Stuart

Yes, it is much easier to just melt it. The only issue with this formula is that if you want a lot of smoke, then you need a way to stop the composition burning with a flame, as this very greatly reduces the amount of smoke produced. The method I've commonly used is to get long cardboard tubes from fabric suppliers (art's and craft's shops might have them), cut them to what ever length, and then you half to three quarters fill it with your smoke comp. This I find just about eliminates any chances of flames.

Another method I have read about is to add about 5% Sodium Bicarbonate to the mix. This way, when it burns, it will release Carbon Dioxide which should help prevent flames. Having tried this, I can tell you that it sometimes stops it, and its a bugger to light. Personally, I much prefer the cardboard tube method.

I should be. I have used barbaque charcoal on a fire to make charcoal for black powder before.

Simple soluction: get a barbaque going.

• Find an old biscuit tin, put one or two holes in the top and put your wood in it.
• Fire up the barbeque (over here we can buy cheap disposable barbeques if we don’t have a proper one, something like ?3 for 2), and put the biscuit tin on there for a few hours.
• Once no more smoke is coming out of the holes on top, take it off and put it on the ground, turn it upside down and cover it in solid or sand (helps stop the air going into the tin).
• Leave it for about 20 minutes, then uncover it, crack it open, and there you go, home made charcoal.

So there you have it, its done outside so the gases arent a problem. You do it in a buscuit tin, so your shiny pressure cooker doesnt end up filthy, and after its cooked, you can have a few burgers and sausages on the barbaque. Lovely.

I'm afraid it isn?t a black list. I contacted them a couple of months ago with regards to buying some stuff, and they said that they don?t supply to individuals or home chemists anymore.

http://www.ukrocketr....php?act=Search is the link you want to search the whole forum, the one above will only search the Pyrotechnic formula forum.