Norwest Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 Hi, I am wondering why I do not see anyone reference using store bough black powder for fireworks. Is it just an expense issue ($20-$25/lb) or is there some characteristic that makes muzzle loader black powder not appropriate for fireworks? All the commercial black powder I have seen is granular or beads so I imagine that might be the issue? I have a rubber lined tumbler and brass beads but I am a bit tentative to start milling away but want to start assembling some shells. Thanks, Norwest
Mumbles Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 It certainly can be done. You're right though, it tends to be an expense thing. Using reloading powders tends to add up fairly quick. Most books and other information you see will usually refer to blasting powder grades (FA's), rather than sporting powder grades (Fg's). Blasting grades tend to be cheaper when purchasing, though are not always as available. Cannon grade is the equivalent of 2FA, and 1Fg is the equivalent of 4FA, and 4Fg tends to be pretty similar to Meal D.
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 It's absolutely a cost thing. Even though our homemade BP is better performing than goex, the real benefit is how cheaply we make it. It costs me in the ball park of $1.20 to make a pound of BP. It's very nice to make it myself.
nater Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 I use commercial powder for spolettes due to reliability and consistency. I have some 2FA and use it in a pinch, but homemade BP is much cheaper.
schroedinger Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 Homemade black powder is just cheaper. Depending on how much you pay for chemicals it can be that your homemade powder cost less then 50 cents per kg. Compared to 30 $ well worth some work.
ddewees Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 The cheapest I've seen Meal D (recently) is $7.50/lb... or $375 for a 50lb box. It all depends on your situation... some people can't make black powder at home, and like to take it with them to events... so purchasing reliable powder is one option.
taiwanluthiers Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 1 lb of powder doesn't go very far in fireworks, you could easily use 10lbs making a few small shells, and more when making larger shells. So it gets expensive very fast.
ddewees Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 you could easily use 10lbs making a few small shells http://earthintegrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Confused-gif.gif
schroedinger Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 1 lb of powder doesn't go very far in fireworks, you could easily use 10lbs making a few small shells, and more when making larger shells. So it gets expensive very fast.How was it, if i recall right the introduction from turbo pyro, making your own blackpowder is an essential skill since a beginner can easly go trough 50 lb of bp per year.
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 I do not see in any case how 10lbs would burn up in a few shells. I made 50 shells last year for the 4th and included in that was a double break 5" with 8 inserts that weighed 11 lbs. I did not use 10lbs of powder. I used about 5 for lift and maybe 3-4 for burst.
schroedinger Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 Well just consider the 6" ball shells. 350 g bp for burst 100 g for lift ~ rougly 1 lb. 10 6" are not many shells but would be 10 pound of bp. If you use the 7.5 $ meal d for coating on a filler as burst you spend ~5 $ and 100 g of lift @ 20 $/lb are again ~ 5, 5 $ or 3.5 if you pay 10 $/lb. Using the cheaper prices would make a shell worth 8.5 $ of commercial bp. Homemade bp cost about 2 $ / kg and would make this ~ 1 $. 7.5 $ less. But if pay more then the 7.5 and more like 20 $ then the saving are 19 $ per pound. On 10 pound 190 $ at 50 lb allready a grand. Tyro you said you used 9 lb on your shells, that would make a difference of 171 $. Quite worth to make it. Those $ would allow you to buy more then 1 real maltese 5".
Dragonflightpyro Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 Not just the cost efficiency. You are making it yourself! Isn't that joy of creation one of the reasons we are doing all this? All said and done it would be so much easier and cheaper just to get licensed for 1.3G and buy ready made. While that may have it's place, I want to make my own damn shells. And BP, stars, comets, rockets, mines ... everything. From everyone I've listened to, BP making is the place to start.
nater Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 Yes, there is joy in creating something yourself. We can also build effect that are not easily found in commercial product. Large rockets and multibreak cylinder shells are not on the lists for many distributers.
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