Prodigy

Probably best not to type it in at all because using that word makes you seem like a kid who wants to make things go bang

As far as I'm aware ammonium nitrate is only used in ANFO which is a HE. To detonate that you're going to need a hell of a blasting cap and unless you want to start synthesising AP or MEKP etc. (which you don't) then you've got no use for it (as far as I know, I could be wrong).

Basically what I've learnt is to stick with BP but make it well. There are 2 main methods - ball milling and the CIA method. You can search for the CIA method if you want to go about making it that way. Personally I bought a ball mill and now my BP is fairly decent with almost no effort.

If you want to make things go bang then you'll need a decent tube with end caps or bungs (I use bentonite clay, cat litter). I make my tubes by rolling kraft card round a wooden rod (piece of dowel) and using PVA glue to stick it. Then I powder some bentonite and use the rod to hammer it down into a bung. Seems to work well.

As for fuse - I've tried the one you're talking about but found it unreliable and it only burns on the outside. For salutes you want something like black match (search the name and you'll discover how to make it). Much more reliable.

I'm only a beginner myself but that should give you somewhere to start your further searching.

Burns in an instant and goes woof!?

I've only ever seen that with flash/chlorate BP (which I will never make again!)

Is that after you add the dextrin and water that it burns in an instant?

Ok guys, thanks for the advice.

Would KNO3 be a suitable replacement, would this work at all?

As for the potassium perchlorate - it's been asked many times before, even I know the answer to this on

Basically it has no use except in pyro and as such you're not going to be able to get hold of it unless you've got some decent contacts. You can synthesise it yourself but I wouldn't bother.

Well the tumbler doesn't seem to have any problems at the moment, it turns fine although it's not a continuous motion, it's more like it does bits at a time, a bit stuttery but not in a struggling kind of way.

The media I'm using is basically bits of cut up lead bar, about 0.5 inch diameter. so they're like squares basically but I've hammered the edges a bit.

Would lead balls be better?

Guys, I've got a bit of a problem with my mill. It's a Beach tumbler that can take 1.5kg.

However, I've loaded it up with 800g media and 100g BP but it's only a small portion of the barrel size unfortunately. I'm in the process of making some more media (I melt my own lead) but I'm going to be way, way over the weight limit if I fill the barrel up half full. Will this be a problem?

At the moment it sounds like all the stuff inside is doing is slipping around in the bottom of the barrel, am I right in thinking this is going to produce rubbish BP?