Making Black Powder

[Cosmoline]

I don't doubt that it was locally produced, buy my understanding is it was locally produced in mills, not on the hearth.

They used to collect urine to pour over ashes to make saltpeter, I'm surprised that you haven't read that.

I've read that, but not that the urine was collected for a backyard powder making operation. The powder was being made at mills. The saltpeter was created to fuel the mills. Indeed some of the very first colonial laws concerned the making of saltpeter and the founding of mills, precisely because it could not be done easily by individuals or families. It required a mill and dedicated craftsmen to have any kind of success.

I could be wrong about that, but if someone has a primary or secondary account of backyard ad-hoc powder making in the colonies or early Republic feel free to post it. My understanding is the interest in at-home powder making is pretty modern. Unlike, say, at-home hooch making ;-)

 

[rusty bubbles]

I was about to post a thread about a time traveller who has to make himself

a firearm for self defense-( just finished ol Mark Twain's "Yankee in King Arthur's court")-and my conclusion is: A flintlock, and homemade powder.

Not a matchlock-(no matches to light the fuse,only flint and steel in a tinderbox


Not a percussion weapon-( no potasssium chlorate for caps

The hardest part in building a flintlock of course would be the lock

My bro and I made our own powder using willow or dogwood charcoal,

Hard rock sulphur ground into powder

and of course saltpeter.

WE mixed a small amount with water and mashed it up-then spread the mess on a tray to the sun--afterwards crumbling the "cake"into smallish granules.

It worked fine in our old percussion pistol (not too packed down with the ramrod)

So to return to my marooned time traveller-the propellant can be made-

just need to figure out how to make a lock-but even for a skilled metal worker

it's pretty insurmountable--no machine shops back then-don't forget.

of course the Japanese used matchlocks with great success -even fitting boxes to cover the touch holes and slow match so they could shoot in the rain-even Cromwell's army couldn't do that

So what's the answer to our lone yankee's self defense problem-(any bullet will penetrate Chain Mail!)

 

[LightningMan]

IMO, don't try it, or you might be a Darwin award winner.

 

[Pat M]

I remember Capt. Kirk did it when he was alone on that planet, being chased by that lizard looking guy.....didn't seem that difficult.

 

[Pulp]

I've been making mine for about three years now, based on info from this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=347898

Basically, if you can follow the safety rules of reloading, you can safely make small batches of black powder. I make small batches, and in spite of fears expressed above, I don't think a 4 or 8 ounce batch will level the neighborhood.

 

[SAA]

Why do many who have never even tried making black powder treat the subject as though the op asked about making nitrogycerin?

 

[Pete D.]

level

I don't think a 4 or 8 ounce batch will level the neighborhood.

You are correct; such an amount won't level the neighborhood....but it would certainly get your attention if it ignited while you were breaking up a cake or while doing any of the close quarter handling.
I didn't blow myself up. You haven't. But.....there are safer activities.
Pete

 

[robhof]

robhof

I did it in high school for my kit gun and a .75 cal cannon I had and had no problems. I mixed the ingredients wet and dried on wooden boards, broke up and ground in hard plastic bowl with wooden pestal made from shovel handle. Of course this was over 40 yrs ago and times have changed, so it's too dangerous to do today...:banghead:

 

[Pete D.]

Cost

Pulp: I am curious - in a good way. What is your cost per pound of powder, just materials?
Thanks,
Pete

 

[Pulp]

From Phil's Store www.ihaveadot.com

KNO3 5 pounds $11.95
Sulfur 5 pounds $21.25

+shipping

I make my own charcoal so I didn't price it. Note: you cannot use briquets. It has to be pure charcoal.

I've used up the first bucket of KNO3 and have had to order more. I've still got plenty of sulfur.

I make mine in 2000 grain batches, so the recipe is easy to remember:
1500 grains KNO3, 300 grains charcoal, 200 grains sulfur. That's approx 4.5 ounces.

 

[Bluehawk]

I've made my own for over 20 years for everything from skyrockets and 6-inch Italian cannister shells to propellant for my muzzle loaders in 500 gram batches. If you are trained properly and follow the safety and housekeeping rules you will most likely never have an accident. If you do have an accident and your ball mill is isolated, the damage will be nothing more than a destroyed ball mill!
Federal law does not disallow you from making your own BP but rather the regulations are strict about storage...that is where the license is needed.
Four good places to start is to join the Pyrotechnic Guild International and check out Skylighter.com for good advice...also check out American Fireworks News and Firefox.com

 

[valkyriemc]

Couldnt resist

 

[valkyriemc]

"The most successful, well-known smoky replacement is Pyrodex, marketed for years as "the smokeless muzzleloading propellant." The Pyrodex patent application was filed on July 25, 1975. Pyrodex, developed by Daniel Pawlak and Michael Levenson, has not been without its problems. Dan Pawlak was killed in January 1977 when his powder plant exploded. The patent application was filed on July 25, 1975. So much for the safety of manufacture; it is a tragedy." Credit; R. Wakeman

 

[mykeal]

Credit; R. Wakeman

That should say everything necessary.

 

[Bluehawk]

what exactly does it say except the plant exploded? Exploded from what...manufacturing...storage...employee error??

Pyrodex is similar in composition to black powder, consisting primarily of charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but it also contains graphite and potassium perchlorate, plus additional ingredients protected by trade secret.

Since Pyrodex also contains potassium perchlorate (a sensitive oxidizer) and some secret ingredients, it can hardly be compared to the simple making of true black powder.
Every pyrotechnic knows it's highly risky to ever mix sulfur with either pot chlorate or perchlorate!!!

 

[valkyriemc]

Maybe this will be more palatable for you;

See page 10, Handloader Magazine, March-April 1977 Number 66,


http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl66partial.pdf


"Four Men Killed at Pyrodex Plant"

 

[Capt. Redbeard]

Why do many who have never even tried making black powder treat the subject as though the op asked about making nitrogycerin?/QUOTE]
Because many people are afraid to think outside of the box. To quote a comedian, Left brain people like the box. They have their trusty tape measure, and know the dimensions of the box. They feel comfortable in the box. To leave the box is frightening.

Right brain people usually ask, there's a box??

I assume that the op is right brained. Good for him. Leave the box behind! Get out, explore!

 

[junkman_01]

And if it all explodes on him, he may be left with only half a brain!

 

[Bluehawk]

Experts who viewed the Scene said that something - the cause is not yet known - apparently caused part of the product being processed to ignite, which in turn ignited the remainder of the product in the building.

So it's a mute point since nobody knows what caused the accident.
Making up to 500 grams is hardly the same risk as making/storing/handling 9,000 pounds like that which was being done at the Pyrodex plant!

Have you got the articles about the .380 and the .30-30 that were shown in that magazine? I'd be interested in reading them.

 

[valkyriemc]

Blue, if your aiming your message at me, buzz off. If you arent disregard.

 

[Bluehawk]

Val
not aimed at you personally...just a response to the magazine article and homemade BP in general.
The only thing "aimed" at you was a request for the other two articles from the mag that I mentioned.