Peter Dohm wrote:
"Dan" wrote in message news:bwZZf.362$iF3.333@dukeread01...
John T wrote:
Thats kinda reminds me how I disposed of some old gunpowder. Dumped it
in the outdoor fireplace and touched it off. The flame built up slowly,
but it eventually had a flame about 10' high the diameter of the pile of
powder. Very impressive, but too expensive to repeat! 
John
That's smokeless powder, try it with black powder
Here's an
experiment: put a tablespoonful of black powder in an ash tray. Touch it
off with a blowtorch held at arm's length. The powder will burn fast
enough to extinguish the blowtorch.
Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
I sure hope that you meant demonstration rather than experiment; because I'd
be way too scared to try anything like that on an experimental basis.
Peter
BTW, the USAF must have been an entertaining place. :-)
It had its moments

If you ever get a chance go to one of Eglin
AFB's munitions demonstrations. I think they are still open to the
public. You will get to see all kinds of things go boom.
Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired