making black match fuse

[THEONE]

I follow

video to make a black match fuse but it doesnt burn it very well...

 

I use a homemade black powder 75/15/10 plus 5% dextrin....

[Algenco]

I follow

video to make a black match fuse but it doesnt burn it very well...

 

I use a homemade black powder 75/15/10 plus 5% dextrin....

 

 

how "hot" is your powder?

what type charcoal, ball milled, etc?

 

The quality of BP is dependent on the charcoal and how it's processed

 

Green mix made with Paulownia or Balsa will outperform BP made with commercial AF that has been ball milled

Edited July 6, 2011 by Algenco

[dagabu]

I am probably going to get BOO'd by the good people of APC but I find that hardwood charcoal makes better black match. The flame front does not seem to change much in a pipe but the slurry seems to just work better when made from hard wood charcoal.

 

Just my $.02

 

-dag

[Algenco]

add 1% CMC for better slurry

 

Rocket guys...........

[dagabu]

add 1% CMC for better slurry

 

Rocket guys...........

 

I do! I have ever since this very nice OLD guy (No, not YOU OG, this was another OLD guy) told me about it.

 

Shell guys...........

[Mumbles]

Are you sure the blackmatch is dry? You'll probably want to give it 2-3 days to be absolutely sure it is dry.

[THEONE]

Are you sure the blackmatch is dry? You'll probably want to give it 2-3 days to be absolutely sure it is dry.

 

yes i left it more than 6 days

i was thinking to add 1% red iron oxide... ?

[Algenco]

yes i left it more than 6 days

i was thinking to add 1% red iron oxide... ?

 

 

Why?

 

concentrate on making quality BP

[Arthur]

First use the fastest BP that you have, then mix the slurry so that a LOT of it sticks to the string. The Chinese use many sorts of string from fine stuff about 1mm dia used in multiples, to fat hairy string about 6mm dia. As long as there is enough, and fast enough powder then you will get good fuse when it is dried completely.

[dagabu]

First use the fastest BP that you have, then mix the slurry so that a LOT of it sticks to the string. The Chinese use many sorts of string from fine stuff about 1mm dia used in multiples, to fat hairy string about 6mm dia. As long as there is enough, and fast enough powder then you will get good fuse when it is dried completely.

 

Sigh... The faster the BP does not necessarily make the best black/quick match. The flame front has to dwell long enough to heat up the fuel you wish to burn. A flash of fire will not allow the heat to rise as much as a slower BP does. In fact, a super fast black match *can blow the pipe apart causing a failure in the quick match.

 

Kneading the string into the slurry will ensure the black match will transfer fire even if it hangs.

 

*I had three shells that didn't light in the show Monday due to Chinese quickmatch that blew apart and failed to pass fire.

 

-dag

[Adrenaline]

I always had problems with my black match, too. Try soaking the string with saturated potassium nitrate solution. Strip of excess KNO₃ solution with you fingers. Now put the string in your BP slurry.

 

Worked for me

 

 

-Adrenaline

Edited July 7, 2011 by Adrenaline

[stckmndn]

OK, where do I get CMC? Another thing I didn't know I needed.

[dagabu]

OK, where do I get CMC? Another thing I didn't know I needed.

 

PM me, I got a pound I can spare.

 

-dag

[Vrizla]

Standard BP formula worked fine for me. I want to try un-winding my string so I can make thinner quick match. I also really need to build thay machine posted by Sidewinder. Snaking your black match into home made pipe is a pita. I've tried different paper and different methods some end up looking nicer then others all perform well I just like it to look nice. I use airfloat charcoal not sure what it is. Have you tried a burn test on the BP before you made the slurry?

