brushhippie
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Here is a video I put together explaining how to make powder using this simple recipe.
http://youtu.be/fKB8c4VLbw0
http://youtu.be/fKB8c4VLbw0
Video- Making Black Powder
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brushhippie
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Thanks for checking it out Gary!
1KPerDay
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Cool. I've always been curious about this.
scrat
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Nice job on the video
Busyhands94
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Very cool! I like how you made a screen to granulate the powder with from an old drawer.
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brushhippie
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Thanks guys making the videos are fun to do.....especially since Ive learned the magic of editing! This batch of powder that I made last was the first really controlled batch I made with alcohol instead of water in the process of sizing and (I havent chrono'd it yet) but I think this is pretty fast stuff! Im very pleased. http://youtu.be/vBc2Sylmb9I
St8LineGunsmith
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Cool BrushHippy, I checked out some of your other vids too
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So I watched it at the library. It is a very good start. If you want to crank it up a notch, add it the actual production of the powder, like in the home repair or cooking shows. Of course that would take a lot of editing (uggh) but the finished product would be very educational (think correspondence course worthy).
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brushhippie
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Ill do that Gary, appreciate your thoughts!
Brushhippie,
An excellent video indeed. Sorry sir, but I enjoyed listening to the water in the background. Very relaxing. But I did pay attention. In any event, get ready to video every step of the procedure considering the interest of some. Who knows, you may have sparked others to give it a try.
Anyway, as yet another who ‘rolls his own’ BP, up until the addition of the corn starch, our methods are the same. I will need to try the corn starch, in the rest of my method.
Coming out of the ball mill, my ‘meal’ is transferred to a press, and put under several tons pressure. The result is a ‘hockey puck’ that is then put thru screen(s) to the appropriate size I’m looking for. Any smaller stuff is collected, whether dust or chunks is run thru the press again till next time. Nothing goes to waste.
By employing this method, I don’t have any drying time, and the ‘pucks’ can be stored immediately.
Lastly, these pucks, are VERY difficult to ignite, but they will ignite. Once ignited, they burn very slowly. This is how I store my excess powder from manufacture.
This property is very useful as I can easily experiment in the manufacture some of fireworks for my own use. Well, a close friend and I exchange. The majority of my BP goes into fireworks, and that has been a real learning experience that can also be applied to BP firearms.
Anyway, via this press method, any BP that is unsuitable (granule size) is run back thru the press again. As I said, nothing goes to waste.
Chris
An excellent video indeed. Sorry sir, but I enjoyed listening to the water in the background. Very relaxing. But I did pay attention. In any event, get ready to video every step of the procedure considering the interest of some. Who knows, you may have sparked others to give it a try.
Anyway, as yet another who ‘rolls his own’ BP, up until the addition of the corn starch, our methods are the same. I will need to try the corn starch, in the rest of my method.
Coming out of the ball mill, my ‘meal’ is transferred to a press, and put under several tons pressure. The result is a ‘hockey puck’ that is then put thru screen(s) to the appropriate size I’m looking for. Any smaller stuff is collected, whether dust or chunks is run thru the press again till next time. Nothing goes to waste.
By employing this method, I don’t have any drying time, and the ‘pucks’ can be stored immediately.
Lastly, these pucks, are VERY difficult to ignite, but they will ignite. Once ignited, they burn very slowly. This is how I store my excess powder from manufacture.
This property is very useful as I can easily experiment in the manufacture some of fireworks for my own use. Well, a close friend and I exchange. The majority of my BP goes into fireworks, and that has been a real learning experience that can also be applied to BP firearms.
Anyway, via this press method, any BP that is unsuitable (granule size) is run back thru the press again. As I said, nothing goes to waste.
Chris
1KPerDay
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Varminter, ones the pucks dry out, do you have to re-wet them before granulating?
1KPerDay,
This may be a shock, but it works very well for me.
My ‘meal’ comes out of the ball mill DRY. I never wet it with anything. There is no need. From the mill, it goes straight into the press. The result is a hard/dry puck ready for granulating. Once I get the size I’m looking for, it is gently sifted and the smaller granules are collected. There may even be some stuff that is almost as fine as the ‘meal’. If the amount is too small to make into a puck, which is often the case, I just break up an existing puck and combine the leftovers to make a slightly larger puck.
I do plan on experimenting with the corn starch in the fullness of time, but so far, for my needs there is no need.
I’m always concerned with safety. Like anything else in reloading/shooting there are always dangers.
Consequently, I keep about 3 to 5 pounds of pucks ready for my immediate needs. I keep in stock the chemicals to make about 50 pounds of BP. By buying chemicals in this volume, instead of the approximately $20.00/lb for commercial BP or substitutes, my costs run approximately $1.00/lb. Since my labor is free and I have the time, it’s a win/win situation for me.
Lastly, a word of warning to everyone thinking about your own production of BP.
