# Essays Upon The Making Of Salt-Petre And Gun-Powder/Excellent Method

New York Colony Committee of Safety, pages 37–39
​ [ 37 ] I have lately erected a Powder-Mill in the south end of Ulster county, in the province of New- York, at which I have made as good Powder as I have ever seen, and will bear the inspection of good judges, in the following manner :
GUNPOWDER is composed of nothing more than the four plain simple articles, Saltpetre, Brimstone, Charcoal and Water. The three first of which are to be made as fine as possible, so as to be sifted through a gauze sieve, or fine boult, as fine as common flour. But it being difficult to make the Saltpetre all fine, those parts that will not be easily got through the sieve, must be dis- solved in soft warm water, then let the Sulphur, Saltpetre, and Charcoal, be each separately weigh- ed. Take of the Saltpetre an hundred weight, of the Sulphur fifteen pounds, and Charcoal eighteen pounds, and in that proportion for any greater or smaller quantity. This being done, mix them all well together in some large vessel, such as a potash or any other kettle, and when well mixed, moist- en the whole with the aforesaid nitrous water, till it is as moist as dough for making bread. Then put an equal quantity in each mortar, and pound it well for at least twenty hours; and if the mill runs slowly, let it run twenty four hours; and as the paste by pounding will naturally grow dry, it must be kept moist by putting in a little of said water, and when pounded sufficiently take it out of the mortar, and put it in some tub, or any o- ther proper vessel. As to the graining, it must be done in the following manner, viz. Have a box made about five feet square, the sides eighteen inches deep, the bottom tight, and top entirely
open; fix across the box two rods or laths near the middle, about four inches below the top, and about ten inches apart, then have six sieves made of wooden splits, in the same manner as a wheat rid- dle, but much finer, the coarsest should be as fine as a cockle sieve, or little finer, and to each sieve to increase in fineness till the last is as fine as possible. I believe it were best to make the two coarsest of wire; then take about a quart of the paste, put it into the coarsest sieve, set the sieves on the two rods that are fixed across the box, then work the sieve with a circular motion, which will press the paste through the sieve in large and un- shapely grains, and when a considerable quantity is passed through, then sift it over again in the next coarsest sieve, and so till the grains are fine enough. The last sieve must be so fine, that whatever pas- ses through it, will be too fine for Powder, and is to be worked over the next batch. As the paste will naturally roll together in large round balls, when worked in the sieve, a board must be made near as large in circumference as a common pew- ter plate, and about one inch thick on the center, declining to the edge, of some hard wooden turned in a lath, and as smooth as possible. This board must be put into the sieve among the paste, which breaks the lumps in pieces, and the paste through the sieve.
When the Powder is well grained in the man- ner directed, it must be rolled in a barrel, the in- side of which is to be made as smooth as conveni- ently may be, with as small a door cut in one side, capable of being shut tight , and the barrel to be fixed so as to be turned by the shaft of the ​ [ 39 ] mill. Put in a few pounds at a time, and let it be rolled as above, which will make the Powder smooth; then sift it in the finest sieve, till the fine parts that work off the barrel pass through the sieve, which is to be returned again into the mor- tar. THe Powder must be put in flat trays or dishes, and set by to dry either in a small room kept warm with a large stove, or, if the weather be dry, in the shining of the sun.
I therefore most heartily recommend to the good people of this continent to enter into these necessary businesses with spirit, being well assured, that a greater quantity may with ease, be made than will be needed for our own consumption, even admitting the times to be worse than the threats of the British administration would lead us to expect.
Any person inclining to build a Powder-mill will be shewn a plan, with directions for the con- struction of all its parts and utensils, by applying to their very humble servant.