A question about making black or gun powder

Question

my friend wanted to make some black powder. he was wondering do you have to use softwood charcoal. or is it just easier to grind up, also how do you tell if the charcoal is soft or hard wood. and last any ideas on where to get some, thanks

Answer 1

Making your own black powder is a very, very dangerous thing to do. Of course it can be done, but why risk it? If you're too young to buy it, and an adult won't, than you probably shouldn't have it. If you're just doing this to say you did it, ... don't, ... it's far cheaper just to go buy a can. Plus the quality and stability would be greater than anything you can achieve. Bear in mind, black powder is not a toy to play with. If you don't want to make the top ten in this year's Darwin awards, ... beware.

Answer 2

Black powder is not hard to make but is dangerous.  it has a high KB (Ka-BOOM!!!!) factor.  Willow charcoal makes the best charcoal for black powder.  If I were you, I'd heed the many warnings you have received here.  It ain't a toy and it is very dangerous.  If you decide to go ahead in spite of the warnings, let us know what hospital you end up in so we can send cards.

Answer 3

It is absolute insanity to make your own explosives (yes, black powder is an explosive). My mom knew a kid who made his own fireworks and lost a few digits. My dad and a few friends tried to reload shot shells, causing either shot dribbling out the end or one heck of a boot in the shoulder. So please, don't try it for your finger's sake. Even professionally prepared pyrotechnics can go wrong. My dad knew a firefighter who was helping put on a firework show. The shell went off in the tube, sending shrapnel into his head. He was dead before he hit the ground. So please don't try it.

Answer 4

During the War for Indepedence the British soldeirs used dogwoods trees to make the charcoal for their gunpowder.

Answer 5

You can't really tell a difference in the type of wood used to make the charcoal. The most common is made from various hardwoods though. You can get it at almost any grocery store! Don't get any with an additive that helps it light up as that will affect your mixture. Just plain charcoal.  

Answer 6

I've read that willow makes good charcoal for black powder...

The process is easy, but quite dangerous;  don't do it.