Balsa, Paulownia charcoal

[Potassiumchlorate]

Ian von Maltitz also claims that plum is the fastest charcoal of them all.

[Algenco]

Dan doesn't have plum in his test results.

Too bad my Mother cut her Plum trees years ago

[Potassiumchlorate]

Alder is also very good. It has been used by the Swedes, the Brits, the French and in all German speaking countries. In my language one variety of alder, Rhamnus frangula, is called "thunder wood"

[Algenco]

there are a few buckthorn Alder around here, but I have access to monterous wild Paulownia

 

I can get just about any wood that grows in the Eastrn US

[AirCowPeacock]

I wish paulownia grew around here! Good thing I can get buckthorn (species unknown) and willow.

[Algenco]

I wish paulownia grew around here! Good thing I can get buckthorn (species unknown) and willow.

 

I'll bet it will.

Paulownia was used around the turn of the Century for packing material for delicate China and glassware.

A lot of the Paulownia we see today came from seeds that leaked from shipping crates or trees that were planted as ornamentals

[AirCowPeacock]

Up in the midwest? Minnesota, Wisconson, North Dakota, ect.?

[pyrojig]

yup. It prefers nonfreezing environments. 2200ft elev.+

North Carolina they grow great as well

[chemtech89]

how many lbs of wood/dust?

you'll be shocked at the yeild in charcoal

 

Im still unsure of the weight, all that was specified was cu/ft. Ill weight the shipment and post when it arrives.

[taiwanluthiers]

Paulownia is very common in Taiwan, I think a lot of Asian (including Japanese) pyros use them. The wood is cheap, light, and pretty much useless as timber (too soft). I buy them at hardware store and then turn it into charcoal. Makes very hot bp.

[Algenco]

Paulownia is very common in Taiwan, I think a lot of Asian (including Japanese) pyros use them. The wood is cheap, light, and pretty much useless as timber (too soft). I buy them at hardware store and then turn it into charcoal. Makes very hot bp.

 

and it make hotter BP than Balsa

[Bobosan]

I just finished some BP speed tests using Paulownia and Balsa. Made a few batches this past summer using the prilled KNO3 from Skylighter and needed to test it. The balsa burned at 0.98 seconds (average of 3 sample tests) in the 12" timing trough and the Paulownia beat it out at 0.82 seconds average per foot. All batches identical except for charcoal. Should make some dandy black match or burst.

 

I'd like to try some Willow with this prilled KNO3. Anyone know of a source?

 

http://youtu.be/mH7IzcAgLMg

 

http://youtu.be/m47IAgO1ETU

Edited December 7, 2012 by Bobosan

[chemtech89]

Im still unsure of the weight, all that was specified was cu/ft. Ill weight the shipment and post when it arrives.

 

Shipment of balsa wood shavings is aprox 31lbs, $22 for wood, $33 for shipping. Im going to make my first batch of balsa charcoal later today if it doesn't rain.

[Algenco]

Shipment of balsa wood shavings is aprox 31lbs, $22 for wood, $33 for shipping. Im going to make my first batch of balsa charcoal later today if it doesn't rain.

 

get a before/after weight, let us know what the yeild is.

I've heard claims of 25% but I'd be surprised if it's that much

[chemtech89]

Will do Algenco.. on my next batch. I'm interested too however I didn't want to overload my little gram scale with the pre weight and the bathroom scale is not precise enough. But in a few weeks when I get the fire going again ill find a smaller container to cook in and get accurate results that my scale can handle. How about pre and post % loss of your paulownia?

 

Nice rig you go there Bobosan, very impressive! What kind of sensor did you use on that? I'm guessing a form of a temp sensors/ switch? Also, did you use a gig to remove excess powder to have a consistent line? I'm picturing one of those plastic tools on tv infomercials that removes and smooth excess caulk on a 90 degree angle joint. In addition, do you have tests for commercial mixed hardwood airfloat? Very interested to see how that compares.

