Purchasing, and using are still fine (when non-commercial).

The dealer would be the one with the license.

Also, manufacturing and using on site for non-commercial purposes is exempted (albeit not explicitly). Which is why tannerite and personal explosives research is fine and widespread.

Can I see a link to the exemption for non commercial use?

While I get some things are exempt like tannerite, I find it highly unlikely someone could just manufacture TNT or rdx and use it in their back yard without breaking a ton of laws.

Even if you used it within the 24 hour requirement so it didn't have to be stored(iirc from my memory of old legal readings)

It depends on state laws, but there are a LOT of folks doing it on youtube - zero prosecutions i’m aware of. [https://www.atf.gov/explosives/binary-explosives], halfway through the ‘License and or permit requirements’. It’s not actually specific to binary explosives, but those are the ones where it most clearly applies to random members of the public.

Specifically, “Persons manufacturing explosives for their own personal, non-business use only (e.g., personal target practice) are not required to have a federal explosives license or permit under 27 CFR, Part 555”

The issue is the law is clearly written to regulate commercial activites, and the fed gov’t (at least in theory) only has jurisdiction over commercial activities (those involving trade). There is a lot of court precedent on this, some of it confusing. So while the law doesn’t explicitly exempt personal, non-business use, the courts (and constitution), and the law, doesn’t cover personal, non-business use either. So, legal.

also, there is zero chance they could stop it.

Where does it clarify that manufacturing includes personal use? I did read it over a couple of times and I couldn't find anything that says that, at least not in those words.

However, it may be that the suspect violated a different section of the law:

It shall be unlawful for any person to store any explosive material in a manner not in conformity with regulations promulgated by the Attorney General.

The suspect may also have violated the NFA, by manufacturing destructive devices without appropriate permitting or record keeping.

>Where does it clarify that manufacturing includes personal use?

The definitions, which were on the previous page. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/841

You may be referring to (h), but that is the definition of "manufacturer".

I'm not sure if we can take that to mean "engaged in the business of manufacturing" includes non-commercial activity.

you are correct, I pasted a link to the ATF saying so in a parallel comment.

it’s not explicitly called out in the law, like you’re noting. rather that personal, non-commercial use just isn’t covered by the law. So legal/exempt.

Other situations, like non-personal, non-commercial use are covered - distribution requires licensing even if not paid, same as import/export, doing business in explosives, etc.

Where some YouTubers and the like have gotten in trouble is when they start making money off what would otherwise be personal use (like showing videos of tannerite usage, or some other synthesis), but funny enough if they get demonitized and aren’t using it for some business purpose, they’re fine.