N/C lacquer

[MadMat]

All the time (and I've used it myself) I hear about using double base smokeless powder for making n/c lacquer. Is there a reason for using this instead of single base? From what I've researched, single base is still available and one wouldn't have to worry about nitroglycerin. Just curious.

[OldMarine]

The only time I'm picky about my NC lacquer is when making crackle. The double base gets more nitrate into the mix. I've used single base for other purposes and it's worked fine.

Green Dot shotshell powder is readily available here.

Edited November 11, 2016 by OldMarine

[Arthur]

Sometimes ingredients are chosen from "what you have in store" or "what you can buy locally" or "what you have permits to acquire in your locality".

Sometimes you get the choice, "what's best for the comp and where can I get it from" Transporting powders can be the most expensive.

[August]

According to Lloyd on fireworking.com, double base actually works better for crackle than single.

[OldMarine]

I use Lloyd's crackle formula and swear by the double base powder lacquer.

[Seymour]

I use double base because it is available and stabilised.

 

My homemade NC usually lasts years, but it needs frequent checking to see if it has "gone off". I have witnessed commercially made Nitrocellulose do this too, on many occasions. All that nasty red fumes.

 

However I have never seen gun propellant deteriorate like this, and expect it to last decades.

 

While single base gun propellant exists, most of what I have come across it double base. Once stabilised I do not greatly fear NG.

[OldMarine]

The nitro in solution will give you a thumping headache!

[FlaMtnBkr]

I've done extensive testing making DE using many different formulas and components. Double base works fine but so does single base and high nitration NC lint/cotton. I believe Lloyd has stated quite a few times that he uses the double base because it was easily attainable and gave the most consistency in the "time domain". Though I could be remembering that detail a bit wrong.

 

I tried the formula he likes a few times and it didn't work as well for me as some of the others. It seemed more finicky to get working right and wasn't as loud. Out of the many formulas I tried I liked the 37.5/37.5/25 the best. Not only did it consistently give me ear ringing explosions from even the smallest grains, but it uses half as much of the expensive bismuth as the formula Lloyd likes. Not saying one is better than the other, just that I had better luck with the one and it's much cheaper to make.

 

On a side note, anyone know why Lloyd hasn't been around lately? I haven't seen anything so I assume he's ok and just busy?

[OldMarine]

Lloyd pops in on FW now and then but I think he's still up in Virginia working on an Army contract.

[Fotia]

If your in a pinch and your man enough...you can get some clear fingernail polish in the cometic isle. Just make sure to read it to make sure it's N.C. This is what I first used before I got some 80% laquer at PGI.