NAR vs. Tripoli - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 25 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 19 years ago by Bruce R. Schaefer.

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January 11, 2007 at 4:51 am #42293
Ken Plattner
Participant
I used to take empty 12 gauge shells – no primer – load them with black powder from my dad’s reloading machine, stick a piece of cannon fuse in the end and watch them swirl all over the place. Tried em in a couple of small estes rockets but they never had the thrust do even lift the rocket of the rod. You used to be able to get the formula for gunpowder in the library in Junior high. Doubt you can even find a reference for it now.
January 11, 2007 at 4:55 am #42294
Warren B. Musselman
Moderator
Use the web Luke… google has it. Formulas for BP, Nitrocellulose, nitrogylcerine, etc. etc….. did you know you can make RDX plastic explosive from boy scout heat tabs?

Warren
January 11, 2007 at 6:00 am #42295
Chris LaPanse
BP is easy – sulfur, charcoal, saltpeter.

Some others are a little harder, but honestly, it’s amazing how easy it is to make many dangerous things. Nitroglycerine is a piece of cake, all you need is nitric and hydrochloric acids IIRC (though I’m not planning on making it anytime soon, as I value my life…)

On a side note, does anyone know why zinc/sulfur blends are prohibited at TRA research launches?
January 11, 2007 at 9:31 am #42296
denverdoc
Use the web Luke… google has it. Formulas for BP, Nitrocellulose, nitrogylcerine, etc. etc….. did you know you can make RDX plastic explosive from boy scout heat tabs?

Warren

and a poor mans grade of Nitrocellulose laquer from ping pong balls and acetone. Course Firefox has most of these goodies in high grade….At least for now 😥
JS
January 11, 2007 at 4:08 pm #42297
Ken Plattner
Participant
You all missed the point. When I was in 7th grade (1970 or so) there were plenty of reference books with all kinds of formulas for gunpowder, nitro glycerin, etc. I doubt that any middle school or high student today could find any formulas for explosives in the school library.
January 11, 2007 at 6:11 pm #42298
Bruce R. Schaefer
did you know you can make RDX plastic explosive from boy scout heat tabs?

Hexamine, hexaminethylenetetramine, C6H12N4, right, get it in camping supplies as heating tabs… Chris, Ken, use 1% Dextrin as a binder if you’re making BP for Estes motors, ball mill the sulphur and charcoal together, ball mill the potassium nitrate SEPARATELY in a DIFFERENT ball mill drum. The final step is either diapering both mixtures together, or if you have the space to put way away from the house or anyone, ball mill them together and expect the worst. I’ve never done that, since it’s legal to buy any grade BP you need for the right purposes. Honestly don’t now, but almost always had the chemicals to make nitroglycerin. Like Chris, I value my life as well as others’. Some things you just don’t get into, but it’s nice to have the knowledge. Ken, you’re probably right about the school libraries, but consider what’s gone on in years past… as Warren said, the Internet has all the information you need for just about anything. Probably, the last bastion of free speech.
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