Goex explosion today

[springfield art]

Uncompressed powder doesn't blow up

Yeah, but it makes one heck of a flare-up! Not fun, scientific or not!

 

[longcruise]

Yep, a few pounds of homemade blackpowder will do little more than singe a hobbyist’s eyebrows if anything goes wrong and it lights up in their lap, correct? Or maybe nothing more than a home vasectomy event?

The grammatical errors are evidence our educational system is dead, pushing a political narrative, spin, and false propaganda are evidence that journalism is dead.

I think many of those errors is the result of using voice recognition in lieu of finger tips. That and sloppy proof reading.

Uncompressed powder doesn't blow up

A well known ml shooter in my area had an incident in his shop in his garage. Not making powder but indicative of what the results could be. He was working on a lock with his open shooting box nearby. It's not unusual for flintlock shooters to have spilled powder accumulation in their shooting boxes. He lit up the spilled powder testing a lock which set off a container in the box. Blew his garage door down and hospitalized him. It wasn't compressed powder!!

I personally observed the same thing happen at a shoot with a fellow working on his lock standing at his three legged combo shooting box and loading stand. In his case there was no secondary but it was enough to give him minor burns and some beard damage.

Not clearly related to making powder but maybe just a little indicative of what can happen when a mistake is made. I'm a frugal DIYer but not planning to make powder.

 

[springfield art]

I think many of those errors is the result of using voice recognition in lieu of finger tips. That and sloppy proof reading.


A well known ml shooter in my area had an incident in his shop in his garage. Not making powder but indicative of what the results could be. He was working on a lock with his open shooting box nearby. It's not unusual for flintlock shooters to have spilled powder accumulation in their shooting boxes. He lit up the spilled powder testing a lock which set off a container in the box. Blew his garage door down and hospitalized him. It wasn't compressed powder!!

I personally observed the same thing happen at a shoot with a fellow working on his lock standing at his three legged combo shooting box and loading stand. In his case there was no secondary but it was enough to give him minor burns and some beard damage.

Not clearly related to making powder but maybe just a little indicative of what can happen when a mistake is made. I'm a frugal DIYer but not planning to make powder.

While I'm sure some guys can mfg. powder at home, I gotta think the quality would be all over the map!!

 

[jdw276]

I think many of those errors is the result of using voice recognition in lieu of finger tips. That and sloppy proof reading.


A well known ml shooter in my area had an incident in his shop in his garage. Not making powder but indicative of what the results could be. He was working on a lock with his open shooting box nearby. It's not unusual for flintlock shooters to have spilled powder accumulation in their shooting boxes. He lit up the spilled powder testing a lock which set off a container in the box. Blew his garage door down and hospitalized him. It wasn't compressed powder!!

I personally observed the same thing happen at a shoot with a fellow working on his lock standing at his three legged combo shooting box and loading stand. In his case there was no secondary but it was enough to give him minor burns and some beard damage.

Not clearly related to making powder but maybe just a little indicative of what can happen when a mistake is made. I'm a frugal DIYer but not planning to make powder.

Set off container in the box = compressed.

 

[longcruise]

Set off container in the box = compressed.

Nope! A BP container (metal at that time) is not a sufficiently strong enclosure to qualify.

Many, many years ago at a shoot. There was an event that involved all the shooters in attendance shooting at a full can of goex at about 50 yards. It was to see if those western movie scenes of shooting a powder drum could set it off. It did but it was more of a loud thump , ball of flame and impressive cloud of smoke but it wasn't an actual energetic explosion. So I'm not sure what was the container but it did hurt him and blew the garage door down. The can we shot would have been messy but probably wouldn't do that kind of damage.

And, YES, shooting at a can of powder was a dumb thing to do. Somehow that day we had a gathering of about 50 people all equally dumb, including me.

 

[jdw276]

Nope! A BP container (metal at that time) is not a sufficiently strong enclosure to qualify.

Many, many years ago at a shoot. There was an event that involved all the shooters in attendance shooting at a full can of goex at about 50 yards. It was to see if those western movie scenes of shooting a powder drum could set it off. It did but it was more of a loud thump , ball of flame and impressive cloud of smoke but it wasn't an actual energetic explosion. So I'm not sure what was the container but it did hurt him and blew the garage door down. The can we shot would have been messy but probably wouldn't do that kind of damage.

And, YES, shooting at a can of powder was a dumb thing to do. Somehow that day we had a gathering of about 50 people all equally dumb, including me.

Container should have been sealed by a lid. If sealed how did it ignite? If just open yes it would mainly act like a fuse with a column of smoke. Ever done dry ice and water in a closed bottle? Heard from a friend who did it.

