Pyrodex, other uses ? [ match /fuse ? ]

[bob in the woods]

I have some older cans of Pyrodex and wondered if I could use it to make some match cord or even some fuse for a matchlock or swivel gun ?     I won't be shooting the stuff, but wanted to use it for something rather than just dump it. Any thoughts ??

[Hungry Horse]

 I don't think it can be wetted, and then dried, and still be usable. Now if you were talking about rolling it in a strip of thin paper, and twisting it, I'm not sure it will burn slow enough.
 I inherited some years ago, and had the same problem. What we did was make a steel target with a hole in it the size of a 12 gauge shot shell. We then made a scoring disc that covered the hole, with a homemade firing pin affixed to its back. We cut up some old paper shot shells, that were donated to the club, and dumped the shot, and powder out, and refilled them Pyrodex. It  was so much fun that the Pyrodex is long gone, but still get requests to use the target again. It works with small amounts of smokeless, with flour on top for effect also.

                 Hungry Horse

[bob in the woods]

That sounds like a lot of fun !   

[WadePatton]

don't just dump it. 

dump it and

light it. 

How about a "fuse trail".  (Is there a name for that?)

Use it for some flashy stages in a Rube Goldberg contraption.

Maybe spell out some words on metal or wood or plastic for "flash-graving".  If on metal, just give it a day or two to pit up (who needs Clorox!)

[PPatch]

Got kids around, grandchildren maybe? Do as Wade said, kids love to watch a gunpowder trail burn, and that is the way I rid myself of a pound of Pyrodex. It makes for a good time to provide a lesson on the dangers of gunpowder too.

I have no clue how to make a fuse with it, but wet some and let it dry and see if it will ignite and slowwww burn.

dp