The ‘meal’ coming out of the mill is EXTREMELY easy to ignite and burns EXTREMELY fast. The granulations, whether bought commercially or manufactured yourself, the finer the granulation, the easier to ignite and faster burning. The pucks are VERY DIFFICULT to ignite, but the can be ignited, and once ignited, are very slow burning. These properties of BP are used extensively in not only firearms, but fireWORKS as well.
Lastly, I hope that you didn’t ask me the time and I told you how to build the clock. That was not my intention.
Chris
This may be a shock, but it works very well for me.
My ‘meal’ comes out of the ball mill DRY. I never wet it with anything. There is no need. From the mill, it goes straight into the press. The result is a hard/dry puck ready for granulating. Once I get the size I’m looking for, it is gently sifted and the smaller granules are collected. There may even be some stuff that is almost as fine as the ‘meal’. If the amount is too small to make into a puck, which is often the case, I just break up an existing puck and combine the leftovers to make a slightly larger puck.
I do plan on experimenting with the corn starch in the fullness of time, but so far, for my needs there is no need.
I’m always concerned with safety. Like anything else in reloading/shooting there are always dangers.
Consequently, I keep about 3 to 5 pounds of pucks ready for my immediate needs. I keep in stock the chemicals to make about 50 pounds of BP. By buying chemicals in this volume, instead of the approximately $20.00/lb for commercial BP or substitutes, my costs run approximately $1.00/lb. Since my labor is free and I have the time, it’s a win/win situation for me.
Lastly, a word of warning to everyone thinking about your own production of BP.
The ‘meal’ coming out of the mill is EXTREMELY easy to ignite and burns EXTREMELY fast. The granulations, whether bought commercially or manufactured yourself, the finer the granulation, the easier to ignite and faster burning. The pucks are VERY DIFFICULT to ignite, but the can be ignited, and once ignited, are very slow burning. These properties of BP are used extensively in not only firearms, but fireWORKS as well.
Lastly, I hope that you didn’t ask me the time and I told you how to build the clock. That was not my intention.
Chris
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brushhippie
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Varmiter, Thats very intresting, Im always looking for new recipes to try! There is a wet method I would like to try as well but its not something I want to do under my cabin!
I don't think I would do ANY of this under my cabin (RV), wet or dry.
What I didn't like about any of the wet methods was, not only was it messy, but the disposal of the gloves I had to wear, and the additional drying time needed to deal with the leftovers if they were going to be salvaged. In any event, if there are any leftovers in my method, they are converted to pucks yet again for further use.
Anyway, I hope you are getting prepared to do a step by step video. There appears to be the interest.
Me thinks you opened a can of worms and now you are going to end up chasing them as they wiggle away.
Isn't soot fun????????????
Chris
What I didn't like about any of the wet methods was, not only was it messy, but the disposal of the gloves I had to wear, and the additional drying time needed to deal with the leftovers if they were going to be salvaged. In any event, if there are any leftovers in my method, they are converted to pucks yet again for further use.
Anyway, I hope you are getting prepared to do a step by step video. There appears to be the interest.
Me thinks you opened a can of worms and now you are going to end up chasing them as they wiggle away.
Isn't soot fun????????????
Chris
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brushhippie
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I am planning to make videos for each of the recipes I try and making different charcoals as well, I believe the possibility's are endless. I read earlier about a gent who's making powder without sulfur....says it just as fast......we'll see!
Without sulfur is always of interest.
I make my own charcoal. So far, white pine works well. Mesquite is VERY marginal.....hey, I'm in AZ. Willow, when I can find it is great. Lemme know your findings. Always interest in ending up chasing my own tail with the endless possibilities.
I've also tried cactus skeletons. Lots of work there washing all the dirt off. Drying and cutting the skeletons to a shape where a reasonable number will fit in the can. Lots of prep, and so far, not determined if it's worth it. My guess it's not as I'm sure it been tried before. I just can't find anyone else who has tried it. I may just end up throwing it on the BBQ and see if the meat is edible.
Chris
I make my own charcoal. So far, white pine works well. Mesquite is VERY marginal.....hey, I'm in AZ. Willow, when I can find it is great. Lemme know your findings. Always interest in ending up chasing my own tail with the endless possibilities.
I've also tried cactus skeletons. Lots of work there washing all the dirt off. Drying and cutting the skeletons to a shape where a reasonable number will fit in the can. Lots of prep, and so far, not determined if it's worth it. My guess it's not as I'm sure it been tried before. I just can't find anyone else who has tried it. I may just end up throwing it on the BBQ and see if the meat is edible.
Chris
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brushhippie
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I know what youre talking about, I would think they would be pretty fair comparible to say grape vine. Here is a good article on charcoal speed tests. lots of good info!
http://www.wichitabuggywhip.com/fireworks/charcoal_tests.html
http://www.wichitabuggywhip.com/fireworks/charcoal_tests.html
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