Gunpowder or black powder is a simple mixture of potassium nitrate or nitric acid, charcoal and sulfur (sulfur). However, simply mixing these ingredients does not automatically produce gunpowder. Follow these instructions on how to make gunpowder – though you have to be careful doing this as it is an explosive material. You can make your own gunpowder at home, either to save money or get the satisfaction of being able to make your own.
Step
Step 1. Buy materials you can afford
The better the quality of the materials you have, the better the quality of the products you produce. Nitric acid and sulfur can be obtained in almost all pharmacies.
Step 2. Make charcoal
Willow, birch, spruce, oak, beech, and ash are all types of wood that make great charcoal when burned properly. Place the pieces of wood into a large pot or 208-liter drum with a lid. Make sure there is a small open area (slit or small hole in the lid of the container) for steam to escape. Place the container over the fire. When steam starts to come out of the container, burn the wood and then close the lid again. Wait until the fire goes out and the container cools down. What's left in the container is your homemade charcoal.
Step 3. Grind the ingredients separately
Use a mortar and pestle or a manual grinder to grind the potassium nitrate. After that set aside. Grind the charcoal. Set aside. Grind the sulfur to a powder and set aside. The ingredients must be ground separately. You can also use a ball mill grinding machine. Put the powdered charcoal and sulfur in the grinder and run the machine for a few hours. Remove the mixture from the grinder once it becomes a fine powder.
Step 4. Cool 2 1/2 cups (or 600 ml) of isopropyl alcohol for every 100 grams of charcoal/sulfur mixture you have
Once cool, mix the isopropyl alcohol with the charcoal/sulfur mixture.
Step 5. Measure out the ingredients
The components of gunpowder used to be measured by weight ratio. Now the dosage has been determined to be 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal and 10% sulfur (or 25% charcoal/sulfur mixture).
Step 6. Prepare potassium nitrate
For every 100 grams (about 1/2 cup) of potassium nitrate, 1/4 cup (40 ml) of water is required. Add potassium nitrate to the pan. Stir continuously until it boils. Add a little water at intervals until the potassium nitrate is completely dissolved.
Step 7. Add the charcoal/sulfur mixture to the boiling pot of potassium nitrate
Stir until all the ingredients are well mixed.
Step 8. Take the cooled isopropyl alcohol and the hot mixture out of the house
Add the mixture to the isopropyl alcohol, then stir.
Step 9. Cool the new mixture
The sooner you can cool it down to 0 degrees Celsius the better.
Step 10. Strain the mixture using an old cloth or cheesecloth
This filter will remove all the liquid from the chemical solution. Discard the filtered liquid.
Step 11. Place the mixture on a sheet of paper and hang to dry
Step 12. Press the mixture into a sieve if it's still wet, then spread the mixture on the paper again and wait for it to dry out
Step 13. Use the mesh screen or sieve a few more times until the powder is fine
Step 14. Store your gunpowder in a plastic container in a cool, dry place
Make sure the storage area is out of reach of children.
Tips
- Perform as many of these steps as possible outdoors and away from sparks. These ingredients and the manufacturing process for gunpowder are high-risk and can be dangerous to you.
- Do not store gunpowder in metal cans as this can cause sparks and burns.
