Milling Black Powder

[FBpyro]

Just wanted to get a poll on varying options of most efficient yet safest way to mill black powder without a ball mill. I used to use a coffee grinder however the last time I milled some I resorted to a mortar and pestle instead, which was far too much work. I know ball milling is the most common for large quantities.

[MeowMix]

As far as I know, grinding mixed chemicals in a coffee grinder is extremely dangerous.

Mortar and pestle might, work - don't take my word for it though.

Ball mill is the "safest" way to mill it to my knowledge. It isn't super hard to make your own ball mill, and they aren't very expensive at harbor freight either.

[gdeputy]

Mortar and Pestle is NOT safe. It will work, until it doesnt and what you're mixing blows up in your face and puts you in the hospital. Learned that lesson the hard way back in high school a couple decades back.

 

Milling BP in a coffee grinder? Might as well duct tape a salute to your hand and light the fuse...

[MadMat]

Well, you could try grinding your chemicals individually as fine as possible. The finer the better. Then screen mix all three (or four, if you plan to use dextrin). I don't know which method you plan to use to granulate/corn, but I feel, wetting, pressing (to a minumum density of 1.7 g/ml (cc3) and corning would give you the best chance of a good outcome. It still may not be an optimum BP, but if it works for your use that's all that counts. Try a small batch and test it out! There is also the CIA method. I have never used it, but some say it works.

Edited June 20, 2017 by MadMat

[patsroom]

Using a coffee grinder is not the safest way of making BP. Mortar and Pestle in probity the safest but a lot of work.

Not knowing what gdeputy did has me thinking that a there was something that sparked and most likely not the suffer, charcoal, of potassium. The Mortar and Pestle would cause it as well if it was a regular set, if it was a homemade set that could be different. So saying that I would think that there was something else like metal in the mix.

If you do grind your chemicals use 3 different grinders that will always be used for that class of chemicals. One for fuel, one for oxidizer and of course one for charcoal. Then hand mix.............Now that's my 2 cents I hope that what ever you do you are safe.............................................Pat

[OldMarine]

I would use the coffee grinder to reduce the KNO3 and screen it to only get the finest particles then use the mortar and pestle to further reduce it. Air float charcoal and sulfur are likely already finer than your capabilities would allow so I would screen mix those and some dextrin into the nitrate several times and go with it. I imagine if you pucked and corned that powder it would improve it a bit. I'd be pinching pennies and picking up beer cans to get me a mill and media though.

[MadMat]

I made my ball mill for less than $20. It may not be the greatest in the world, but I have made a lot of batches of great BP with it. With a little creativeness and ingenuity, you would be surprised what can be made for very cheap. Don't forget to check out surplus places like American Science and Surplus for parts!

Edited June 20, 2017 by MadMat

[FBpyro]

Thanks for all the replies, yeah I only have the need to mill back powder once a year for the black powder and nitrocellulose lacquer igniters that I make. It's BP that's is already granulated and I just have to refine it more. A cheap ball mill will definitely have to be in the budget for the future!

[gdeputy]

Thanks for all the replies, yeah I only have the need to mill back powder once a year for the black powder and nitrocellulose lacquer igniters that I make. It's BP that's is already granulated and I just have to refine it more. A cheap ball mill will definitely have to be in the budget for the future!

 

If you're milling/grinding mixed BP in a coffee grinder, i hope you're at least doing it remotely, not standing nearby or holding it in your hand, and in small quantities. Not trying to be a downer, but burns suck.

[Boophoenix]

Save yourself the risk. If $100 is to much to be doing things close to safe ya might want to change something else to get those funds. Learn to make your own BP and you'll pay for the tools to do so fairly quickly unless the igniters are all you are using it for. If that's the case the lack of burns and possible shrapnel when the grinder process goes bad will be like money in the bank.

 

The ball mill won't be runnng at an optimum speed, but it should do just fine. I've used a double jar version of this one ( with just one loaded jar ) with completely acceptable results.

 

https://t.harborfreight.com/3-lb-rotary-rock-tumbler-67631.html?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

 

http://www.woodysrocks.com/store/p79/5lb_Lead_Ball_Mill_Media_.html

[Sparx88]

If you decide that you want to use a mortar and pestle, be prepared for blisters and something to protect your head as you start to bang your head on something out of frustration due to dismal performance of the bp.

 

Ball mill is king.

[Tourbillon]

I tried mortar and Pestle at first. Bp was slow and it was alot of work for little gains, plus it made me nervous. I saved and got a harbor freight ball mill (rock tumbler). Did research and "optimized" it. I use 1 drum and dedicated media for bp and bp components, the other drum that came with it and seperate lead for Perchlorate and individual compatable chemicals. For under $100 it makes great bp and has opened up a world of possibilities for projects. I have run it for HOURS with no problems and just a few drops of oil on the bushings between runs.

[yvanblo]

Like everyone is saying, a ball mill really is the best method. It would take forever to mortar and pestle it, and even then it would be pretty slow BP. I'll just point out that if your mortar and pestle are clean and not contaminated with something like potassium chlorate, this method is safe. BP does not normal friction ignite... I suppose it can, but I've done a lot tests with that sort of thing, and never ignited it be being careless.

 

I also made a ball mill. I think I spent about $10 on mine. I bought an old fan from Goodwill, and some pipe fitting parts from the local Habitat for Humanity. And then I took apart an old scanner to get the steel rods. Some scrap lumber and a few hours later, and I had myself a ball mill. Not fancy, but it works.

Edited June 26, 2017 by yvanblo