Make German Dark Aluminum Powder in Bulk

Step 7 You're All Done!

Congratulations! You're successfully made German Dark aluminum powder! Use it in all kinds of pyrotechnic compositions, including fountains, sparklers, and flash powder.

If you end up with a huge batch, post a picture for my amusement.

All comments welcome.

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Comments

[A.C.E.]

Nice tutorial, now i have a good source for aluminum powder hehe, if i cant find my old rock tumbler though, ill have to go and buy one somewhere :p where could i get steel balls (or another grinding medium) locally? would places like Lowes or a hardware store have anything suitable?

[elias.alberto]

Ball mills are not common in my country. In fact, I could translate it but have no idea of wtf it should do or look like because I've never seen one. I've tried viewing the youtube video, but it won't play because it's a private video. So, I was wondering if I could make a ball mill which would produce aluminum and iron powder. I want aluminum and iron powder to ignite thermite, then drip the molten metal into custom-shaped plaster, so I could design my own metallic parts. Any idea?

[Billdo22]

DIY cast Iron Very clever man, you need to make instructable for use to try

[Berkin]

If you don't know what a ball mill looks like, there's always Google Images. :)

I have heard of people doing very interesting things with thermite, but your idea is unheard of to me. But I wouldn't say no to you trying it.

[elias.alberto]

I've been into a mining company recently and I've seen what is a ball mill! They have some huge ones to make powder from the material they extract.

[Berkin]

Nice..

[steveastrouk]

JFYI Thermite was invented for casting and welding, and is still used for welding railroads together

[Berkin]

I know that.

[pyrorower]

Is there any benefit in using German Dark Aluminum powder rather than charcoal-free aluminum powder?

[Berkin]

Read the entire Instructable carefully, and you'll find out.

[hyudryu]

What can be an alternative other than a rock tumbler?

[Berkin]

A ball mill.

[herbert.andy]

will that melt glass?

[Berkin]

I never tried.

[bjohn29]

dude! that is so fohshizzle too bad i threw out my rock tumbler

[Berkin]

Get another one! :P

[bjohn29]

tru, u should get like a mini blender and blend the little strips of alfoil so that it doesn't take so long (do the charcoal seperately.)

[Berkin]

Blenders are a no-no. You have to use a ball mill.