10 replies to this topic

[Winter_XYZ]

Hello.

 

I am getting into pyrotechnics. I have read various safety documents on handling chemicals and pyrotechnics and I want to create a small sample of black powder (50g).

 

What is the best way of buying Sulphur and KNO3?

 

Does anybody know any good brand names which are completely pure?

 

Thank you.

[martyn]

Don't think there is any one 'best way', it depends on how much you want.

I'm afraid I also don't know brand names that are 'completely pure'.

Completely pure is also not always necessary.

But, in no particular order, several members of the forum sell chemicals which will be just fine.

Oliver Brown hobby supplies

Cooperman435

Inoxia

There is also ebay, tinytimdukeboxes.

If you are going to make bp, then you should probably be more obsessive about the charcoal than the other stuff.

Cheers, have fun, stay legal..

[Arthur Brown]

Charcoal has the most dramatic relevance to the performance of the powder. Nitrate and sulphur as available from ebay and LOTs of other places -all qualities in trade will suffice.

[Vic]

Yes it is ease to get fanatical about charcoal, it's a huge subject.

[cooperman435]

http://www.cooperman...php?cPath=77_86

 

 

to name just a few popular choices :-)

[starseeker]

As for charcoal,

 

You will need a good quality willow charcoal for your B.P to give you a decent performance .

[Arthur Brown]

Willow, Alder,and Vine charcoals give good powerful BP, Pine charcoal gives some pretty sparkly effects. Oak, Elm and lots of other slow growing woods give poor low power charcoal. 

[Arthur Brown]

With the nitrate and sulphur anything better than 95% purity will give good results, considering the charcoal the wrong wood will result in almost total failure.

[GreenCopperFlame]

Check for any regulations or restrictions on your provinces mailing. I’ve had some issues with eBay in the past.

[megabusa]

With the nitrate and sulphur anything better than 95% purity will give good results, considering the charcoal the wrong wood will result in almost total failure.

 

Yep, I can vouch for that ! What a waste of a batch that was by using the wrong charcoal !

 

Purity - most fertilizer grades (Krista - K) are at least 99% pure anyway, so that is plenty.

 

If you are milling using lead balls, you will find that they 'wear' & add a small amount of lead to your BP, so that is another impurity. In practice, I have found it makes no difference from a small amount of impurity for BP.

 

For colours, impurities will affect the results more.

 

Happy testing !

[dannytsg]

Is it not worth adding that a COER certificate must be obtained to manufacture black powder?