On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 08:58:40 -0500, Greg Copeland
wrote:

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 14:17:08 +0000, G.R. Patterson III wrote:



Roger Halstead wrote:

Now think about how much a farmer can haul in a grain wagon and they
have access to the right chemicals to do all sorts of things.

Both nitroglycerin and gunpowder use materials that are readily available to anyone
(are you *really* sure that guy buying charcoal is actually planning a cookout?).


Umm. Don't you actually mean black powder? Gunpowder or smokeless
powder is much harder to make and more powerful to boot.

Black powder is gun powder. Both black, and "smokes" are just
different kinds. Basic smokeless is derived from guncotton which is
not difficult to make, but to get the characteristics of the various
"progressive" burning smokeless powders is a science.

Unless confined, smokeless powder just burns. It takes a tight
confinement and pressure for it to burn faster hence the "progressive"
description. You can stick a match in a spoon full without losing
your eyebrows. Do not try with black powder :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com