-------------------------------------- Improvising Black Powder By: Mr. Byte-Zap -------------------------------------- Black powder can be prepared in a simple, safe manner. It may be used as blasting or gun powder. Material required: ----------------- potassium nitrate, granulated, 3 cups wood charcoal, powdered, 2 cups sulfur, powdered, 1/2 cup alcohol, 5 pints (whiskey, rubbing alcohol, etc.) Water, 3 cups heat source 2 buckets -- each 2 gallon capacity, at least one of which is heat resistant (metal, ceramic, etc.) Flat window screening, at least 1 ft. Square large wooden stick cloth, at least 2 ft. Square note: the above amounts will yield 2 ounds of black powder. However, only the ratios of the amounts of the ingredients are important. Thus, for twice as much black powder, double all quantities used. Procedure: --------- 1) place alcohol in one of the buckets 2) place potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in the heat resistant bucket. Add 1 cup water and mix thoroughly with wooden stick until all ingredients are dissolved. 3) Add remaining water (2 cups) to mixture. Place bucket on heat source and stir until small bubbles begin to form. Caution: do not boil mixture. Be sure all mixture stays wet. If any is dry, as on sides of pan, it may ignite. 4) Remove bucket from heat and pour mixture into alcohol while stirring vigorously 5) let alcohol stand about 5 minutes. Strain mixture through cloth to obtain black powder. Discard liquid. Wrap cloth around black powder and squeeze to remove all excess liquid. 6) Place screening over dry bucket. Place workable amount of damp powder on screen and granulate by rubbing solid through screen note: if granulated particles appear to stick together and change shape, recombine entire batch of powder and repeat steps 5 & 6. 7) Spread granulated powder on flat dry surface so that layer about 1/2 inch is formed. Allow to dry. Use radiator , or direct sunlight. This should be dried as soon as possible, preferably in one hour. The longer the drying period, the less effective the black powder. Caution: remove from heat as soon as granules are dry. Black powder is now ready for use.