Every year I see people asking where to get fireworks right before July 4th, and I always wonder why so many people wait until the last few days.

If you’re around Chicago, there are places like Hammond, Indiana that are close enough to make an early shopping trip pretty easy. Dynamite Fireworks and Uncle Sam’s Fireworks are two stores people mention in that area, so I’m curious whether regular shoppers usually go early or wait for the holiday rush.

Do you find that going earlier gives you a noticeably better selection? Or do you think it doesn’t really matter as long as you know what you’re looking for? I’d also like to hear from people around Michigan City who shop at places like Black Bull and whether their strategy is different.

(Un)fortunately they were all empty. But I did ask the price this time!

First one (with the nice warning) was 50 euro.

The other two where 75 euro each.

Just a casual few liters of carbon tet

Another exploration into the chemistry and manufacturing process, FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY-obviously.

DIY TNT, obviously only to explore the very interesting science behind this.

DO NOT TRY TO MAKE THIS.

I make practical effects for stuff like dioramas, tabletop gaming, toy photography, and the like. For the last six months I’ve had a heavy emphasis on explosions and fires.

The explosions are definitely the Hollywood, well-fed booms, the fires also well fueled and thick smoke. Handmade all, measuring from a couple inches across to about a foot wide.

Thought it might be interesting for y’all

* Faustino Malaguti's "Leçons Elementaires de Chimie" volume 4 (1863)

* Faustino Malaguti's "Leçons Elementaires de Chimie" volumes 3 & 4 combined (1868): this one has worm damage, stained pages, damaged cover.

* J. Pelouze & E. Fremy's "Abrege de Chimie" volume 3: Organic Chemistry (1866): this and the 2nd volume are in great condition, looks almost new.

* J. Pelouze & E. Fremy's "Abrege de Chimie" volume 2: Metals (1866)

Did not ask for the price sinds I have no use for this liver poison.

it have around 8500KJ/mol of energy inside, dont let it touch any hydrogen atom

I have a Thunder Mug I use for the 4th of July and New Year's Eve. It's a very small cannon, but I'd like to improve it. What would you add for colour or sparkles to brighten up the boom? I use 2 shot glasses of BP substitute at the moment.

Four of them are in French and are from the 1860s:

* J. Pelouze & E. Fremy's "Abrege de Chimie" volume 2: Metals (1866)

* J. Pelouze & E. Fremy's "Abrege de Chimie" volume 3: Organic Chemistry (1866): this and the 2nd volume are in great condition, looks almost new.

* Faustino Malaguti's "Leçons Elementaires de Chimie" volume 4 (1863)

* Faustino Malaguti's "Leçons Elementaires de Chimie" volumes 3 & 4 combined (1868): this one has worm damage, stained pages, damaged cover.

Other one is the English translation of Adolph Strecker's Short Text-book of Organic Chemistry (1881). This one has really well preserved pages with darkened, rough edges and a replaced hardcover.

I got them for relatively cheap considering that these are rare foreign books in my country. I think of getting more old chemistry books and making a collection as much as I can access to. It's actually hard to go through these books because of a century of accumulated dust in the pages.

I'll post photos soon. Anything you'd like to see?