When summer rolls around, few things are more enjoyable than lounging on a pool float and soaking up the sunshine. However, after a season or two of use, pool floats can become deflated and sad looking. While you can certainly reinflate many pool floats with air, some people get the urge to take things to the extreme and “blow up” their floats with explosive results just for fun. Of course, this is extremely dangerous and illegal in most jurisdictions, so do not actually attempt it. But if you were hypothetically interested in spectacularly detonating your pool float, here are some theoretical options on what you could use.
Page Contents
Firecrackers
One of the most accessible backyard explosives are firecrackers. Stuffing a large string of firecrackers inside a pool float and lighting the fuse would likely cause a dramatic explosion. Firecrackers detonate quickly in a chain reaction, building up pressure inside the confined space of a pool float and blasting it apart in a shower of rubber shrapnel. Smaller firecrackers might simply create holes or splits in the float, while large firecracker strings or M-80s could potentially blow a float to smithereens. However, the risk of injury from flying debris would be extremely high.
Gunpowder
For a more controlled and potentially more powerful blast, a homemade gunpowder charge could theoretically be used. Gunpowder can be purchased or homemade using potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur mixed together in the proper ratios. Containing the loose gunpowder in a cardboard cylinder or tube, placing it inside the pool float, and igniting it with a fuse would generate an intense explosion. The pressure wave from the rapidly expanding gasses would fully rupture even a sturdy pool float. Experimenting with different amounts of powder would control the power of the blast. However, making homemade explosives is very dangerous and could result in serious criminal charges.
Tannerite
Sold as a binary explosive for firearms target practice, Tannerite consists of two inert powders that are mixed together immediately before use. When shot with a high velocity bullet, Tannerite detonates in a small explosion. While intended for legal use on shooting ranges, adding Tannerite to a pool float and shooting it could produce an enormous blast. As an impact-detonated explosive, Tannerite would be safer to handle during preparation than a fused charge. But it would still be incredibly foolish and hazardous to detonate in such an unsafe manner.
Propane tank
For the highest degree of mayhem, an extremely reckless person could theoretically place a small propane tank inside a pool float and attempt to detonate it. Propane is highly flammable and explosive under pressure. After puncturing the valve of the tank to release the propane into the pool float, introducing an ignition source would result in a massive fireball. The overpressure could potentially rupture the propane tank and turn it into a makeshift fragmentation grenade. This would be a highly lethal explosion that could kill or maim anyone nearby and is obviously an incredibly foolish idea that should never, ever be attempted.
Gasoline
While less explosive than propane, gasoline has a much lower flashpoint and could also produce an impressive blast when contained in a pool float. Saturating a pool float with gasoline through a small hole and adding an ignition source like a burning piece of paper could cause a huge fireball as the fuel vapors ignite. The rapid expansion of burning gasses could rupture or even detonate the pool float in a fraction of a second. This would be extremely dangerous and could lead to widespread fires. Do not attempt.
Chemical reaction explosives
For those with expertise in chemistry, combining volatile reagents inside a pool float could result in an explosive chemical reaction capable of destroying it. Options like acetone peroxide are unstable and detonate with heat, friction, or shock. However, synthesizing unstable explosives requires extensive knowledge and safety precautions. Even experts would avoid such reckless and dangerous uses. Making things explode in a residential area can lead to steep criminal penalties. Leave explosives to the professionals.
Conclusion
This article does not seriously recommend using any form of explosive to destroy a pool float, as doing so would be astonishingly dangerous and harmful. Authorities should immediately be contacted if anyone is actually plotting to detonate pool floats with explosives. This content is purely for hypothetical entertainment purposes and to illustrate how spectacularly poor of an idea this would be. When it’s time to dispose of a worn out pool float, simply deflate it and throw it away. Explosives and residential areas don’t mix. Soak up the summer sun safely!