How is it made?

The black powder we use in our igniters is a mixture of 80% potassium nitrate and 20% natural wood charcoal by mass.

The two ingredients are mashed together using a mortar and pestle (or any similar device) until they become a very fine powder. In retrospect we realized it's probably a good idea to do this step with a mask on.

Then, enough water is poured into the mixture just to make it moist. The moist mixture is then spread out on a sheet of wax paper or something of the sort until it dries and hardens. We just stuck it in a PVC cap.

Once the mixture dries out, it can then be broken up using a mortar and pestle into any size grain desired.

Grinding charcoal with mortar and pestle.

Allowing the black powder to dry.

How do we use it?

We pour the black powder into a straw and then insert two electric leads connected by a thick strand of steel wool. When a current is applied to the leads, the steel wool begins to burn and ignites the black powder, which in turn leads to the combustion of the propellant.

The battery got pwned by black powder.

A completed igniter.

We experimented with using duct tape and masking tape to seal the ends of the straw. Using duct tape makes a huge pop and not much flame, since it is able to plug both ends of the straw more effectively than masking tape, which the flame burns straight through. Thus, the masking tape produces more flame, but less pressure.

The igniter after it was burned.

A video of the igniter being burned.

What is it?

Something that a teacher in the chemistry department gave to us.

How do we use it?

It works in the same manner that the nichrome and steel wool work, except that it is in much shorter supply and most likely more expensive than steel wool.

What is it?

Wire with extremely high resistance which heats up tremendously when a current is passed through it.

How do we use it?

We don't. We never had any nichrome thin enough to do the job correctly. Steel wool is cheaper and does the same job that nichrome is supposed to do.

What is it?

The process by which one of us (usually Jay) runs up to the explosives, fails at lighting a lighter (by this time, Tamir goes up to him and helps him), and then both of them trip over themselves as they run away when they have finally managed to light the explosives.

How do we use it?

With extreme caution.