How to Make and Use Pipe Bombs in Project Zomboid (Build 42.19)
Vanilla Build 42.19 · Pipe Bomb, timer, motion sensor, and remote trigger recipes
Unlock the recipe (not Engineer-only)
Make Pipe Bomb requires learning the recipe. In Build 42.19 you unlock it by either path:
- Engineer profession — starts knowing Make Pipe Bomb (plus other improvised explosives).
- Engineer Magazine 3 — Magazine: The Cheapskate's John Spiral - Homemade Explosives — teaches Make Aerosol Bomb, Make Flame Bomb, and Make Pipe Bomb.
There is no separate Electrical skill gate on Make Pipe Bomb itself. The craft awards a small amount of Electrical XP. Upgrades (timer / sensor / remote) use different magazines and Electrical levels—see below.
Engineer Mag 3
Homemade Explosives
Pipe Bomb
Base craft
Materials for Make Pipe Bomb
Craft on any valid surface craft spot once the recipe is known. Keep a metal saw or small saw in inventory (not consumed; may degrade lightly).
| Input | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics Scrap | 3 | Consumed |
| Metal Pipe or Broken Metal Pipe | 1 | Either item works |
| GunPowder | 20 | Unit count in the recipe, not “boxes” |
| Twine | 1 | Consumed |
| Metal saw / small saw | 1 (kept) | Tool only; not destroyed by the recipe |
Electronics Scrap ×3
Scrap
Metal Pipe ×1
or broken pipe
GunPowder ×20
Recipe units
Twine ×1
Binding
- Unlock the recipe (Engineer start or read Engineer Magazine 3).
- Gather the four consumables and keep a metal/small saw.
- Open the crafting menu → Electrical → Make Pipe Bomb.
- Use the plain bomb as a thrown weapon, or attach one upgrade type (timer, motion sensor, or remote trigger).
Blast stats (vanilla Pipe Bomb)
| Stat | Value | Player takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Explosion power | 90 | Strong improvised blast among craftable traps |
| Explosion range | 7 tiles | Clear at least this many tiles; more is safer |
| Fire start | None | No intentional fire from this item or its upgrades |
| Weight | 1.5 | Same weight family as other craft bombs |
| Throw range | 10 tiles | Equip and throw like other traps |
Pipe Bomb
Blast + noise. Good for clearing clusters or drawing attention. Does not light zombies or rooms on fire.
Flame Trap / Molotov
Use when you want fire. Flame Trap is the engineer-style fire bomb; Molotov is the classic fire throw. Separate recipes and materials.
Aerosol Bomb
Weaker blast (power 70, range 6) with fire chance. Different craft; see the aerosol bomb guide.
How to throw a pipe bomb
- Equip the Pipe Bomb (or upgraded variant) in your primary hand.
- Hold right mouse button to aim the throw arc.
- Left-click to throw. Basic attack / throw is the intended use for plain “hand” bombs.
- Move outside the blast radius before detonation.
Upgraded bombs that can be placed (timer, sensor, remote) are also placeable traps—arm them, then leave the danger zone. Remote variants need a matching remote controller in addition to the bomb itself.
Upgrades: timer, motion sensor, remote
Each upgrade is a separate learned recipe. Magazines below are the Electronics series, not Engineer Magazine 3. Most upgrade crafts need a surface, screwdriver/pliers where listed for component making, and consume Electronics Scrap plus Duct Tape when attaching to the bomb.
1. Timer → Pipe Bomb with Timer
- Learn: Magazine: Like Clockwork (Electronics Mag 2) for Make Timer and Add Timer to Bomb. High Electrical (level 8) can also auto-learn Add Timer.
- Make Timer - Crafted: Electrical 1; Timer or Alarm Clock, screwdriver (kept), pliers (kept), 1 Electronics Scrap, 1 Glue → crafted timer.
- Add Timer to Bomb: 1 plain Pipe Bomb + 1 crafted timer + 2 Electronics Scrap + 1 Duct Tape → Pipe Bomb with Timer.
- Behavior: placeable; short fixed fuse on the finished timer bomb. Same blast stats as the base bomb (power 90, range 7, no fire).
2. Motion sensor → short / medium / long range
- Learn: Magazine: Home Security Monthly (Electronics Mag 3) for all three motion-sensor attach recipes. Auto-learn appears at Electrical 8 / 9 / 10 for short / medium / long.
- Component: one looted Motion Sensor per upgrade (the attach step does not craft the sensor from scrap alone).
