If they don't manage to "blow the socks off" or w/e it is they're trying to do the first time, they just make an even BIGGER explosion until it really does work!
I love watching Mythbusters and Jaime and his sidekick, Adam always tried to amp up anything they can get their hands on to outdo on exposives. I think it is their favorite thing to do....blow up stuff!
My boys want to do this for a living when they grow up. Mythbusters is a favorite around here. I think the channel should be renamed "testosterone tv" or "Parents, don't let your kids try this at home".
Their place is just 30 mins away from me. I freakin love that show! I'm waiting for them to accept my resume.
They usually know exactly what they are doing and have the explosive experts (usually the same 2 guys) with them when they do anything bigger than a quarter stick of dynamite. Hard to imagine they didn't know what they were doing with 500 lbs of ammonia nitrate!
Remember that one where they exploded the huge cement mixer? I still think that's the biggest one they ever did.