Drying BP

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Caliper_Mi

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OK, so I've taken the plunge on making my own BP. Never mind why, it is just fun, takes reloading to a new level... So, I'm making some small batches to test various corning methods, etc and this drying time is almost more than I can take!

I'm wondering what methods people use to dry their fresh powder and if it has any effect on the resulting powder. I read some people say slow drying makes better powder or that sun drying will degrade the powder. OTOH, I see on fireworks websites people using small ceramic heaters to blow warm air through a drying "oven". So, to those who mix their own, what say you? How do you dry your powder?
 
Welcome to the world of homemade black powder. Sooner or later someone will come on this thread with dire warnings about how you're going to destroy the neighborhood with a small batch. Ignore them. If you can follow the safety rules of reloading with smokeless you can safely make black powder.

This time of year, just put it in your vehicle with the windows rolled up. I often dry mine in my grill. I shake it every once in awhile to bring the moister powder up to the top.

In cooler weather it may take a couple of days. Just be patient and don't rush it.
 
I usually spread out my wet powder on a large flat dish and set a 7" desk fan next to it, blowing down into the powder. Stir it up every couple of hours, and it's pretty much dried overnight.
 
Haha, I figured the grill would have to be off unless you want your steak overdone!
So, speeding drying hasn't hurt the strength of your powder?

Yeah, I've read all the dire warnings while searching this forum. I figure my neighborhood is pretty spread out anyways, so I'm unlikely to take out anyone but myself... :neener:
 
Trick to it is
"Small Amounts"

as in amounts that won't instantly ignite everything around them if they do manage to ignite
 
mix a little alcohol in with it, like rubbing alcohol. alcohol evaporates quickly and will help dry out water or stale urine if you use that in your powder (witch i do) try and get some good high proof stuff. like Everclear if you can find it. that seems to dry it out quite well. make sure you don't have anything that sparks or any open flames around, alcohol will catch fire.
 
I've only had one bad batch as far as power goes. Not sure what I did wrong with it.
I loaded some into some .44-40 rounds, and chrono'd them. I'd hear the hammer fall, the primer pop, a sort of whooshing sound, then watch the bullet, hoping it would at least go over or under the chrony. I don't know if the problem was with the ratio, tumbling time, or wetting, corning and drying. I fed the rest of that batch to the flowers.
 
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