Introduction
At some point fairly early in every pyro career we realize we need to be able to make good black powder (BP) from scratch. BP is used in aerial fireworks shells as lift and burst powder. It is also used, in one way or another, in almost every other pyrotechnic device and component–mines, stars, black match, and the list goes on.
Black Powder Used as Aerial-Shell Lift Powder
Sources of commercially manufactured BP are becoming harder and harder to find. Most sporting-goods stores and gun shops have stopped carrying real black powder. Instead they deal in BP substitutes such as Pyrodex® and Hodgdon Triple-Seven®. These products won’t work as shell lift powder. And even when real commercial black powder is available, it is relatively expensive.
So, availability and expense are the primary motivators to develop an ability to make your own high quality black powder. Add to this the desire that lurks in the heart of every pyro to “do it yourself” rather than rely on commercial sources, and it is downright irresistible.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate a simple technique by which anyone with access to a few tools and the appropriate chemicals can easily produce high-quality granulated black powder. For use as lift and burst in aerial shells, and for many other uses, BP produced by this method is as good as or better than the commercial product.
Quality Black Powder that is Easy to Make
Good quality granulated black powder simply is that powder which suits our needs in our fireworking hobby. The primary requirements are performance (power) and durability (hard enough grains) that compare favorably with commercial granulated black powder.
There are many ways to make black powder, and the project here has an overview of some of them. You’ll also find there a method to test black powder and compare it to certain standards.
But, we’ll be focusing on a simple, easy way to make high-quality BP that is not mentioned in that project…
Click here to learn this simple, easy way to make high-quality black powder.
This is what I have been looking for. I have but one question, Will this manufactured Black Powder be equal by weight as substitute Black Powder ( Goex 2FG) ? Please advise ,Thank you. P.S. I use Goex Pinacle in a 12 GA. Double Barrel Black Powder Hull X 2.5 inch chamber 65 gr. of 2FG .
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Robert,
It CAN be. But it is not likely to be EQUAL. It may be stronger, or weaker. Only testing will tell. If you need it to be stronger, let us know, and we’ll see what can be done to make it hotter.
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I want to know if it’s possible to add cremains to fireworks and if there is anyone out there who does this and what does it cost. thank you.
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:17 PM
Joy,
This has been done, but I do not know of anyone specifically doing it at this time. Why don’t you get in touch with me personally, and give me more details at support@skylighter.com? Please copy this email and include it.
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About all I can say is, “WOW!”
For many years I have wanted to try my hand at making pyrotechnics but have been put off by both a lack of knowledge and information on the subject, and a lack of conveniently available supplies. Your sight provides both! I will be ordering!
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Hey, Bar,
Good to hear from you again. Sorry, but it is currently illegal to make your own fireworks downtown in DC.
Say hi to ‘Chelle and the kids for me.
Harry
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4 mesh screen and other sizes can be found at pet supply stores and some hardware stores. Its use for rabbit hutch building. The size allows the rabbits to walk on it without their feet falling thru. But there droping will fall to the bottom for easy clean up.
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I just found a great forum to take about black powder and stars pyroguideforum.com
it’s a very nice forum
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I have tried milled black powder, only using red gum instead of dextrin. (not having to use hot water in my shop is a big advantage) It seems to work very well. my question is: has anyone else tried this method and how were the results compared to the dextrin method?
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Willie,
Have you seen our Red Gum Black Powder kit and project tutorial?
http://www.skylighter.com/red-gum-black-powder-kit
http://www.skylighter.com/fireworks/how-to-make/Red-Gum-BP-short.asp
Altho our instructions show you how to make good RGBP without a mill, no reason it can’t go into a mill.
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I tryed to make a cremora fireball using coffee mate the bp shot it into the air but did not ignite the coffee mate y would this be
thanks bob
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Not all coffee creamers work. They have differing fat contents.
Try real “Cremora” brand.
Harry
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never mind about the screen I found some
bob
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what is the point of coating rice hulls with black powder? and how hot does the water half to be to activate the dextrin?
thanks bob
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:25 PM
Bob,
Watch your email this week or early next for a detailed project telling you all about BP coated rice hulls. Videos included. Good article on this….
