[jerryshizzle123]

Although very illegal, couldn't one make tiny amounts of plutonium-239 at home? Technically, all you would need is depleted uranium and a neutron source (like radium and beryllium, both of which are easily accessible).

[gippgig]

Sure you could. At a minimum, all you need to do is go to a rock shop, buy a piece of uranium ore, a piece of beryl, and touch them together. Note that nature has already performed this experiment - uranium ore typically contains ~1-10 atoms of ²³⁹Pu for every 10¹² uranium atoms as a result of capture of stray neutrons (from spontaneous fission of ²³⁸U, cosmic ray spallation, etc.) by ²³⁸U, so if you just want a trace amount of Pu you don't even need to make it. This raises an interesting question - at what rate does the concentration  of ²³⁹Pu in uranium ore decline? Since this depends on both the concentration of ²³⁸U and the stray neutron flux (which itself at least partially depends on the ²³⁸U concentration) it should decrease faster than that of ²³⁸U itself. Has anyone figured this out?

[Rudster816]

the problem would be getting that uranium in to plutonium at a concentration that would be usable. weapons grade is between 80 and 90 percent while plutonium used for energy purposes is ~10%

even at a very small amounts this concentration would likely be unpractical.

[vmelkon]

It would be difficult to make sufficient amount at home and then purify it, plus you would be working with highly toxic stuff.
Well, maybe you can make a few micrograms.

[Arkcon]

Google for "Radioactive Boyscout" it was an article in Harper's Bazaar years ago.  Apparently, some Eagle scout tried to do just what you're describing, and was moderately successful, if you define success by irradiating oneself, dumping radioactive components around your neighborhood, getting a visit from the NRC, and such like.