Static electricity and black powder - The Thunder House experiment

[Pirotecnia]

Searching about the risk of static electricity while blackpowder manufacturing/handling, I come across an interesting experiment made initially by a physicist (James Lind) in the XVIII century called "Thunder House". While the initial experiment was to show the destructive power of a lightning strike in an "ungrounded" wooden house, it can show also that gunpowder can eventually be ignited by static electricity. So, all possible care must be taken while making or handling black powder regarding static electricity.

Video of the experiment (in the video they use a firecracker, but in early times, black powder was used): 

 

W

[FieryCreations]

Another interesting study. It seems like regular static electricity is no concern unless actively screening with fine dry dust. 

https://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/sparks/sparks.html

 

Edited December 24, 2023 by FieryCreations