     Black powder can be prepared in a
simple, safe manner.  It may be used as
blasting or gun powder.
 
Material required:
-----------------
 
potassium nitrate, granulated, 3 cups
 
wood charcoal, powdered, 2 cups
 
sulfur, powdered, 1/2 cup
 
alcohol, 5 pints (whiskey, rubbing
alcohol, etc.)
 
Water, 3 cups
 
heat source
 
2 buckets -- each 2 gallon capacity, at
least one of which is heat resistant
(metal, ceramic, etc.)
 
Flat window screening, at least 1 ft.
Square
 
large wooden stick
 
cloth, at least 2 ft. Square
 
 
note: the above amounts will yield 2
ounds of black powder.  However, only
the ratios of the amounts of the
ingredients are important.
  Thus, for twice as much black powder,
double all quantities used.
 
Procedure:
---------
 
1) place alcohol in one of the buckets
 
2) place potassium nitrate, charcoal,
and sulfur in the heat resistant
bucket.  Add 1 cup water and mix
thoroughly with wooden stick until all
ingredients are dissolved.
 
3) Add remaining water (2 cups) to
mixture.  Place bucket on heat source
and stir until small bubbles begin to
form.
 
Caution:  do not boil mixture.  Be sure
all mixture stays wet.  If any is dry,
as on sides of pan, it may ignite.
 
4) Remove bucket from heat and pour
mixture into alcohol while stirring
vigorously
 
5) let alcohol stand about 5 minutes.
Strain mixture through cloth to obtain
black powder.  Discard liquid. Wrap
cloth around black powder and squeeze
to remove all excess liquid.
 
6) Place screening over dry bucket.
Place workable amount of damp powder on
screen and granulate by rubbing solid
through screen
 
note: if granulated particles appear to
stick together and change shape,
recombine entire batch of powder and
repeat steps 5 & 6.
 
7) Spread granulated powder on flat dry
surface so that layer about 1/2 inch is
formed.  Allow to dry.  Use radiator ,
or direct sunlight.  This should be
dried as soon as possible, preferably
in one hour.  The longer the drying
period, the less effective the black
powder.
 
Caution: remove from heat as soon as
granules are dry.  Black powder is now
ready for use.
 
 By:Mr Byte-Zapnlight.                  