Hate Your Lawnmower? Don’t Ever Do This

We've all heard the adage, "If you play with fire, you'll get burned." In the case of a Georgia man whose friends were recording him as he attempted to blow up an old lawnmower, it was much worse than a simple burn.

It all started out with David Pressley, 32, of Monroe, Georgia filling an old lawnmower with 3 pounds of Tannerite. For those who are unfamiliar with Tannerite:

From Wikipedia:

Tannerite is the brand name of a binary explosive marketed primarily for making exploding targets for firearms practice.^[1] It is a patented^[2] combination of ammonium nitrate (an oxidizer) and aluminum powder (a fuel) that is supplied as two separate powders that are mixed and shaken to produce an explosive. The combination is relatively stable when subjected to forces less severe than a high-velocity bullet impact, such as a hammer blow, being dropped, or impact from a low-velocity bullet or shotgun blast.^[2] It is also not flammable – an explosion cannot be created by a burning fuse or electricity.^[3] Because it is sold as two separate powders, it can be transported and sold in many places without the legal restrictions that would otherwise apply to explosives.^[4] Other combination explosives are generically referred to as Tannerite.^[4]

The internet is full of videos featuring people blowing stuff up using Tannerite. Cars, barns, tractors, barrels, and in this horrible case, a lawn mower.

Tannerite is often used for target practice, and it is highly recommended by experts that you station yourself at least 100 yards away from the explosion for each pound of Tannerite used. Pressley used approximately 3 pounds of Tannerite, and, according to authorities in Georgia, was firing his weapon from only about 25 yards away when the blast occurred.

This is what happened (WARNING: GRAPHIC):

From what I've been able to find out, Tannerite is legal here in Illinois, unless mixed in to more than a 1/4 ounce mix. Check all laws and restrictions before even considering purchasing it.

However, given the explosive power, I'm going to pass, thank you. As I mentioned, the net is full of Tannerite videos, so if you love big blasts, use your mouse instead of your trigger finger: