Making sodium chlorate gunpowder By : arefiq Introduction This chlorate gunpowder is not safe for use. Use only when you are have nothing else oxidizer than potassium/sodium nitrate. Normal gunpowder is much safer. Potassium nitrate 75 charcoal 15, sulfur 10. Note that, chlorate and sulfur mixture is extremely dangerous. It may ignite by itself by just mixing them. Using potassium chlorate is way too dangerous than using sodium chlorate. The chlorate/sulfur mixtures must be keep it away from impact ,sparks, heat and fire. Even small impact may spontaneously ignite the mixtures. But from my experience, I had never encountered any problem on making this. But, safety first. Sodium chlorate can easily absorb moisture in the air. So, to store it, keep it in an airtight container. When it absorb the moisture from air, the powder will get wet and hard to ignite/to be use as gunpowder. So, the presence of water will reduce the rate of reaction. *I will not be responsible on whatever you are doing in making and use this* Use this gunpowder carefully. Materials need. Sodium chlorate Charcoal Sulfur
Note: sodium chlorate can be bought at hardware store under the name of weed killer. Make sure to use the pure NaClO3. Some have been added with fire depressant mixtures and need to be purified. Re-crystallize the chlorate salt. Sulfur also can be bought at the hardware stores. Usually in powdered form. Preparation *Note: it is great to make this power at about 10 a.m where the sun start to shining brightly and facilitate/speed up the drying process* 1.First, all of the above materials need to be powdered.
(individually not by mix it all to powder it or else it will ignite and may explode) The chlorate can be grinded by means of blend it in the blender. Make sure wash the blender cup after use/grind the chlorate with water over and over again. Since chlorate is poisonous and deadly. *read the chlorate description on the product packet* The powdered chlorate is then filtered/sieve to separate it from granules and powder form. The powdered chlorate is stored in a small plastic bag. Make sure there is no air that trap in the plastic bag. So that the chlorate will not absorb the moisture. *note: make this process quick and neat. So that not much moisture that chlorate will absorb.* 2. The charcoal is then powdered. This can be done by using mortar or pestle. The large chunk of charcoal is placed in a cloth bag then hammered to make a small chunks. The small chunks of charcoal is then being powdered using mortar/pestle. A little drop of water is added to make it damp a little. So the powdered charcoal is not easily blown by wind. Pound this charcoal until it becomes a fine charcoal powder. *do not pound a large quantity of charcoal at one time. Its more time consuming and a lot of charcoal dust may flew away. That’s wasting time, energy and charcoal powder that is needed. So, pound it in small quantity* After that, the charcoal is filtered/sieve to separate it from granules and powder form. Then it can be stored in a small plastic bag. 3. Usually the sulfur bought in the hardware are already in powder form. But sometimes it tend to cake/crumbled together. So, sieve the sulfur to get the fine powder form. After that it can be stored in a small plastic bag. *note, if the sulfur is a chunk/granules or etc.. make it into powder.*
4.Now you have three bags of different powdered materials.
Make the gunpowder mixture by taking : [The formula for making this gunpowder is (by part or ratio)] Sodium chlorate ------ 5 Charcoal ---------------- 2 Sulfur -------------------- 1 Note: mix this mixture(part/ratio) in another small plastic bag. Note: this formula is still not on its optimum. If you have an optimum formula let me know. (a).The fine powdered chemicals is mixed in its ratio in a small plastic bag. (b).The end of the plastic bag is twisted to prevent any powder to fall out. (c).Then the mixture is roll over and over (shake it also can be use. But not too aggressive) again slowly until all the mixture mix well. Now he chlorate gunpowder mixture is done. Next is to improve it more and to make it into a small grains.
The mixture is then poured into a container.*preferably wide glass container/wide glass cup etc..* Then the mixture is damped with water. (pure water/rain water is the best) and stirred until a nice mix of damp mixture is formed. *note: add the water a little by time or drop by drop of water. Until nice damp mixture is obtained. Bear in mind that it must be damp, not wet or completely wet.* 5.Now take the well damp mixed gunpowder outside to be dried under the hot, bright, sun. Lay a piece of newspaper, put the sieve on top of it. Then pour all the damped powder onto the sieve. After that, sieve and shake it slowly. Spread it on the newspaper evenly. Let it dry. *note: after some time, take a look at the drying powder and try to re-spread the powder using a small stick to ensure the bottom part of powder is being dried evenly to. If there is a crumbled or caked powder, break it. To make it a nice powder grain. Then let it dry. 6. After the powder dried completely, it now can be use and stored in a plastic bag then into an airtight container.