Uncle Fester is the
pen name
A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen na ...
of Steve Preisler,
[Uncle Fester Books](_blank)
additional text. author of such controversial books as ''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture'' and ''Silent Death''.
Biography
Preisler gained underground fame after publishing his first book ''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture'' in the early 1980s. He says that he got the nickname "
Uncle Fester
Uncle Fester is a member of the fictional Addams Family. He was played by Jackie Coogan in the original television series, by Christopher Lloyd in the two feature films, by Nick Kroll in the 2019 and 2021 animated features, by Fred Armisen in t ...
" from his college years, since he was very well known for producing explosives, and blowing things up, like the character in ''
The Addams Family
''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over a ...
''.
Preisler is an industrial chemist working in an
electroplating
Electroplating, also known as electrochemical deposition or electrodeposition, is a process for producing a metal coating on a solid substrate through the reduction of cations of that metal by means of a direct electric current. The part to be ...
factory he calls "the rat hole." In his spare time, he writes books. Preisler graduated in 1981 from
Marquette University
Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...
with a Chemistry & Biology degree. Two years later, he was arrested for
methamphetamine
Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamph ...
possession and was sentenced to probation. He was arrested again in 1984 for methamphetamine charges, and put in the
Waupun Correctional Institution
The Waupun Correctional Institution is a maximum security penitentiary in Waupun, Wisconsin. The prison is under the command of Warden Randall Hepp.
History
On July 4, 1851, Governor Nelson Dewey selected the Waupun area to be the site of the W ...
. He says that the arrest was over a few grams of methamphetamine, but the
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA; ) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with combating drug trafficking and distribution within th ...
(DEA) brought back credit card information saying that he had been buying large quantities of
ephedrine
Ephedrine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is often used to prevent low blood pressure during anesthesia. It has also been used for asthma, narcolepsy, and obesity but is not the preferred treatment. It is of unclear benefit in ...
, which is a precursor for methamphetamine.
Outraged, Fester borrowed a typewriter from a fellow inmate, and began writing the manuscript for ''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture''.
Loompanics Unlimited
Loompanics Unlimited was an American book seller and publisher specializing in nonfiction on generally unconventional or controversial topics. The topics in their title list included drugs, weapons, survivalism, anarchism, sex, conspiracy theories ...
published the book, and it was an instant success. ''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture'' is now in its eighth edition. It was one of Loompanics' best sellers. The book has information on how to produce crystal methamphetamine through six different methods. It also has data on how to synthesize
MDMA
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly seen in Tablet (pharmacy), tablet form (ecstasy) and crystal form (molly or mandy), is a potent empathogen–entactogen with stimulant properties primarily used for Recreational dru ...
or
MDA
MDA, mda, or ''variation'', may refer to:
Places
* Moldova, a country in Europe with the ISO 3166-1 country code MDA Politics
* Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (2018), ruling coalition government in the Indian State of Meghalaya led by National Pe ...
, and how to synthesize
methcathinone
Methcathinone (α-methylamino-propiophenone or ephedrone) (sometimes called "cat" or "jeff" or "catnip" or "M-Kat" or "kat" or "intash" ) is a monoamine alkaloid and psychoactive stimulant, a substituted cathinone. It is used as a recreational ...
by oxidation of ephedrine. It also contains syntheses for precursor materials such as
phenylacetone
Phenylacetone is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH2COCH3. It is a colorless oil that is soluble in organic solvents. This substance is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and amphetamine, where it is commonly known as ...
, ephedrine,
methylamine
Methylamine is an organic compound with a formula of . This colorless gas is a derivative of ammonia, but with one hydrogen atom being replaced by a methyl group. It is the simplest primary amine.
Methylamine is sold as a solution in methanol, ...
, and
alkyl nitrite
In organic chemistry, alkyl nitrites are a group of organic compounds based upon the molecular structure , where R represents an alkyl group. Formally they are alkyl esters of nitrous acid. They are distinct from nitro compounds ().
The first ...
s. Previous editions of ''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture'' have had some criticism: see for exampl
Eleusis v. Festerfor discussion between Fester and the past
MDMA
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly seen in Tablet (pharmacy), tablet form (ecstasy) and crystal form (molly or mandy), is a potent empathogen–entactogen with stimulant properties primarily used for Recreational dru ...
clandestine chemist Eleusis/Zwitterion.
