

and people r sitting around the table as it blows up?

EnglishPatriot_2003 · Mon Jan 26, 2004 12:44 pm

two people are. one on the left of it and one on the right. But I could change things to make it easier.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:36 pm

will have to think about it, sorry. Problem is what to make the effect happen and safely? Hmm hard to hide a charge under a table. Maybe some sort of compressed air method or even a pre-cut table and a thin pull string from above to make it explode upwards?
What does everyone else think?

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 12:46 am

Definitely precut, but compressed air would be the safest way to get the table to fragment properly. I would think that the force even of compressed air needed to fragment without precutting would tend to vreate some rather nasty projectiles

BrownCowStudios · Post by **BrownCowStudios** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:02 am

Score the hell out of the table, hollow out the center, and insert the biggest black powder charge you can. Is this safe? No. Will it work? Most likely.

So, ideally, you can film the explosion and actors separately, and combine them using animated masks in AE perhaps. Film your actors reacting, then film the explosion as described above (use as many precautions as possible). you may also want to drill holes in the table and pour in some talcum powder or flour, then scatter more talcum powder or flour across the top of the table.

I would recommend testing all of this before the day of filming. And I am not liable for any of your f*** ups!

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 11:29 pm

BrownCow that sounds good. I would try that in theory. Still would have to think hard of safety concerns and control issues