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I’ve used 12 and 17 mesh screen for corning and would like to use a 4 mesh but can’t seem to find it anyone no were to get 4 mesh?
thanks bob
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Skylighter carries 2, 3, and 4 mesh stainless steel framed and unframed screens on this page:
http://www.skylighter.com/mall/tools.asp
The framed screens there are a steal. I wouldn’t make ‘em myself for that price. And the heavy stainless will outlast cheap chicken wire, and not sag.
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hey mr gilliam ! was studying the old baseall testing of BP and was a lttle puzzled by the recommends weights of BP for various BP mixes. QUESTION Doesn’t the exact WEIGHT of the shell (ball-can-whatever) factor in computing the lift charge?? Is there a specific formula , chart, rule of the thumb out there. I mean REALLY a baseball and say a LEAD ball of the same diameter would require a Big dif in lift charge. !!
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
October 7th, 2011 at 2:36 PM
So, Fred,
What is it you want to know:
- The power of your black powder or
- The amount of powder to use for a given shell?
The baseball test is about measuring the relative power of a given batch/type of black powder. Once you know that, you can determine the amount of powder for a shell (according to its weight).
I can give you a rule of thumb for store-bought Goex 2FA, for instance, but not for the powder you make.
Harry
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fred Reply:
October 7th, 2011 at 11:37 PM
Ok we’re on the same page. I think? For example — let’s say I have a 3 inch ball shell that weighs XXX grams and my own ball milled BP granulated to about a 3Fa. I know the flight times with the baseball test but like where do I start with a lift charge. My neighbor out here just got us to cut and clear out a whole bunch a black willow. It DO make a quicker (hotter) bp. and what is the rule of thumb?? thanks
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
October 8th, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Hi, Fred,
Weigh the baseball. The x# weight baseball took Y-grams to launch to desired height. Using that weight, calculate how many grams of the BP would be needed to launch your shell to the desired height. Let me know if you need the algebra to make this calc.
If you make a new BP, you have to start over.
There is no universal rule of thumb. Your willow 3FA BP may be more powerful than my store bought 2FA, for instance. For my GOEX 2FA, I start with a 20 grams of BP to every one pound of shell weight. But this is only a starting point.
The whole reason Ned gives you the baseball test is that you have to come up with your own calculations with each new kind of BP you make (or different baseball! you use).
As you can see, this is one very good reason to find something that works, keep detailed notes on what you did, so that you can repeat the results without having to revinvent the wheel every time.
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Joe Reply:
October 9th, 2011 at 6:43 AM
Hi all – just stumbled on this just now and got interested. What I would like to ask is: How can you calculate the height??
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
October 9th, 2011 at 12:08 PM
I got a silly question: why do you wanna know the height?
Harry
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Joe Reply:
October 10th, 2011 at 7:26 AM
Cos I fink that Ned or someone said that they reach 300 feet. How much is 300 feet???Launching shells is too risky where I live so I play with starguns. They get only about a storey high.
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 1:31 PM
All that matters is that the shell burst high enough that the stars burn out before they hit the ground. Knowing the height, even if St. Ned said it, is not usually important.
But if you must know, you need to climb up a tall tower of a known height (say 100 feet), and then lauch a shell beside it. If it’s lower than where you are on the top, it’s easy to see where it popped. If it is higher, you need to find a taller tower and repeat the process. Skyscrapers may also be used, but are sometimes frowned upon as fireworks measuring devices.
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how does that work cause my ball grinder says max capacity three pounds and if I fill it half full of media it weighs much more than three pounds
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Bob,
You would have to use a smaller container. We soved the problem you are having by coming up with a ball mill which is designed for two ball mill jars, but we specify that you should only use one–because the extra weight will burn the motor out.
You have a chioce: find and use a smaller jar or do not fill the jar half full of grinding media. If you fill the jar halfway, you may burn out your ball mill’s motor. If you fill it less than halfway, your black powder may not turn out to be powerful enough.
Harry
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bob Reply:
October 6th, 2011 at 9:09 PM
I’m filling it less than halfway and it works fine, grindes what ever you put in very fine one thin I notest when grinding salt peter with lead media is it makes the smoke from my smoke bombs a lot darker wich is grate!
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HEGilliam Reply:
October 6th, 2011 at 9:12 PM
Way to go, man. You’re on your way!
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Bob,
Have you read the article that these comments are attached to?
Harry
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just making sure for my 3 pound ball grinder put 1.5 pounds of media right?