Books
Uncle Fester has since written six other books:
* ''Home Workshop Explosives'' details how the underground chemist can easily manufacture explosives. It describes manufacture of
nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin (NG), (alternative spelling of nitroglycerine) also known as trinitroglycerin (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by nitrating g ...
as well as syntheses for
RDX
RDX (abbreviation of "Research Department eXplosive") or hexogen, among other names, is an organic compound with the formula (O2N2CH2)3. It is a white solid without smell or taste, widely used as an explosive. Chemically, it is classified as a n ...
,
ammonium nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is a white crystalline salt consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates. It is ...
,
acetone peroxide blasting caps,
nitroglycol
Ethylene glycol dinitrate, abbreviated EGDN and NGC, also known as Nitroglycol, is a colorless, oily, explosive liquid obtained by nitrating ethylene glycol. It is similar to nitroglycerine in both manufacture and properties, though it is more v ...
,
mannitol hexanitrate or nitromannitol, and
PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), also known as PENT, PENTA, (ПЕНТА, primarily in Russian) TEN, corpent, or penthrite (or, rarely and primarily in German, as nitropenta), is an explosive material. It is the nitrate ester of pentaerythri ...
. It also has information on how to purify
glycerin
Glycerol (), also called glycerine in British English and glycerin in American English, is a simple triol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and non-toxic. The glycerol backbone is found in lipids known ...
, how to synthesize
nitric acid
Nitric acid is the inorganic compound with the formula . It is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The compound is colorless, but older samples tend to be yellow cast due to decomposition into oxides of nitrogen. Most commercially available nitri ...
with minimal equipment, and how to make a
fuel-air explosive
A thermobaric weapon, also called an aerosol bomb, a vacuum bomb or a fuel air explosive (FAE), is a type of explosive that uses oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion. The fuel–air explosive is one of the be ...
(commonly known as an FAE). One reviewer of ''Home Workshop Explosives'' (David Harber, author of ''Guerrilla's Arsenal'') notes that although the chemistry is solid, the chapter on detonation systems "borders on insanity."
* ''Silent Death'' describes routes for manufacturing
nerve gas
Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that ...
es (such as
tabun and
sarin
Sarin (NATO designation GB G-series, "B"">Nerve_agent#G-series.html" ;"title="hort for Nerve agent#G-series">G-series, "B" is an extremely toxic synthetic organophosphorus compound.[botulin toxin
Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium ''Clostridium botulinum'' and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromusc ...]
),
ricin
Ricin ( ) is a lectin (a carbohydrate-binding protein) and a highly potent toxin produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant, ''Ricinus communis''. The median lethal dose (LD50) of ricin for mice is around 22 micrograms per kilogram of body ...
,
phosgene
Phosgene is the organic chemical compound with the formula COCl2. It is a toxic, colorless gas; in low concentrations, its musty odor resembles that of freshly cut hay or grass. Phosgene is a valued and important industrial building block, espe ...
,
arsine
Arsine (IUPAC name: arsane) is an inorganic compound with the formula As H3. This flammable, pyrophoric, and highly toxic pnictogen hydride gas is one of the simplest compounds of arsenic. Despite its lethality, it finds some applications in th ...
, and other poisons.
* ''Vest Busters'', Fester's smallest book, describes easy methods for manufacturing steel bullets using a lathe and methods of coating them with
Teflon
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that has numerous applications. It is one of the best-known and widely applied PFAS. The commonly known brand name of PTFE-based composition is Teflon by Chemou ...
. Both velocity and the strength of a bullet's core are the two most significant factors in determining whether a bullet has armor-piercing capabilities. However, coating a bullet with Teflon has no effect on armor penetration, and that Fester's statement that "Coating a bullet with Teflon would raise it one level higher" is false. As well, hard armor would render handguns a moot point against the plate anyhow.
* ''Practical LSD Manufacture'' is one of Fester's more famous books. It deals with how one could manufacture a large quantity of
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, vi ...
