swervedriver Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Hi all, I need some good charcoal. Can anyone point me to where I can source some willow or alder lump charcoal other than Custom Charcoal? Seems he is shutdown due to illness. Any suggestions would be appreciated, making my own is a big ole pain in the ass. Thanks , happy new year too
dagabu Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 THIS outfit sells a mixed softwood charcoal, made from pine and fir. Thanks for the link! Alder is by far more reactive then pine and I have not seen what fir does yet so I cannot comment on it effectiveness. $20.00 for 20# of Alder is actually quite a good price, grab a meat grinder from Salvation Army or another charity place that resells stuff for $5.00 and you are all set. D
swervedriver Posted December 29, 2009 Author Posted December 29, 2009 Thanks Xetap Whats the trouble with making your own? Hi bud, I've made it several times, and I exaggerated a little on the pain is the ass part. It's not to bad making it, but my batches are to small and I run out fast, my retort is just a gallon paint can in a charcoal chimney. And I just can't find willow or alder locally. I've had ok results with home cooked whitewood and poplar, but I wanted something more reactive.
firetech Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 I use 2x4's and I don't think my bp could get any better. Have you tried them?
dagabu Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 I use 2x4's and I don't think my bp could get any better. Have you tried them? Yup, as long as they are white pine they work well but Alder will put it to shame. D
Mumbles Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 White pine is said to pretty accurately replicate commercial BP speed and quality. I'd imagine cedar and maple would preform similarly.
Swede Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 So the custom charcoal guy is sick? What a shame... he was an excellent source. I hope he gets better.
Arthur Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 http://www.nexusgamers.co.uk/catalog/index.php He's in the UK but his willow charcoal is spot on! see what he says for p&p
firetech Posted December 30, 2009 Posted December 30, 2009 Hey swerve, where have you been anyway? It's been a while since you've been around and posting.
swervedriver Posted December 30, 2009 Author Posted December 30, 2009 aaah, you know, livin' life. Not much time for play with a family of 5 to keep after, lol, later
haydenpwns Posted January 4, 2010 Posted January 4, 2010 aaah, you know, livin' life. Not much time for play with a family of 5 to keep after, lol, laterwould mesquit be terrible for BP
JMA375HH Posted January 4, 2010 Posted January 4, 2010 Hi Guys I happen to make my own Air float charcoal with Alder I live an area loaded with it. If anyoe is interested in purchasing some let me know. I don't have much of it at the moment but if enough people are interested I would kick production into gear.
dagabu Posted January 4, 2010 Posted January 4, 2010 Hi Guys I happen to make my own Air float charcoal with Alder I live an area loaded with it. If anyoe is interested in purchasing some let me know. I don't have much of it at the moment but if enough people are interested I would kick production into gear. I will take 50# if you are willing. spamento@gmail.com Dave
Mumbles Posted January 4, 2010 Posted January 4, 2010 would mesquit be terrible for BP That depends what you would consider terrible. If you are expecting something that rivals willow, Alder, or Balsa then yes it will be terrible. If you want something that can be made into something servicable, then no it will not be terrible. It is described in Ian von Malitz' book as this "O'Neill's experiments showed that mesquite charcoal gave Black Powder with about half the power of the fastest powders. It also has a high ash content. Mesquite charcoal may be suitable for some, but don't use it if you want really fast powder."
scarbelly Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 Mesquite charcoal is good as a readily available spark charcoal. It makes (from my experience) very nice sparks, and can be bought easily anywhere. But if you are looking to make black powder, mesquite is a last resort.
Arthur Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 With the quality of BP being so important in pyro, I'd strongly suggest that you adopt the best regarded wood from your country. Willow is the classical "best" wood Pine makes good BP if fine and good sparks if coarse. Alder is regarded well in the USA. Grape vine makes fast BP, Charred straw makes "brown powder" which is so rediculously sensitive that it can go off spontaneously -really DON'T go there. Remember that BP needs to be reliable and fast, but other things like candle comp and stars can be better a LOT slower. Part of the pyro art is selecting the right powder for the job. BUT some times the really fastest BP is essential.
NightHawkInLight Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 Arthur, I'm curious if you have experimented at all with brown powder as it's called. I have read from various sources that it is more sensitive than black powder made with typical charcoals, but none seem to be firsthand experience. I would be very interested in more details. I have been planning a few experiments using various plants as a charcoal source, among them various sorts of hay and straw. I would like to know why the resulting composition becomes more sensitive if indeed it does.
dagabu Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 With a 50# bag of hardwood airfloat going for $30.00, I cant see making my own for 90% of my uses. Hard wood BP is very serviceable and more important, it is consistent. If I need fast charcoal or nice sparks, I will cook up a retort full but that will last me months at no cost, I just cant see spending good money or a lot of time making reactive charcoal for 90% of the BP pyros use. Coating rice hulls, black match, cross match, lift, burst, no need for reactive C. Rocket tails and stars, yes but that is only 10% by weight. D
Arthur Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 Dagabu that's exactly how I thought til I made some really simple but good willow BP! Willow and pine make good charcoal for BP vine and balsa make fine charcoal for very FAST BP. UK lumpwood charcoal is so cheap but never mills to useable BP. Brown Powder is in all the respected texts as too sensitive for safe use, but I've never tried any. Willow may be hard to find, but it's usually worth looking for it. Pine can even be old building timber or 2 x 4 offcuts, In the UK Pine wood is salvaged from pallets usually found freely anywhere lorries are unloaded.
dagabu Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) Nevermind, just being grumpy. D Edited January 5, 2010 by dagabu
Bonny Posted January 6, 2010 Posted January 6, 2010 With a 50# bag of hardwood airfloat going for $30.00, I cant see making my own for 90% of my uses. Hard wood BP is very serviceable and more important, it is consistent. If I need fast charcoal or nice sparks, I will cook up a retort full but that will last me months at no cost, I just cant see spending good money or a lot of time making reactive charcoal for 90% of the BP pyros use. Coating rice hulls, black match, cross match, lift, burst, no need for reactive C. Rocket tails and stars, yes but that is only 10% by weight. D Maybe charcoal doesn't quite qualify...but being able to make fireworks and their components from basic (or more basic) materials is, IMO, part of the challenge. I don't buy any charcoal, although I have been tempted. I have no issues making a few lbs from time to time, as really ther is hardly any effort.@Arthur...you still call them lorries? Wasn't that a term for delivery wagons?
swervedriver Posted January 6, 2010 Author Posted January 6, 2010 (edited) Custom Charcoal is shipping again. 38 bucks for 20lb bag of alder charcoal shipped, sweet deal Edited January 6, 2010 by swervedriver
Swede Posted January 6, 2010 Posted January 6, 2010 Custom Charcoal is shipping again. 38 bucks for 20lb bag of alder charcoal shipped, sweet deal His website says he is still not shipping... did you give him a call? I don't want to place an order unless the guy is healthy and ready to receive them. Thanks!
dagabu Posted January 6, 2010 Posted January 6, 2010 His website says he is still not shipping... did you give him a call? I don't want to place an order unless the guy is healthy and ready to receive them. Thanks! Yup, came up with the sick message for me too.
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