Hard wood Acacia makes very good black powder!

[redbullzuiper]

Hi all,

 

This week I made a batch of black powder using Acacia wood. The black powder was originaly made to make black match. I tested some of it and to my surpise it burned realy fast.

So I decided to make granulated black powder out of it to test its lift capabilities. And oh boy, it is fast and powerfull.

 

This realy surprised, as Acacia wood is incredible hard wood, its harder than Oak. I did some research to learn more about black powder to find a clue. Black powder does not burn fast because lighter wood, but rather of its inpurities. This might explain why rotten wood makes some realy fast black powder aswell. Some black powder experts here might have more clues.

 

Anyway, I got a video for you.

 

Here is a 3" shell, the star formula is JOPETES kamuro. Both the lift powder and star formula use Acacia wood. Stars are rolled and are 8mm (core 1.5mm, prime 1mm, so composition was effectivly 5.5mm) in diameter. Amount of Ti was 15%.

 

 

The weight of the shell was 163g the amount of lift powder used was 18g (this to shoot it higher for the kamuro stars). So 10% of the shell weight will shoot it high enough.

 

The Acacia charcoal can be easily purchased online, it is used as a restaurant charcoal. I bought 15kg for only €20. Its called 'Dammers Barbecues'. The wood is made from the Australian Acacia, also known as 'black wattle'. Its 100% pure wood, no added additives or what so ever.

 

Source in the UK: https://www.gratefireplaceaccessories.co.uk/bbq-charcoal-catering-grade-12kg

Source in NL: https://www.vanbeekumspecerijen.nl/black-wattle-houtskool-fsc.html

 

Don't know where you can purchase this in the USA. But should be easily found as this is extensivly used by cooks, restaurants and BBQ's.

 

If you are lazy and don't want to cook your own charcoal, I would say .. try this charcoal out. Cheap and you will have plenty for a long time

 

How I made the black powder

Formula was 75:10:15 (KNO3:S:C)

Black powder was milled for 8 hours

 

I prepared a solution with 75% (hot)water and 25% propanol-2, I added 4% of Gum Arabic into the solution and stirred until it all dissolved.

This was used to wet and granulate the black powder. I granulated the black powder to 2FA size.

Edited December 17, 2021 by redbullzuiper

[a_bab]

Interesting find, thank you for sharing.
The plum wood is also supposed to make very hot BP and it's again a hard wood.

On the other hand with 8h of milling any wood would make decent BP...

[redbullzuiper]

No problem.

 

Ive tried dozens of charcoals, all cooked myself. But some can be milled infinite and still not be useable as lift powder, unless you don't care to use alot.

Some of them were soft trees and fast growing, for example: lime tree, which we have plenty around here. I never been able to make very hot black powder out of it.

 

This one is as hot as my willow charcoal I usualy use, which is still surprising me till this moment lol.

 

Gonna mill another batch this evening, will try another ratio to see if it makes a difference (75:15:18 KNO3:S:C)

Edited December 17, 2021 by redbullzuiper

[redbullzuiper]

Ok, tested that other batch today, 75:15:18 (KNO3:S:C), it sucked. Better just go for 75:10:15.

 

I also have to correct my "as fast as my willow". Its not as fast, but not much slower either.

 

I also tested a batch from a hobby tumbler, the one most starters probaly use. It makes inferior black powder from it. Bigger ball mills with heavier media makes superior black powder. Especially in this case, using Acacia. Has probaly also todo with it being hardwood.

[Arthur]

Willow is a "Hard Wood" so is Balsa!

 

With willow the wood that the sawmill didn't look at -the small stuff- makes the best charcoal. big logs can be split and cooked but are never as fast as the small debarked sticks. Maybe likewise with your Acacia