Thread: Proper black powder

Drop tube, brass from model shop and brass funnel for anti static, about 400 mm long works well. Better not to crush the powder into a solid block imho, but no air gap. I usually load, powder, beer card wad, beeswax cookie, beer card wad and then projectile with light crush.

using totara instead of willow increases weight of finished product...it goes bang nicely too.

I have a couple of small gem tumblers, what would be good to use during a wet tumble as milling stones? Glass (ie marbles)? Stainless balls?

Originally Posted by Tommy

I have a couple of small gem tumblers, what would be good to use during a wet tumble as milling stones? Glass (ie marbles)? Stainless balls?

Wooden barrel for tumbler or plastic is the best idea. Metal really is a no no.

Just found a pound of curtis and harvey locally but will have a serious look at holy smoke as its important to support local.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Just found a pound of curtis and harvey locally but will have a serious look at holy smoke as its important to support local.

RU going to Awapuni? I have some FFFg as well, holy smoke

Originally Posted by Maca49

RU going to Awapuni? I have some FFFg as well, holy smoke

Yes, got some stuff entered and my eye on a couple of things. It may be prudent this time to talk first bid second haha.
Would be keen on some holy smoke so bring a pound or 2.
Who knows it could be used to proof any new aquisitions in the car park.

I've seen the results of powder made in a kitchen blender. He would do each component separate, then measure them out and give it a quick run (30 secs) to mix them together. He did do the last mix at the end of a 20m extension cord out in a paddock. All dry!
Then that would go in a pack howitzer brass case.... and it went well

I did mention about wetting it, the answer was ' I haven't had a mix catch yet.....'

I know of a guy who has been professionally manufacturing powder for bloody years. with all the know how and safety etc in place, yet still he had one load in a ball mill go off and blow a double garage sized building to pieces. actually stripped the concrete slab of all the framing etc.
So it would pay to do any mixing in a very remote area and do so in very small batches.
Not saying that it would be fun or a good idea to make some.

Originally Posted by 40mm

I know of a guy who has been professionally manufacturing powder for bloody years. with all the know how and safety etc in place, yet still he had one load in a ball mill go off and blow a double garage sized building to pieces. actually stripped the concrete slab of all the framing etc.
So it would pay to do any mixing in a very remote area and do so in very small batches.
Not saying that it would be fun or a good idea to make some.

I would simply NOT make black powder. I would make a different product with same ingredients except leave out sulfur. Sulfur is the demon in the triple mix that renders it so unstable and easily ignitable -- properties you simply don't need if you use a percussion lock/primer, or if you anyway pour a separate FFFG triple ingredient blackpowder into the pan of your flintlock. Sulfur also makes most of the smoke. Losing all those disadvantages is worth that 10% power drop incurred by not using sulfur.

Originally Posted by Cordite

I would simply NOT make black powder. I would make a different product with same ingredients except leave out sulfur. Sulfur is the demon in the triple mix that renders it so unstable and easily ignitable -- properties you simply don't need if you use a percussion lock/primer, or if you anyway pour a separate FFFG triple ingredient blackpowder into the pan of your flintlock. Sulfur also makes most of the smoke. Losing all those disadvantages is worth that 10% power drop incurred by not using sulfur.

Black powder without the sulphur and less smoke? What an abhorrent notion

Originally Posted by MSL

Black powder without the sulphur and less smoke? What an abhorrent notion

By Jove... imagine missing those reddish sulfur granules in the barrel afterwards, cleaning will never be the same again. I say, highly irregular, ol' chap.

IF you lot took the time to read the instructions PROPERLY..... you will see that you mix it wet ONE component at a time added to your "stale pee" or warm water.....the sulphur and charcoal are pretty safeish its the salt petre that makes life interesting.

so you would be making "brown powder".....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

so you would be making "brown powder".....

Nope, that is made by incomplete charring of wood when making charcoal, and also a source of premature ignitulation. I think a US warship blew its load in Havana harbour due to cocoa gunpowder, setting off the Spanish-American war.

The Spanish ambassador to Washington tried in vain to blame it on Russian hackers, but the Yanks did not even understand what he was on about...

That said, the extra vigour of brown charcoal may be safe enough without devil sulfur in the mix. Nah, not worth playing with that.