[Algenco]

Will do Algenco.. on my next batch. I'm interested too however I didn't want to overload my little gram scale with the pre weight and the bathroom scale is not precise enough. But in a few weeks when I get the fire going again ill find a smaller container to cook in and get accurate results that my scale can handle. How about pre and post % loss of your paulownia?

 

Nice rig you go there Bobosan, very impressive! What kind of sensor did you use on that? I'm guessing a form of a temp sensors/ switch? Also, did you use a gig to remove excess powder to have a consistent line? I'm picturing one of those plastic tools on tv infomercials that removes and smooth excess caulk on a 90 degree angle joint. In addition, do you have tests for commercial mixed hardwood airfloat? Very interested to see how that compares.

 

that's something I should do, don't know if my scale can handle the weight of a 15 gal drum full of wood, but I know where I can borrow one that will.

 

From what I've been told the final cost per lb of Balsa charcoal is about the same as what I sell Paulownia for, if you don't factor in your labor

[Bobosan]

Nice rig you go there Bobosan, very impressive! What kind of sensor did you use on that? I'm guessing a form of a temp sensors/ switch? Also, did you use a gig to remove excess powder to have a consistent line? I'm picturing one of those plastic tools on tv infomercials that removes and smooth excess caulk on a 90 degree angle joint. In addition, do you have tests for commercial mixed hardwood airfloat? Very interested to see how that compares.

 

chemtech89,

 

The trip sensors are mechanical microswitches. I plan to update this trip system to all electronic photocells or phototransistor circuit once I come up with a scheme to protect them from flame. I've attached a dorky narrated video of operation setup of the tester that shows the method I use to lay in the powder. The other video is the test referred to in the setup video using commercial BBQ hardwood charcoal that was milled to airfloat.

 

Pardon the clutzy editing, still learning this new video editor program and YouTube usage.

 

http://youtu.be/720z4FY0YnI

 

http://youtu.be/n2FUij-Qj7g

[chemtech89]

Very cool that's an ingenious design with the micro-switch and the string. very simple , nicely done.

[Bobosan]

Thanks chemtech89 but the idea initially came from a web site of another pyro, Dan Creagan. It's been a few years since I saw it so not sure if it was Dan's site or another pyro site. The string is actually sewing thread....too large a thread size for the Paulownia and Balsa. Those BP mixes burned so fast the thread wouldn't burn completely through & break. Now using a thread same diameter as a human hair.

[Moggy]

Hi,

I am new to this pyrotechnics dark art and have a question about charcoal.

Everyone that I have spoken too seems to like willow charcoal.

We Have a specialist company near us that makes carbon, for the tyre industry and I have managed to aquire a kg of this carbon, will it work in gunpowder ?

 

Sorry, I just read the rules, but I did the: "Hi, I am new here"

Edited December 19, 2012 by Moggy

[AirCowPeacock]

No, charcoal is not pure carbon. It can generally be summed up as C7H4O or around there-abouts, not to mention the importance of its physical properties, density, grain shape, ect ect. BBQ briquettes are only about 75% to 90% charcoal, and have been pressed ruining their properties. Willow is good, I use buckthorn because I have a lot of it out back and it works ok.

[Mumbles]

The carbon you acquired can be used in pyrotechnics, but it's probably not as suitable for making black powder. There is of course only one way to find out though. More likely, if you see a composition calling for "lampblack", this would be an ideal place to use what you've acquired.

[TexSmoke]

Has anyone tried Hackberry charcoal for BP? I made a 55 gallon drum of it this weekend and it is better than the black willow BP I usually make.

[Algenco]

Hackberry is very good

Dan Creagan has tested most charcoal types

If you have something that isn't on the list send him 50g and He'll test it and add to the data base

 

http://creagan.net/fireworks/charcoal_tests.html

[taiwanluthiers]

I'd love to send him 50 grams of Gaboon ebony... but the wood is so expensive.