Can You Actually Paint A Room Using Explosives? | MythBusters

The Mythbusters, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, embark on a quest to replicate a scene from the British comedy "Mr. Bean", where a stick of dynamite in a paint bucket perfectly paints a room without destroying it. Their previous attempts years ago resulted in stained walls rather than a pristine paint job. This time, they're determined to harness the power of explosives to achieve a perfect, even coat of paint.

Adam's Explosive Artistry: From Splatter to Snowflake

Adam begins his experiments with a small chunk of C4, a bag of paint, and a surface. His initial test, with the C4 placed below a hanging bag of paint and a canvas, results in a messy splatter with minimal coverage. The slow-motion replay reveals that the paint isn't vaporizing as expected, suggesting the C4 is too far away. For his second test, Adam moves the paint directly on top of the C4 and adds a reflective backing plate made of heavy steel. This significantly improves the coverage, creating a "vaporized fog of paint" that coats the board more effectively. The high-speed footage of the blue paint explosion is described as "absolutely gorgeous." Still seeking perfection, Adam's third test involves a thin sheet of plasticized sheet explosive, or "C4 jerky," spread under the paint. This final test yields a "riot of color" and inspires Adam to create a more elaborate painting device. He constructs a large, hexagonal metal frame, which he dubs "the Snowflake." This device, designed to hold multiple canvases and paint charges, is Adam's artistic interpretation of painting with explosives.