Squibs and Gunpowder

[srbclarke]

Anyone on the boards have any experience in making squibs with black gunpowder? I'm just interested in knowing what grade of powder you use.

Thanks!

 

[finderskeepers]

I actually bought them from an FX house in 1990. They weren't very expensive then. That was the in midwest, USA. I don't know what they would be like in AU today. Making squibs sounds a bit dangerous.
I would look into buying them. Be very careful.

 

[M1chae1]

Ya, unless you have someone that knows their shit, I would stay away from making homemade squibs.

Find them online, or get someone well-versed in gun powder and explosives.

If you can't do it practically, try doing it with CGI.

 

[knightly]

I would even go so far as to say, don't use explosives on set at all without a licensed pyro tech on set... jail time is bad... hospitalization is worse.

 

[directorik]

Since a squib is an explosive you cannot buy them on line.
One needs a license to purchase, transport and use explosives.
And I gotta say that making your own, with any black powder
is likely to be quite dangerous.

Laws will be different in AU than here in the states and I don't
know them. Are you allowed to purchase, transport and use
black powder for squibs without a license there?

 

[Will Vincent]

Laws will be different in AU than here in the states and I don't
know them. Are you allowed to purchase, transport and use
black powder for squibs without a license there?

Even if you are, without an experienced (and preferably licensed) pyro-tech, you're much better off not going the explosive route.

Compressed air works quite well, is much less dangerous, and is actually much more realistic -- real gunshot wounds don't smoke.