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
October 2nd, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Weight is not important; volume is what matters. Fill the mill jar half full of grinding media. Then fill half of the remaining space with chemical(s).
Harry
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my ball grinder has finally com soon as I get some media I’ll start grinding shoulde worke better than the pepper grinder I was using
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The .575″ (.58 caliber mold I purchased from Midway USA.com and it’s a Lee Precision (aluminum) mold. I have a larger mold also (.690″ round ball) from Lyman.
That one I haven’t used for milling (yet)…I use it as a round ball slug for my 12 gauge shotguns.
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Ball milling prilled nitrate was a problem for me in the beginning (20+ years ago) when I was making rocket fuel because it contains a small amount of clay as a binder…it would just stick to the lead ball media and the balls just got bigger and bigger!
I solved that problem by adding the charcoal, but instead of using airfloat I used 36 mesh charcoal…worked perfectly and the rocket fuel was just as good as using airfloat.
Since then, whenever using prilled nitrate, I do the same thing for any formula using both it and charcoal…no more nitrate sticking to the balls.
In my Thumblers Tumbler “B” model, I use .575″ lead balls made from standard wheelweights I cast myself for my .58 caliber rifle. Have been using those original balls for over 20 years!!!
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Henry,
I’m glad you mentioned that clay covered prilled nitrate. It’s still around and causing problems. The best solution of course is to always use pure fireworks grade potassium nitrate from pyro supplies vendor like Skylighter. And to always be sure not to buy any chemical containing contaminants. The problem is that that is not always easy for someone to know. In any event, the clay will ruin most fireworks formulas, particularly star formulas.
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bob Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 11:23 PM
were did you get your mold?
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is lead better than glass for media? and y don’t you us 17 or 20 mesh and were can I get organic dyes in Canada
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pyorcraze Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 10:12 PM
As far as dyes in Canada, can’t help you there. Don’t use anything that can break or chip in your black powder, because you’re asking for trouble. Anything that can cause sparking while milling, such as glass, steel, cast iron, stainless steel, rocks, or stones, can badly injure yourself and piss off your neighbors. Just imagined what one pound of confined black powder in a mill will do to you and your neighborhood. Lead is too soft to use because you can contaminate your black powder and get lead poising. If anything use yellow brass. It may be a little bit expensive. But in the long run it will outlast anything that you can trough at it. I’ve been using yellow brass for years and haven’t had any problems. I’ve ground some of the hardest charcoal, prill grade potassium nitrate and solid sulfur chunks with it and have had very little wear with it. You can grind complete black powder compositions safely with yellow brass.
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 9:53 AM
I’d like to add this: Lead is fine and is the milling medium used by most pyros. Although lead will wear down in milling, there’s no evidence of anyone or anything being contaminated by the small amount of lead using in milling chemicals or BP. Nor does lead negatively affect your BP. If you can get them, use hardened lead balls instead of pure lead. Skylighter carries them. They last longer. Brass is excellent, too, of course, but harder to find than lead.
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bob Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 4:44 PM
thanks for the info, were do you get yellow brass?
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Beats me! That’s why most guys use hardened lead! They can’t find cheap brass.
Here’re our ultra-hard lead balls:
http://www.skylighter.com/mall/product-details.asp?id=2165
Harry
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pyorcraze Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 11:13 PM
5/8 inch Brass Bearings. Tool Supply E-Bay They work great.
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 2:33 PM
“This listing (180143141367) has been removed, or this item is not available.”
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bob Reply:
October 1st, 2011 at 12:26 PM
thanks I checked it out but it was a little out of my price rang
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Harry Gilliam Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Bob,
The mesh size of the black powder varies according to what you are using it for.
Check out “Size Matters” on the Skylighter website:
http://www.skylighter.com/fireworks/making-fireworks-projects/blackpowder-fireworks.asp
Harry
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great tuts guys wish more people would watch your vids as opposed to all the nuts on YT,I know so many kids who go on YT and end up having accidents by watching amatuers making pyro there,Im always seeing dangerous stuff like pipe bomb makers and one in particular a bunch of teenagers shooting motars with small shells in them at each other,they have no respect for fireworks,hard to believe they are still legal in some states like here in flirida!
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after ball milling following your instructions can I skip the 4 mesh screening and say jump right to a maybe a 12 or so mesh size.??
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HEGilliam Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Sure, if that’s the grain size you want for your black powder.
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