Powder on the ground, ie sweepings is pretty much smoke from my perments.

 

[jdw276]

Nope! A BP container (metal at that time) is not a sufficiently strong enclosure to qualify.

Many, many years ago at a shoot. There was an event that involved all the shooters in attendance shooting at a full can of goex at about 50 yards. It was to see if those western movie scenes of shooting a powder drum could set it off. It did but it was more of a loud thump , ball of flame and impressive cloud of smoke but it wasn't an actual energetic explosion. So I'm not sure what was the container but it did hurt him and blew the garage door down. The can we shot would have been messy but probably wouldn't do that kind of damage.

And, YES, shooting at a can of powder was a dumb thing to do. Somehow that day we had a gathering of about 50 people all equally dumb, including me.

Regardless of who is right wrong both are, in all items we have described I prefer not to be within 50 yards of any of the events as described. Prefer 100 yards.

 

[longcruise]

Container should have been sealed by a lid

For sure. Maybe it was a powder horn. I never found out the details. I tried to Google it but found nothing.

Regardless of who is right wrong both are, in all items we have described I prefer not to be within 50 yards of any of the events as described. Prefer 100 yards.

Yeah I agree. I'd never do that stunt again.

I didn't mention that the can was recovered in several pieces. There was only one hole in it so first ball set it off.

 

[Rabidwookie2003]

Since they are fulfilling federal govt contracts, I wouldn't doubt it at all that you and I and @PathfinderNC are all footing that bill.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

 

[Frontier's]

Reminds me of the time I accidentally started a fire in the wood stove with a little too much powder... no explosion. One heck of a smoke cloud.

You can put an entire pound of powder on the ground and light it off. No explosion.

 

[Joemolf]

I think this is a better article: https://www.ksla.com/2024/10/30/explosion-confirmed-camp-minden/

From the link Sagebrush posted it sounds like strictly military type material is made at this location. Does Goex BP actually come from this facility?

 

[Doug Fay]

I've got the ingredients for about 10 pounds of black powder and bought a ball mill to make it. However, I want to make sure I'm doing it as well and safely as possible.

I've done some googling about it, so I think I know most of it, but, I want to make double-sure I'm doing it as safely as possible. Does anybody have any recommendations for sites that will help me make it as safely (and well) as possible?

 

[Frontier's]

I've got the ingredients for about 10 pounds of black powder and bought a ball mill to make it. However, I want to make sure I'm doing it as well and safely as possible.

I've done some googling about it, so I think I know most of it, but, I want to make double-sure I'm doing it as safely as possible. Does anybody have any recommendations for sites that will help me make it as safely (and well) as possible?

YouTube, Everything black powder channel. No bs.

 

[Doug Fay]

YouTube, Everything black powder channel. No bs.

Thank you!

 

[Joemolf]

Thank you!

You follow Frontier recommended site and you will be pleased. The guy Jake makes BP using toilet paper for his charcoal which he exceeded the performance and cleanliness of Swiss powders. He tests all his powder using a Kibler SMR 45 cal and provides all chrono data for the given load used. He by far IMO shows the makings of the best home made BP. I believe the longer you mill the better the results.

 

[Doug Fay]

You follow Frontier recommended site and you will be pleased. The guy Jake makes BP using toilet paper for his charcoal which he exceeded the performance and cleanliness of Swiss powders. He tests all his powder using a Kibler SMR 45 cal and provides all chrono data for the given load used. He by far IMO shows the makings of the best home made BP. I believe the longer you mill the better the results.

Thanks - this is sounding really good. Of course, living in Seattle, I'll have to wait a while for dry weather to put the ball mill outside, surrounded by sandbags

 

[PathfinderNC]

For sure. Maybe it was a powder horn. I never found out the details. I tried to Google it but found nothing.

Yeah I agree. I'd never do that stunt again.

I didn't mention that the can was recovered in several pieces. There was only one hole in it so first ball set it off.

I don’t know. At 50 yards, that was a cool target
I’d love to get some Tannerite some day too

 

[billraby]

I've got the ingredients for about 10 pounds of black powder and bought a ball mill to make it. However, I want to make sure I'm doing it as well and safely as possible.

I've done some googling about it, so I think I know most of it, but, I want to make double-sure I'm doing it as safely as possible. Does anybody have any recommendations for sites that will help me make it as safely (and well) as possible?

Get the training needed to get an explosives license. Contact the fire marshal for information about that. It is a lot cheaper and less trouble than blowing up your garage.

 

[Frontier's]

Don't let these guys scare you. Some folks say, take your car to a professional for an oil change.

Some say, cut your patches at the muzzle.. I say... buy professional pre cut patches, otherwise you could end up cutting yourself and the risk just isn't worth it