. This book is filled up with most of the hard-to-understand information on LSD syntheses that is currently available. The book has production information for the drug
TMA-2 and plenty of information about how to isolate
lysergic acid
Lysergic acid, also known as -lysergic acid and (+)-lysergic acid, is a precursor for a wide range of ergoline alkaloids that are produced by the ergot fungus and found in the seeds of '' Turbina corymbosa'' (ololiuhqui), '' Argyreia nervosa'' ...
from
morning glory
Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of ...
seeds and other plant material. This work is not without its criticisms: the use of more outdated syntheses from the 1950s and 1960s, lacking the synthesis using
POCl3 as a dehydrating reagent in the condensation between
diethylamine
Diethylamine is an organic compound with the formula (CH3CH2)2NH. It is a secondary amine. It is a flammable, weakly alkaline liquid that is miscible with most solvents. It is a colorless liquid, but commercial samples often appear brown due to im ...
and lysergic acid; the speculation about "Method X" is erroneous, as propionic anhydride is used in the synthesis of
fentanyl
Fentanyl, also spelled fentanil, is a very potent synthetic opioid used as a pain medication. Together with other drugs, fentanyl is used for anesthesia. It is also used illicitly as a recreational drug, sometimes mixed with heroin, cocaine ...
analogues; and there is some confusion over stereoisomers by Fester. These criticisms are addressed in the third edition of the book.
* ''Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic & Amphetamine Manufacture'', an 'add-on' for ''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture'', provides a more advanced method of synthesizing methamphetamine using what is called "The Fester Formula," which describes how to manufacture methamphetamine through an electric synthesis. The book also covers many alternative methods for manufacturing
phenylacetone
Phenylacetone is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH2COCH3. It is a colorless oil that is soluble in organic solvents. This substance is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and amphetamine, where it is commonly known as ...
and
methylamine
Methylamine is an organic compound with a formula of . This colorless gas is a derivative of ammonia, but with one hydrogen atom being replaced by a methyl group. It is the simplest primary amine.
Methylamine is sold as a solution in methanol, ...
. One chapter of the book, "A Convenient Tabletop MDA Synthesis," describes an alternative method for synthesizing MDA in a small area such as a
dorm
A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm) is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people such as boarding school, high school, college or university s ...
room using
raney nickel which is extremely dangerous.
* ''Bloody Brazilian Knife Fightin' Techniques'', his newest book, covers methods for common fighting techniques from Brazil. Here Fester talks about some of his adventures in Brazil with some Brazilian friends and how he learned some lethal techniques in knife fighting. In an interview with Fox News it was described as a "flop", and Preisler said, "If it's not science, it's not selling. Never go outside of your genre".
Preisler was arrested at his home in Green Bay on July 14, 2023. He was charged on July 17. Two years after his interview with Vice TV, where he showed how to cook meth, just without finishing the cook.
Documentary
Preisler was the object of the 40-minute documentary film "Friction", by
Robert Ellman, made at a cost of approximately $300,000, whose premiere on
Czech Television
Czech Television ( cs, Česká televize, italics=no ; abbreviation: ČT) is a public television broadcaster in the Czech Republic, broadcasting seven channels. Established after the Velvet Revolution in 1992, it is the successor to Czechoslov ...
was cancelled after the
September 11 attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
rendered the topic "politically incorrect".
Preisler was also featured in season 3 episode 2 of
VICE
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...
's ''
Hamilton's Pharmacopeia
''Hamilton's Pharmacopeia'' is an American docuseries, which premiered on Viceland on October 26, 2016. The show follows Hamilton Morris as he explores the history, chemistry and social impact of psychoactive substances. It chronicles Morris' ...
'', which covered the production process, history, and several users' experience of methamphetamine.
Books
*''Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic & Amphetamine Manufacture''. .
*''Home Workshop Explosives, Second Edition''. .
*''Practical LSD Manufacture''. .
*''Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture Sixth Edition with Recipes for MDA, Ecstacy, and other Psychedelic Amphetamines''. .
*''Silent Death, Revised and Expanded Second Edition''. .
*''Vest Busters: How to Make your Own Body-Armor-Piercing Bullets''. .
*''Bloody Brazilian Knife Fightin' Techniques''. .
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fester, Uncle
American science writers
Psychedelic drug researchers
American psychedelic drug advocates
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Marquette University alumni
Chemists from Wisconsin