Gunpowder into a Paste

I believe the factory solvent for nitrocellulose is alcohol and ether.

Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

Try some acetone but please be careful and wear good eye protection.

Acetone

I used to make my own primer and bullet sealer with a mixture of acetone and powder. It worked well for that purpose. The powder totally dissolved into the acetone to a smooth consistancy that sealed primer and bullets with less than .0005 thickness. I just imagine more powder would result in a paste but whether or not strong enough for a priming mixture I have no idea. I would be interested in your results.

There are easier ways to win a darwin award.

Interesting question

I read through your posting history (just to make sure you were not crazy) and see that you do have a head on your shoulders. I hope this paragraph heads of readers who would make that assumption.

I did not determine if you have a background in chemistry or not. Trying to find the chemical components of the powder you have might be a good idea, if only to rule out solvents that might produce violent reactions upon mixing. You wouldn't want a facefull of toxic or caustic fumes. Full face shield and good gloves should go without saying.

All the cautions aside, what do you hope to gain for all this effort? Curiosity? Independence from components manufacturers? Better accuracy? If you use up all your powder in determining how to do this and succeed in your quest, can you get more?

You might try to find a copy of The Chemistry of Powder & Explosives by Tenny L. Davis.

Many smokeless powders are based on an ether-alcohol colloid of nitrocellulose (source: Wikipedia), so I might try ether as a solvent to make your paste, but test to see if you have changed the chemical properties of your powder when you get done with it.

I suspect you will get a lot of criticism for toying with this idea, but I will not disparage you for thinking about it. But without knowing anything else about your goals and experience, my first conclusion is that you suffer from one of two maladies. You have entirely too much time on your hands or you have entirely too much of this powder on your hands. Either way, I wish you good fortune.

I have read that there is a way black powder shooters can make their own percussion caps from aluminum beverage cans and caps from toy guns. I am not sure if that gives you any other ideas, but I though it might pique your interest, so use the information if it does.

Lost Sheep
Edit: when I started this post there were no replies posted. I got to learn to type faster.

I've actually tried soaking several different powders in acetone before (296, RL22, HS6, and Longshot) to see if they will break down, and they didn't break down at all. But I would imagine not all powders are created the same?
Just be careful, as already mentioned.
GS

I saw this McGyver episode 20 years ago that did something similar.....

priming mixture is different than any paste an inexperienced chemist would be able to make..

someone with enough expertise to actually do it isn't going to tell you how over the internet..

Please keep us updated as I would love to up grade my survival weapons from flinters to percussion. [I also want to be secure in your continued survival lol]
T

Friend of mine went down that road. We called him Stumpy.

Sounds like you might want to start going to church again, if you're not already going!

Ive dissolved smokeless powder in acetone. Turns it into a paste alright. Problem is i doubt ull get the requisite ignition from a pellet of dried paste. The resulting solid block of power burns very slow.

OTOH if ur powder ignites by percussion it could be a different animal altogether.

If it's reconstituting primers you're after, there's an easier way. Perchloride is the impact sensitive chemical that composes the white top on a strike-anywhere match. Cut that tip off with a razor blade, smash it into powder, and then CAREFULLY compress it into your disassembled and reconditioned primer cup. Gently press the anvil back in and Viola! Remanufactured primer. They do work, I've used them in 9mm pistols. Each small primer takes about 3 match tips (Large primers will take 4-5), and it is an extrememly time consuming process. IIRC, it too me about 3 hours to "reload" 100 primers, and I had 3 or 4 pop in my face while seating the anvil (not really dangerous, just scares the crap out of you).

It isn't really a feasible or cost effective thing to do, but it's nice to know you can.

Where do I get "a Viola"? Midway doesn't seem to carry them.

JLDickmon said:

priming mixture is different than any paste an inexperienced chemist would be able to make..

someone with enough expertise to actually do it isn't going to tell you how over the internet..

Click to expand...

I'm sure if match heads can be used for priming compound, a home chemist would be able to come up with a "paste" that could work. Careful of ATF or Homeland Security...

Mach IV,

I think you're still striving for Voila! (Not Viola)

I'm proud of you. Subscribed.

And just in case it hasn't been mentioned yet, be careful, hahaha.

Did you let the paste dry?

I understand what you're trying to do, and I commend you for it.

Very cool, keep us posted!

Why would dried smokeless paste explode on impact?

Have you considered making your own more primitive mercuric priming agents using fulminate of mercury? Those have been around since the early 19th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury(II)_fulminate

Watch your fingers, eyes, etc of course. And don't eat it ;-)