diff --git a/game_api.txt b/game_api.txt
index bdb2450b..02ee58e0 100644
--- a/game_api.txt
+++ b/game_api.txt
@@ -241,6 +241,23 @@ tnt.register_tnt(definition)
 
 ^ Ignite TNT at position
 
+
+To make dropping items from node inventories easier, you can use the
+following helper function from 'default':
+
+default.get_inventory_drops(pos, inventory, drops)
+
+^ Return drops from node inventory "inventory" in drops.
+
+* `pos` - the node position
+* `inventory` - the name of the inventory (string)
+* `drops` - an initialized list
+
+The function returns no values. The drops are returned in the `drops`
+parameter, and drops is not reinitialized so you can call it several
+times in a row to add more inventory items to it.
+
+
 Screwdriver API
 ---------------
 
diff --git a/mods/bones/init.lua b/mods/bones/init.lua
index afa56eca..661bbab8 100644
--- a/mods/bones/init.lua
+++ b/mods/bones/init.lua
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ minetest.register_node("bones:bones", {
 			return true
 		end
 	end,
+	on_blast = function(pos)
+	end,
 })
 
 local function may_replace(pos, player)
diff --git a/mods/default/functions.lua b/mods/default/functions.lua
index c0ea1f5b..d0164cd6 100644
--- a/mods/default/functions.lua
+++ b/mods/default/functions.lua
@@ -110,6 +110,21 @@ minetest.register_abm({
 })
 
 
+--
+-- optimized helper to put all items in an inventory into a drops list
+--
+function default.get_inventory_drops(pos, inventory, drops)
+	local inv = minetest.get_meta(pos):get_inventory()
+	local n = #drops
+	for i = 1, inv:get_size(inventory) do
+		local stack = inv:get_stack(inventory, i)
+		if stack:get_count() > 0 then
+			drops[n+1] = stack:to_table()
+			n = n + 1
+		end
+	end
+end
+
 --
 -- Papyrus and cactus growing
 --
diff --git a/mods/default/furnace.lua b/mods/default/furnace.lua
index 4fb2071a..3047dc41 100644
--- a/mods/default/furnace.lua
+++ b/mods/default/furnace.lua
@@ -260,6 +260,15 @@ minetest.register_node("default:furnace", {
 		local timer = minetest.get_node_timer(pos)
 		timer:start(1.0)
 	end,
+	on_blast = function(pos)
+		local drops = {}
+		default.get_inventory_drops(pos, "src", drops)
+		default.get_inventory_drops(pos, "fuel", drops)
+		default.get_inventory_drops(pos, "dst", drops)
+		drops[#drops+1] = "default:furnace"
+		minetest.remove_node(pos)
+		return drops
+	end,
 
 	allow_metadata_inventory_put = allow_metadata_inventory_put,
 	allow_metadata_inventory_move = allow_metadata_inventory_move,
diff --git a/mods/default/nodes.lua b/mods/default/nodes.lua
index 36ae5861..506dd0ad 100644
--- a/mods/default/nodes.lua
+++ b/mods/default/nodes.lua
@@ -1474,6 +1474,13 @@ minetest.register_node("default:chest", {
 			" takes " .. stack:get_name() ..
 			" from chest at " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
 	end,
+	on_blast = function(pos)
+		local drops = {}
+		default.get_inventory_drops(pos, "main", drops)
+		drops[#drops+1] = "default:chest"
+		minetest.remove_node(pos)
+		return drops
+	end,
 })
 
 minetest.register_node("default:chest_locked", {
@@ -1597,6 +1604,13 @@ minetest.register_node("default:bookshelf", {
 		minetest.log("action", player:get_player_name() ..
 			" takes stuff from bookshelf at " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
 	end,
+	on_blast = function(pos)
+		local drops = {}
+		default.get_inventory_drops(pos, "books", drops)
+		drops[#drops+1] = "default:bookshelf"
+		minetest.remove_node(pos)
+		return drops
+	end,
 })
 
 local function register_sign(material, desc, def)
diff --git a/mods/tnt/init.lua b/mods/tnt/init.lua
index a8deeb0c..66b01f1a 100644
--- a/mods/tnt/init.lua
+++ b/mods/tnt/init.lua
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ local function eject_drops(drops, pos, radius)
 					item:get_count(),
 					item:get_stack_max()))
 			rand_pos(pos, drop_pos, radius)
-			local obj = minetest.add_item(drop_pos, item:get_name() .. " " .. take)
+			local dropitem = ItemStack(item)
+			dropitem:set_count(take)
+			local obj = minetest.add_item(drop_pos, dropitem)
 			if obj then
 				obj:get_luaentity().collect = true
 				obj:setacceleration({x = 0, y = -10, z = 0})
diff --git a/mods/vessels/init.lua b/mods/vessels/init.lua
index d5378919..165efbd5 100644
--- a/mods/vessels/init.lua
+++ b/mods/vessels/init.lua
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ minetest.register_node("vessels:shelf", {
 		minetest.log("action", player:get_player_name() ..
 			   " takes stuff from vessels shelf at ".. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
 	end,
+	on_blast = function(pos)
+		local drops = {}
+		default.get_inventory_drops(pos, "vessels", drops)
+		drops[#drops+1] = "vessels:shelf"
+		minetest.remove_node(pos)
+		return drops
+	end,
 })
 
 minetest.register_craft({