From: Matthew J Ghio <mg5n+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 93 09:32:56 PDT
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Paper Shredders
In-Reply-To: <9310202230.AA16605@snark.lehman.com>
Message-ID: <4glfVrG00awJEWsVlT@andrew.cmu.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


"Perry E. Metzger" <pmetzger@lehman.com>:

>By the way, the standard method for destroying embassy documents in
>case of siezure (not done during the Iran hostage crisis) is
>reportedly Thermit grenades. (Thermit would likely reduce a filing
>cabinet to slag in moments.)

Yup.  Actually you don't even need the gernade, you could just store
some thermit in the filing cabinet and then ignite it when necessary. 
It's very stable and very unlikely to ignite by accident.  In fact, just
dropping a burning match on it usually won't ignite it, usually you need
some sort of accelerator to make it explode.  Plus, it's easy to make
(Iron oxide (rust) + aluminum).