I think it was a trucking supply or refrigeration firm. There may have been other places that would have sold it, but I didn't have the time to further investigate. I had a tax exempt number, though I could not use it for the dry ice, because the intent was not for resale.
Many of you don't seem to appreciate the dangers involved. It seems you are not familiar with physics or explosives. I think the typical 2 L pop bottle is rated for about 70 PSI working pressure, and about 90 PSI burst pressure.
That means the typical 2 L bottle is safe at about 70 PSI, but likely to burst at about 90 PSI, but possibly can hold higher pressure.
I saw the aftermath of a guy that foolishly used a 2 L bottle for an air tank reservoir for retractable landing gear in a giant scale model airplane. He had the fuselage in his vehicle as he was filling up the 2 L bottle. The bottle exploded and totaled the fuselage of the model and did moderate damage to the vehicle. If he had been near the model when it exploded, he could have been injured or killed.
2 L dry ice bombs can injure, maim and possibly kill. They often explode mailboxes, so what do you think it possibly could do to a delicate body?
A graphic image of the type of injury that can be caused by a 2 L dry ice bomb.
http://www.dryiceinfo.com/Pictures/dry ice bomb injury.jpg
http://www.dryiceinfo.com/fog.htm
20 years might be a little much, but considering the location and circumstances, 20 years might not be excessive.
I feel that pop bottle bombs that are set off in a way that there is intent to do harm or there is reckless indifference; that it should be considered a serious crime.
Your ears rang for days from a balloon? Sounds fishy. I've "exploded" balloons with methane, hydrogen, acetylene, and they've been more of whoosh then a bang.