- Every attach: bomb + Motion Sensor + Electronics Scrap + 1 Duct Tape.
| Recipe | Electrical required | Extra scrap | Result | Sensor range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add Short-Range Motion Sensor | 2 | 2 | Pipe Bomb with Short-Range Sensor | 3 tiles |
| Add Medium-Range Motion Sensor | 4 | 3 | Pipe Bomb with Medium-Range Sensor | 4 tiles |
| Add Long-Range Motion Sensor | 6 | 4 | Pipe Bomb with Long-Range Sensor | 6 tiles |
Sensor bombs are placeable and detonate shortly after the sensor trips. Blast radius remains 7 tiles—do not stand inside the sensor bubble when arming.
3. Remote trigger → Remote Pipe Bomb
- Learn: Magazine: Zapper! (Electronics Mag 1) for remote controllers, Crafted Trigger, and Add Remote Trigger to Bomb.
- Make Crafted Trigger: Electrical 2; Receiver, Radio Receiver, or Cordless Phone plus tools, 2 Electronics Scrap, and 2 Glue.
- Add Remote Trigger to Bomb: Electrical 2; Pipe Bomb + crafted trigger + 2 Electronics Scrap + 1 Duct Tape → Remote Pipe Bomb.
- Controller: craft Short / Medium / Long-Range Remote Controller (Electrical 2 / 4 / 6) from a Remote, Cordless Phone, or Pager plus scrap and glue. Match controller range to how far you stand when you detonate.
Timer - Crafted
Timed fuse bomb
Motion Sensor
Booby-trap component
Crafted Trigger
Remote bomb part
Duct Tape
Every attach recipe
With Timer
Timed variant
Remote
Remote variant
| Goal | Magazine | Key skill | Attach extras (beyond bomb + device) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timer bomb | Like Clockwork (Electronics Mag 2) | Make Timer: Elec 1; attach: learn / auto Elec 8 | 2 Electronics Scrap + 1 Duct Tape |
| Motion sensor bomb | Home Security Monthly (Electronics Mag 3) | Elec 2 / 4 / 6 by range tier | 2–4 Electronics Scrap + 1 Duct Tape |
| Remote bomb | Zapper! (Electronics Mag 1) | Elec 2 for trigger + attach | 2 Electronics Scrap + 1 Duct Tape; plus a remote controller |
When to use pipe bombs
- Group damage — blast pressure on packed zombies outdoors where you can kite out of range.
- Noise and pull — explosions are loud; plan for extra walkers. Pair with base attraction knowledge in the zombie attraction guide.
- Defense setups — timer or sensor bombs as chokepoint traps; remote bombs for deliberate detonation once the pack is in place.
- Not for fire walls — if you need burning corpses or area denial by flame, craft Flame Trap / use Molotov instead of expecting the pipe bomb to ignite anything.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct Build 42.19 fact |
|---|---|
| “Only Engineers can make pipe bombs” | Engineer starts with the recipe; anyone who reads Engineer Magazine 3 can craft them. |
| “Pipe bombs set zombies on fire” | Pipe Bomb and all timer / sensor / remote variants have no fire start—use Flame Trap or Molotov for ignition. |
| “Just attach a random trigger” | Timer, motion sensor, and remote each need their own magazine, components, scrap, and Duct Tape—and sensors need Electrical tiers. |
| Standing next to a placed sensor bomb | Sensor ranges are 3 / 4 / 6 tiles; explosion still reaches 7. Arm and leave. |
| Remote bomb without a controller | You need both the remote-configured bomb and a crafted remote controller of suitable range. |
FAQ
Do I need Electrical skill to craft the base pipe bomb?
No skill requirement is listed on Make Pipe Bomb. You only need to know the recipe. Electrical skill matters for making timers, remote parts, and attaching sensors at higher tiers.
Can I use a broken metal pipe?
Yes. The recipe accepts Metal Pipe or Broken Metal Pipe as the same input slot.
Why didn’t my explosion start a fire?
That is correct for vanilla Pipe Bomb. Choose Flame Trap, Molotov, or other fire-capable tools when you want ignition. Aerosol bombs can start fires; pipe bombs do not.
Where do motion sensors come from?
They are a loot component, used with known sensor recipes and Electrical skill. The attach recipes consume one Motion Sensor each; they do not create the sensor from scrap alone.
How do pipe bombs compare to aerosol bombs?
Pipe Bomb: power 90, range 7, no fire. Aerosol bomb: power 70, range 6, with fire chance. Both can take the same style of timer / sensor / remote upgrades once those recipes are known.
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