Diy black powder

[4575wcf]

At some point I intend to do this process remotely out by the hog pen in the SW corner of the property. I figured the brass balls available from McMaster Carr would be the ticket. Stainless. . that is a bit too close to metal to be in the mix. The corning screws hit something at Goex, and they were aluminum. Heat or spark the end result is always the same. The old powder mills were pretty lightly constructed to give way in the event of an inevitable explosion on occasion.

 

[challenger]

At some point I intend to do this process remotely out by the hog pen in the SW corner of the property. I figured the brass balls available from McMaster Carr would be the ticket. Stainless. . that is a bit too close to metal to be in the mix. The corning screws hit something at Goex, and they were aluminum. Heat or spark the end result is always the same. The old powder mills were pretty lightly constructed to give way in the event of an inevitable explosion on occasion.

I tested my black powder today and it is perfect. Lead balls did great and I see no reason for me to change. I have a hundred lbs of lead balls. If I didn't have the lead I'd get marbles.
Too much safety sallying going on IMO.

 

[4575wcf]

Well the older I get the more dumb mistakes I make, so I am going to err heavily on the side of safety. A pit for the ball mill, and barriers to direct any explosion up. Keep the batches small, and don't take any shortcuts. I do intend to do my corning with a big granite rolling pin, a miniature version of the time honored method.

 

[kenton]

An old boy I knew had a can of BP go off in his hand. Not sure what he did to light it off, he wouldn't talk specifics, even when drunk. Which was odd for him.

He was lucky the bottom of the can blew out and directed the blast down. Went to the hospital due to the pain from all the burns. He was lucky he did, apparently the shock wave scrambled his guts a bit. He complained for about a month after he got out of the hospital he had a hard time shitting.

 

[challenger]

An old boy I knew had a can of BP go off in his hand. Not sure what he did to light it off, he wouldn't talk specifics, even when drunk. Which was odd for him.

He was lucky the bottom of the can blew out and directed the blast down. Went to the hospital due to the pain from all the burns. He was lucky he did, apparently the shock wave scrambled his guts a bit. He complained for about a month after he got out of the hospital he had a hard time shitting.

Damn! Now you got my attention

 

[john.k]

The CW style powder flasks were made of thin copper with very small overlap soldered joints,top held in by small screws .....so if the powder ignited ,the flak would not explode ,but just split open.....Incidentally,aluminium metal is noted for hot sparks ,far as I know the only safe brass is Berylco.......beryllium bronze ,which has its own hazards.

 

[john.k]

You can download a copy "Handbook of powders and explosives"..by Tenney Davis.I suggest you read the blackpowder part,and also peruse the tables of ignition energies ,and impact effects.

 

[john.k]

I found a copy of Davis in a second hand store when I was at school,bought it ,nicked a bottle of picric acid from the school chem lab ,and experimented with the loud whistling sound you get from packing sodium picrate into a drinking straw and igniting it. ...very lucky to still have fingers and toes.

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

Was this Challenger? https://news.yahoo.com/man-making-gunpowder-severely-hurt-180513199.html

 

[john.k]

Too much Aunt Sally ing says Challenger ........mean while in an entirely unrelated item....."Man blows finger thru abdomen in home made explosive incident."

 

[EmGo]

Was this Challenger?

Going by listed addresses, appears to be the other end of the state. Still, interesting coincidence

 

[trevj]

Yeah. Have fun with that!

Given that just about every commercial maker has had a major blow-out a some time or other, take the safety principles to heart, and don't mix ANYTHING unless it is on the other side of a safety berm!

Have seen a few videos of guys mixing components wet, sometimes on a stove. A lot to be said for having ZERO chance of ignition!

 

[john.k]

Goex had an interesting incident when dust under the torn linoleum in the office exploded.

 

[challenger]

Nope. Wasn't me but it sounds like some wish it was?

 

[EmGo]

Nope. Wasn't me but it sounds like some wish it was?

I don't think so. Maybe "concerned" is more like it.

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

Nope. Wasn't me but it sounds like some wish it was?

I just saw the story and remembered someone from that area was asking questions here recently, glad you are OK.

 

[challenger]

I just saw the story and remembered someone from that area was asking questions here recently, glad you are OK.

Depends on who you ask