Anybody make their own

N

Nate1778

New member
powder. Would seam to me most crave pure black powder, so does anybody make their own. It is relatively easy and safe (if done right) and is MUCH cheaper than the $25 per 16oz can of substitute. Just seeing if anybody else is making their own.
 
Potassium nitrate, Sulfur and Charcoal. Mill it in a rock tumbler wet. Coarse that is a simple break down, but Google it for more precise method. Typically the rock tumbler should be on an extension cord about 100' from any structure, in case, well you know.
 
I made some when I was a kid and made half assed fireworks from it. Amazing I did not kill myself.
 
I recall a shirt-tail relative that started playing with this stuff, a few years back. He and his buddy went out to the local dump and in good time, one was dead and the other lost a hand and part of his arm. Reportedly they had graduated to making some kind of hand grenade and were stock piling this stuff for the 4th. of July. :eek:



Be Safe !!!
 
Make my own powder.

Hmmmmm,

Well in my post of this morning I commented that I think a spring loaded bullet mold handle gives more consistent casting results than bullet mold handles that have been tried and true for about three hundred years.

The other day I was suggesting brass barrel wedges instead of steel.

I wonder what kind of "improvements" I can come up with to make a better quality black powder...

I am absolutely flabberghasted that any of you still read my posts. That assumes that some of your do still read my posts....

...Some of you..

HEY....
 
I have a friend that made his own black decades ago, used to make his own rockets w/small warheads on them, his own blackpowder cannon that fired, etc. He only bought (1) ingredient needed from a drug store, the rest he used to get elsewhere himself. So it can be done relatively easy, but time consuming.
 
>>>If you NEED to make BP, go here. http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/history.html<<<

Wow, THAT is a wonderful gunpowder page. Thanks!

The other page was very interesting as well but regarding the making of black powder I find several items to be difficult or vexing for me in a typical urban American setting: Obtaining the proper kind/quality charcoal, getting enough distance from anyone/anything for the tumbling/mashing operation to be safe and reasonably liability free, obtaining or building the hydraulic press that's apparently needed to make the cakes.

Each one items is probably something I could overcome (and indeed it appeals to me quite a bit) but the three together put the whole thing squarely into "not worth it for me" territory as long as I have a source of quality black powder available to me and thank God I have found one where I live. So...

Interesting stuff however!!

Cheers,
Oly
 
Here is the source I am using for chemicals.

http://www.ihaveadotcom.com/cart/in...72_119&zenid=aa202022cd0a0168cceaecf5a51fdc4f


and a method that does not need a press.
http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/homemade_bp.html

That said, I have the rock tumbler, dug it out of the basement, and I have a large back yard, so not a problem there. It cost me $36.50 for all three ingredients shipped, that's 7lbs all together. that breaks down to $5.22 per lb. Not bad if it works.

The only reason it came to mind as I was searching the youtube and a kid was on there shooting a .36 Navy with homemade black powder. The performance looked to be pretty good.

For all concerned, I am not making grenades, or Fireworks. This will simply be a propellant for my revolvers.
 
Well, I had a friend in high school. He made a very quick exit out through the garage door-which was CLOSED at the time! Broken arm, burns, bruises, scrapes, etc.

Nope. Ain't makin' the stuff!
 
Go here http://www.wichitabuggywhip.com/fire...ckpowder2.html

It will explain more than i can type tonite. I make my charcoal from kiln dried white pine , that is important.
DO not use the Precipitation or CIA Method as you will get ****.
You CAN make better BP than you can buy. You cannot blow up your gun or hurt it if not overcharged.
After I ball mill it for 6-10 hours I put it into a plastic tub and stir while spraying with a 50-50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water till just damp with an old 409 sprayer (you will see it turn real black) DO not over wet.
what you want is to be able to squeeze some and have it stay together but crumble apart easy.
Put a peace of aluminium window screen over a bucket or large bowl and work it through by hand or with a plastic spoon it will granulate, pour onto several layers of newspaper , spread out to dry. turn jently every hour or so till dry and your set mate. any more questions don't hesitate to ask. and remember , charcoal is the key , cannot use store bought.
Buy a cheep scale from ebay that measures to 1 10th of a gram and measure carefully. The harbor fright rock tumbler works fine with 50 cal round balls in it , say 30-40 of them.
you can buy the Potassium Nitrate here

http://www.skylighter.com/mall/chemicals.asp?Sort=P

as well as sulfur

Much , much cheaper way to shoot and it expands your hobby.
The size , ie ff , fff and such is determined by the screen size you use.
After dry pour it into your screen again and tap gently to remove the fines(dust with can be re wetted and granulated again.)
You can also add 3% dextren when ball milling , its a glue if you will and make the grain harder. (less dust)
You can get everything at the site I listed and the mill at HF
Jeff Noyes
0- and do not mill wet , you will get ****.
 
and why I posted again here , just wanted to help.
I have gotten more than 5 emails CaptainCrossman has run them off.
 
Pappy your first link was dead, but lay at rest I was planning on doing the method you mentioned. I ordered Wilow Charcoal for the task, whats your thoughts. I hear it is the most desired. I know the HF units are 3lb units, can I make 1 lb in it at a time, I know your supposed to leave some room in there. I was only going to make a lb at a time.
 
yes willow is one of the best but i make my own from kiln dried white pine.
The trick is not getting it to wet , be patient , spray with the 50-50 while stirring , have a beer and wait a bit. the nitrate dissolves somewhat and the coal absorbs it. you want to pick some up and squese it and have it hold , but crumble when handled. You will see it get black as you spray and stir.
and no it will not explode , will not lite till dry.
DO NOT OVER WET !!
one or two batches and you will have it.
If you want it to look like what you get in the can , after screening , put a small amount of graphite in it , tumble with out no media and it will get shiny , I do not do this though , the powder companies do for looks.
Dextrin is often used to keep it from becomeing dust again from handling.
Dextrin is baked corn starch , easy to make , somewhat cheap to buy.
USE PURE LEAD 50 cal balls.

0- and mill dry or you will have a big mess.
 
been there done that. did the mortar and pestle method. then the heat method only one i never done was the ball mill. the most dangerous method is the heat method. but all in all i made about 10 different batches changeing the ingrediants just a hair
 
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