How to Make Black Powder

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Last Updated: March 15, 2024 Approved

Black powder is a simple mixture of powdered potassium nitrate or saltpeter, charcoal and sulfur. But simply mixing the ingredients together is not going to give you the results you are looking for. Follow these instructions on making black powder--just be careful as you are working with explosives. Whether your motivation is to save a little bit of money or the satisfaction of being able to make your own, you can certainly make your own black powder at home.

Things You Should Know

Measure your dry ingredients so you have 75 parts potassium nitrate, 15 parts charcoal, and 10 parts sulfur.
Mix every 1/2 cup (100 g) of potassium nitrate with 1/4 cup (40 mL) of water. Stir in the charcoal and sulfur afterward.
Add isopropyl alcohol to your mixture, chill it in the refrigerator, and strain it through a cheesecloth.
Dry and break up the powder before transferring it to a plastic container in a cool, dry, area.

Steps

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This is one of those instances where the better quality the ingredients you have, the better quality product you will produce. The saltpeter and the sulfur can be found in most drugstores.
Make your charcoal.^{[1]
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Research source} Willow, birch, fir, oak, beech ash, pine, and spruce, when charred properly, are good woods to choose when selecting wood for your charcoal. Place the wood chips in a large pot with a lid or a 55 gallon (208 liter) barrel with a lid, just make sure there is a little open area (a crack where the lid meets the container or a small hole) so some steam can escape. Build a fire under your container. When steam begins to exit the container, light the wood inside and reclose the lid. Let the fires burn out and wait for everything to cool. What is left inside your container is your charcoal.
Use a mortar and pestle or hand mill to grind the potassium nitrate. Set it aside. Grind the charcoal. Set it aside. Grind the sulfur into a powder as well, and then set it aside. It is very important to grind everything individually. You may also choose to use a ball mill. If this is the case, place your crushed charcoal and your sulfur in the mill, and run the mill for several hours. Once ground to a fine powder, remove from the mill.^{[2]
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The components of black powder used to be measured by weight. This has been calculated out, nowadays, as 75 parts potassium nitrate, 15 parts charcoal and 10 parts sulfur (or 25% charcoal/sulfur mix).^{[3]
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Measure 1/4 cup (or 40 ml) of water for every 100 grams (3.5 oz) (about a 1/2 cup) of potassium nitrate in an old pan. Add your potassium nitrate. Bring to a boil. Stir continuously. Add little bits of water at intervals until the potassium nitrate is completely dissolved.
Stir until all ingredients are completely combined.
Add the hot mixture to your isopropyl alcohol. Stir together.
The more quickly you can chill this to 0 °C (32 °F), the better.
This will remove all the liquid from the solution. Throw out the liquid that got filtered out.
Spread it out on your paper again and allow it to dry some more.
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Make sure to choose a place that is out of the reach of children.^{[5]
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What are the safety precautions concerning black powder?

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Glasses wouldn't hurt, but definitely wear gloves. Make it in a room with low wind flow and NO candles or propane heaters.

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How is it more dangerous than true gunpowder?

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If you are referring to white gunpowder as true gunpowder, there is no clear difference in power. Both are dangerous, but white gunpowder is a lot harder to make and emits less smoke.

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How much money will it cost to get the materials?

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If you buy lab grade chemicals, it will cost you $8/500g. Each. The total would be about $24- $30.

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Tips

Complete as many of these steps as possible outdoors and away from any flame or spark. The ingredients you are working with and the process of making black powder can be very dangerous.

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Do not store black powder in a metal can, they can create a spark and ignite the powder.

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Warnings

Black Powder is explosive and hazardous. Please observe safety procedures and follow all applicable laws. Black Powder is a true explosive, not simply flammable. As such it is even more dangerous than true gunpowder (nitrocellulose).

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