I played with black powder as a kid. I had the coolest Dad. Anyway, just pouring it in will only create a moderately paced flash of light and some yawns. It has to be packed. A few years ago on the fourth of July I decided to show my nephews how it's down. I put a couple of tablespoons of pyrodex in a plastic soda bottle and poke a hole in it for the fuse. I set it on the top of my log pile and manage to blow about 10 splits all over the yard.