Uarbor Posted June 6, 2021 Posted June 6, 2021 Here is video of my old batch compared to my new batch. The new batch is from the center to the right the old batch is from the center to the left. I thought my old batch was fast and then I got humbled when I tried to use it as lift powder. I'm hoping the new one will be fast enough for lifting small shells. There are more details in the description of the video. Also you can play it back at slower speed on YouTube by clicking the three dots at the top of the video. I would love to hear people's opinion on whether or not the new batch is actually fast enough for lift. https://youtu.be/jR54xJOGk90
SeaMonkey Posted June 7, 2021 Posted June 7, 2021 At a slow playback speed it was possible to see a small difference in the burn rates. You're saying that your old batch didn't perform well for lift? Was it the speed of the powder or perhaps something else? Are you getting blow-by around the shell? Mortar long enough? Your new batch looks very quick.
Uarbor Posted June 7, 2021 Author Posted June 7, 2021 (edited) At a slow playback speed it was possible to see a small difference in the burn rates. You're saying that your old batch didn't perform well for lift? Was it the speed of the powder or perhaps something else? Are you getting blow-by around the shell? Mortar long enough? Your new batch looks very quick. I would imagine that blow by and a short tube are definitely my problem because I am using a homemade 3/4 inch star gun to test my Tiger Tail Stars which are randomly sized cubes. Anyway the new powder is working well https://youtube.com/shorts/u38cMNv1rpo?feature=share Edited June 7, 2021 by Uarbor
Arthur Posted June 7, 2021 Posted June 7, 2021 the ways to rate your own BP are simple and cheap.A/ put a pile on some white paper, slow powder burns the paper, fast powder should hardly scorch it.B/ Use a cricket ball in a 3" mortar and see how long the ball flies for. or a baseball if you have that size mortar.
Uarbor Posted June 7, 2021 Author Posted June 7, 2021 (edited) the ways to rate your own BP are simple and cheap.A/ put a pile on some white paper, slow powder burns the paper, fast powder should hardly scorch it.B/ Use a cricket ball in a 3" mortar and see how long the ball flies for. or a baseball if you have that size mortar. thanks that's the first time I've heard that. That sounds like super useful information actually Edited June 7, 2021 by Uarbor
Arthur Posted June 7, 2021 Posted June 7, 2021 Once you get the hang of the cricket ball test, you test each batch to see whether its the same as the previous batch, that way you can blend or remill over fast or over slow powder and have totally consistant powder for every job.
Mumbles Posted June 11, 2021 Posted June 11, 2021 Small star gun tests can be hard to judge things on. One thing that may help is to put a cardboard disc or a wad of paper or tissue paper above the stars. It helps to build up a little more pressure inside the mortar and get them to fire out as intended. BP burns faster under pressure. In large caliber shells (like >6") a lot of builders tend to use slower powder or coarser powder to give a more gentle lift. I personally like the white paper testing and baseball testing. Both are useful in different ways. In any case, your powder looks good.
Uarbor Posted June 11, 2021 Author Posted June 11, 2021 (edited) Small star gun tests can be hard to judge things on. One thing that may help is to put a cardboard disc or a wad of paper or tissue paper above the stars. It helps to build up a little more pressure inside the mortar and get them to fire out as intended. BP burns faster under pressure. In large caliber shells (like >6") a lot of builders tend to use slower powder or coarser powder to give a more gentle lift. I personally like the white paper testing and baseball testing. Both are useful in different ways. In any case, your powder looks good. I tried the paper over top of the stars and it worked fantastic. I am having so much fun LOL only a few short weeks ago I came here just to learn how to make my own black powder only. Now I have the bug big time. I finally got my black powder Rockets with extra charcoal spark dialed in and launched three of my Tiger Tail Stars which deployed quite well. https://youtube.com/shorts/u38cMNv1rpo?feature=share https://youtu.be/Y-6LQD0-o9k Edited June 11, 2021 by Uarbor
HalfMVSquared Posted August 10, 2021 Posted August 10, 2021 I made fireworks as a kid after learning to make BP from the encyclopedia. But my powder never burned fast enough. Later I bought powder from an ad in Popular Science, "mix bag A with bag B" type thing. Worked great! Still don't know what was in the bags, maybe Al and KNO3. I later read a book on safety and discovered I had broken every rule! Used Mom's flour sifter, etc. (Dad made me throw the powder out). Any safety suggestions? I thought that's what they put in Black Cats but it takes 3 bricks of Cats to make ONE M-80. And it takes all day to cut them open. Recently found ingredients on line.
MadMat Posted August 10, 2021 Posted August 10, 2021 I do a lot of baseball tests on my black powder. A baseball fits nicely into a 3" tube. Use a 10gram charge to launch your baseballs. If you get an 8sec or longer flight time, you got good BP
MadMat Posted August 10, 2021 Posted August 10, 2021 Come to think of it, I wouldn't be disappointed with a 7 second flight time either
Richtee Posted August 12, 2021 Posted August 12, 2021 Come to think of it, I wouldn't be disappointed with a 7 second flight time eitherNot at 10 grams. I ran hot sheet at 12g. 10.
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