[THEONE]

Yes i have tried and it burns well but i havent got ball mill, i use an another method to make it powdered Edited July 9, 2011 by THEONE

[Vrizla]

Unfortunately I am still with out a ball mill, but you shouldn't need one to do what you are trying to do. I was hoping to finish it yesterday but couldn't find the parts needed. If it burns well the only thing I can think of that you are doing wrong is too much water, maybe too much dextrin? Good BP + good string = good black match. This was my first year making it, I still need a more efficient way of making quick match but other then that everything was just as good a store bought. You can soak string in nitrate, but if you ask me that's a waste of material. Plus unless you let it dry the it's not going to soak up as much as the good stuff. Dag's method is the best kneed the snot out of it then pull. I got my string from Walmart, Sugar N' Cream I believe it is called. The only thing I want to change as posted earlier is trying thinner strands for my 1" canister shells. I can't get them to slide down the gun easily with the size of match pipe. What exactly are you using your black match for anyway? As stated earlier if your BP is too fast it can and will blow match pipe. I'm far from an expert but if your powder is good I think the problem is in your string or slurry/technique to mix kneed and pull.

 

Edit: I forgot to add my last batch wasn't even fully dry and it burned like the the fire's of Hell

 

 

Double edit: Sorry I was on my phone before CMC? the Wallpaper Paste?

I know I'm new at this but do you guys really think that's what his problem is?

I can't say I have used it, I was going to buy some but for other reasons. Does that really effect the quality that much? If it does let me know cause I'll defiantly try it out next batch. I'm just the type of person where good isn't good enough. Kinda like the Snapple commercials, I'm always looking to make things better.

Edited July 10, 2011 by Vrizla

[Algenco]

CMC will cause it to "Gell" keeping everything in suspension

[Vrizla]

I was thinking until I get my ball mill working do you think I go straight from wet mix method then black match slurry? I normally let it dry and screen it then process it further depending on application . Also my last chemical order I bought several pounds of kno3 with anti cake for making stars and fountains. I think it's milled with cab-o-sil 1%. Has anyone ever used that to make BP? I curious if it would enhance the performance or slow it down.

[Mumbles]

Well, it wont speed it up. Silica is pretty inert. Compared to the same product without anti-cake you probably wouldn't see any difference one way or the other. Some people do not like anticake in their nitrate for fountains, thinking it doesn't compact as well.

 

I do agree with your good BP + good string = good black match. THEONE, you have to be deficient in one of those. I'd lean toward the BP side considering your description.

[ulajo]

You could use this technique to make black match http://www.hoby-pyro.com/black_match.php i have tried it and its good.

Tho i agree with others that main thing that you should be concentrated to the BP quality.

[dagabu]

You could use this technique to make black match http://www.hoby-pyro...black_match.php i have tried it and its good.

Tho i agree with others that main thing that you should be concentrated to the BP quality.

 

That technique has several faults that can severely hamper successful firing of devices and or shells. The black powder should be forced into the string core, if it is not, the black powder will flake off leaving the string bare and it will not transfer fire. Hemp is not the best choice for this reason, it does not allow for the grains of BP to fully enter the core of the string.

 

Dextrine is also a limiter, it dries hard and breaks easily. the addition of 1% CMC helps keep the BP bound to the string even when bent sharply.

 

If black match is not used in quick match or not used to cross match but is used only for a fuse, the powder quality does not matter much at all and you can use what you want. If SUPER fast BP is used in a pipes, it can blow the pipe apart and disjoin from other pipes, buckets or fuse. If the BP is too slow, it can lead to hang fire where the match is smouldering down its length. This can go on for quite some time and the shell can then be lifted out of the mortar a half hour after the leader was lit.

 

There is no black magic in making good black match, use good black powder, use 100% cotton string, knead the BP into the core, run it through a sizer die so that there are go BP boogers that will catch on other strands or on the pipe walls.

 

-dag

Edited July 12, 2011 by dagabu

[ulajo]

Those are good advices dagbu thanks.

[Rocketman14]

RE: CMC

 

Newbie here, about to make a batch of black match so I was checking out this thread for tips and such. Anyway, CMC....sounds great....what is it?

[schroedinger]

Carboxymethyl cellulose

[BlueComet24]

I've also heard that gum arabic (also called acacia gum) makes good, flexible blackmatch that doesn't flake easily. You could try using that. It's available at some grocery stores as a thickener and emulsifier for foods.