Re: Lampblack/KNO3

Hi Bob,

"Lampblack" is a fuel that can be as frustrating as Aluminum when
trying to tune in an effect like "spur fire". Most lampblacks will
burn nicely with potassium nitrate, chlorate or perchlorate. The first
skyrockets I made in the early 1960s were made with lampblack
substituted for powdered charcoal in a simple gunpowder formulation.
The lampblack I was using at the time was purchased from a neighborhood
hardware store and was used for making ones's own gray or black oil
paints by tinting a white base. It also made a very nice "flower pot"
fountain with the "spur fire" effect.
Depending on the product used to make the filthy "soot" (petroleum
fuels or pine wood, etc) the effect of the sparks can be a dull reddish
orange single fire dust particle, up to the beautiful branching (senko
hanabi) effect.
Shimizu confirms my results in that lampblack based bursting charges
can be more energetic than charcoals: (H3 and KP made with lampblack
rather than hemp or other fast burning charcoals and coated on hulls or
other nuclei).
Lampblack is a good addition in small percentages to otherwise hard to
light star and lance comps. Certain lampblacks make a potent "black
powder" in the traditional gunpowder proportions. I have tried the
"Skylighter" lampblack in the flower pot formulations and it doesn't
work. It may be that he buys his lampblack from Hummel, I don't know
but the lampblack I have used from Hummel in the past didn't work well
either. I think that to work properly, the lampblack should be "pine
soot": the condensed vapors driven off when distilling pine charcoal,
and this is what I'm looking at now. I intend to funnel the distillate
smokes from roasting pine in hopes of making the proper kind. I only
have a small amount of the old lampblack left. Mike Swisher can tell
of several "ink" grade lampblacks which may work as well.

John

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: lampblack same as charcoal
    ... particle size]page 191 Amatuer Rocket Motor Construction ... Lampblack is used in rocket ... gas black that gives the beautiful spur fire effect. ... Small amounts or lamplack will aid in color star igniton as ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Re: lampblack same as charcoal
    ... particle size]page 191 Amatuer Rocket Motor Construction ... Lampblack is used in rocket ... It is seldom used as a primary fuel. ... gas black that gives the beautiful spur fire effect. ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Re: The secret KAMURO.
    ... atomized aluminum that was vey nice. ... or antimony sulphide. ... yields effects that the typical deciduous-wood charcoals we use in the ... They also thought lampblack, etc., were used, but this was ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Re: The secret KAMURO.
    ... atomized aluminum that was vey nice. ... or antimony sulphide. ... yields effects that the typical deciduous-wood charcoals we use in the ... They also thought lampblack, etc., were used, but this was ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)