TM 31-210 - Improvised Munitions Handbook - Section V

MATERIALS REQUIRED:	SOURCE:

Steel wool (without soap), approx. 16 large pads	Hardware or general store
Smoke pipe, approximately 4 feet long x 12 inches in diameter, 1/16 inches thick	Hardware store
Vacuum cleaner	Hardware store
Electrical source (110 v., A.C.)	Modern commercial and domestic buildings
Window screen
Newspaper
2 containers
Wooden blocks, if necessary
Flame source (matches, lighter, etc.)

PROCEDURE:

1. Separate a handful of steel wool into a fluffy ball approximately 12 inches in diameter and place into one end of the smoke pipe.
2. Place the pipe on a level, nonflammable surface. Steady the pipe, using wooden blocks if necessary.
3. Ignite the steel wool with the flame source, and , with the vacuum cleaner, force a stream of air through the flame.

NOTE: The forced air provided by the vacuum cleaner aids in the burning of the steel wool. If the steel wool does not completely burn, more separation of the wool is needed.
4. When the steel wool has almost completely burned, add another handful of the fluffed steel wool (Step No. 1).
5. Continue adding to the flame a single handful of fluffed wool at a time until a sufficient amount of iron oxide granules have accumulated in the stove pipe.
6. Place a window screen on a sheet of newspaper. Pour the burned steel wool granules onto the window screen and shake screen until all the fine particles have passed through.lid on the jar and shake ingredients vigorously until well mixed.
7. Discard those particles on the newspaper which are fibrous and unburned.
8. Save the particles which were too large to pass trough the screen in one of the containers for future burning.
9. Store particles of iron oxide (left on newspaper) in another container until ready for use.

Section V	No. 7
IMPROVISED IRON OXIDE

Iron Oxide can be made from steel wool. It is used in the preparation of Improvised Yellow Flare (Section V, No. 8), Improvised Smoke Munition (Section V, No. 9) and Improvised Black Smoke Munition (Section V, No. 10).