DeAdFX Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 I am using mesquite charcoal purchased from the local grocery store. It is of the all natural variety so no clay/other useles shit. When broken into smaller peices the charcoal is black through and through. I found some other people that are interested in pyro. I think we might make/buy a ball mill. So I will drudge through this shit can for awhile longer.
mormanman Posted May 25, 2007 Posted May 25, 2007 Does anyone know anything about this kind of media? It says it will basic like cut milling times in half plus 30 minutes but I don't know and was wondering if one should invest in something like this.
deadman Posted May 25, 2007 Posted May 25, 2007 They claimed it will cut 40% off of the time it takes with brass media. Ceramic is desired when milling pure ingrediants. So if you didn't want to turn your AP a greyish color this is what you'd go with. I'd recommend it if you have a good budget otherwise focus on necessities. Lead will take care of most compositions you'll ever run across. The ceramic is not recommended for black powder.
Mumbles Posted May 26, 2007 Posted May 26, 2007 There are cheaper suppliers of ceramic media on ebay than David Sleeter. Yes, same guy who wrote the rocket book. There is a ceramic company in texas selling it IIRC. The only person I know for sure who bought some is FrankRizzo.
mormanman Posted June 5, 2007 Posted June 5, 2007 Does anyone know anything about wannabe blackpowder. I found a video on youtube about it heres the link. here it is
crazyboy25 Posted June 5, 2007 Posted June 5, 2007 never seen it before but it cant be any better than regular BP and if your gonna buy potassium nitrate and good charcoal why not buy sulfur its dirt cheap. why would you use it anyway any advantages?
mormanman Posted June 6, 2007 Posted June 6, 2007 Can some one explain/point me to the right place to find out the ratios of dextrin for making bp and bp rockets.
crazyboy25 Posted June 6, 2007 Posted June 6, 2007 Can some one explain/point me to the right place to find out the ratios of dextrin for making bp and bp rockets. correct me if im wrong but black powder rockets don'n need dextrin you only need dextrin for meal coated rice hulls, corned BP lift and quickmatch
optimus Posted June 6, 2007 Posted June 6, 2007 Can some one explain/point me to the right place to find out the ratios of dextrin for making bp and bp rockets. For BP, try about 3-5%, for BP rockets you do not need any.
deadman Posted June 6, 2007 Posted June 6, 2007 As mentioned not really needed in rockets as you ram/press them. Although, I believe there is a very small percent in Estes motors. The more dextrin you add to your black powder the more sturdy it will be and slower it will be. And vice-versa.
mormanman Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 So more dextrin the slower it burns. Ok got it. Thanks guys. And I am making some bp right now. I tested it and I have one and I am very very suprised at the results. The bp that I made with crap wood like pine and oak and maybe some cedar (I just threw it all in there, I measured though) but it burn faster than the balsa. I don't think the balsa is done milling though so I'll see.
deadman Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 Were the other ingredients to your BP the same kind and amount? If so then it is probably just the amount of milling time. If it has had sufficient milling then you may have charcoal with a high ash percentage.
mormanman Posted June 8, 2007 Posted June 8, 2007 I measured them the same and the milling time was the same. I might just use the balsa for something like slow fuse.Is there a was to stop pearling.
smed9182 Posted June 21, 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 Hello all, this is my first post on this forum and let me tell you, this is probably the best pyro forum out there from what i've seen so far. I've had some experience making shells and such but with commercial black powder, im starting to make my own black powder and have a question about a problem i seem to be having. I made my first batch of black powder with 99.9% pure KNO3, 90% pure garden sulphur, and homeade white pine charcoal, i mixed this in a 75,10,15 ratio and milled this for about 25 hours total. When i went to test the meal i noticed that it burned incredibly slow... i have a video here: I then thought that it could have been the charcoal, so i went out and bought cowboy brand hardwood lump charcoal. I heard that this is comparable to skylighter charcoal and can make passable black powder, I did all the same as i did before, mixing with the same ratio and milled it for about 25 hours, this stuff burned a little bit quicker but still not the "poof" I was looking for. video here: i noticed that i occasionally get a little white residue left over but not always. So my question is, what can i do to get the quick "poof"? is it the charcoal or perhaps is there too much sulphur in there? Any imput would be appreciated, thanx
qwezxc12 Posted June 21, 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 ....So my question is, what can i do to get the quick "poof"? is it the charcoal or perhaps is there too much sulphur in there? Any imput would be appreciated, thanx It's because you're burning meal, not Black Powder. You'll need to add a binder, wet it, and preferably press it to a higher density, then screen or let it dry and granulate it. Read this thread from the beginning for all of the answers you're asking for. Dan William's page is also a great resource: Dan William's BP page
Caramanos2000 Posted June 21, 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 Anyone have some Willow or Alder charcoal for Bp making they could sell to me? I can only get the cheap Hard wood mix from discount pyro which is not very good for Bp.
crazyboy25 Posted June 21, 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 deadman gave me the idea to look on ebay there is a guy in the UK who has some willow charcoal not very cheap but it should be good and he ships worldwide. i cant belive i never thought to look on ebay for willow charcoal.
mormanman Posted June 21, 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 Anyone have some Willow or Alder charcoal for Bp making they could sell to me? I can only get the cheap Hard wood mix from discount pyro which is not very good for Bp.There are three things that I know of that can maybe help you.Go/call a nursey and ask if they have any dead willow (they might want to turn it in to compost if not buy it from them but sences its dead they might just give it to you for free). If that doesn't work then go/call a lumber yard or hardware store and see if they have any scrap willow or just full planks. If that doesn't work find a school that has a woodshop class see what kind(s) of wood they use and if they have willow ask for the scrap and he will give it to you for free (and spanish cedar works pretty good). I hope it helps Edit++++++ QUOTE (qwezxc12 @ Jun 21 2007, 01:50 AM) It's because you're burning meal, not Black Powder. You'll need to add a binder, wet it, and preferably press it to a higher density, then screen or let it dry and granulate it. Read this thread from the beginning for all of the answers you're asking for. Dan William's page is also a great resource: Dan William's BP page Dan says to cake the bp not add dextrin? I think I read it right but I'm just making sure b/c I read somewhere else to add dextrin. Thanks guys.
Caramanos2000 Posted June 21, 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 I live in Puerto Rico, that why its more complicated. looked on ebay, Im not paying $30 for a pound of charcoal.
Mardec Posted June 22, 2007 Posted June 22, 2007 I live in Puerto Rico, that why its more complicated. looked on ebay, Im not paying $30 for a pound of charcoal. He lives in Puerto Rico and he is whyning, I live in Belgium, wanna trade? You can have my entire chem stash then. Puerto Rico No really, just make your own charcoal like most of us do, it will give good results!
mormanman Posted June 22, 2007 Posted June 22, 2007 Thats what I said edit+++++++ Hey can one use tobacco for charcoal.
Frozentech Posted June 22, 2007 Posted June 22, 2007 Lol, easier said than done. No willow here. Try another tree then. Paulownia would probably grow well there, someone probably has imported it, and now it's a pest plant ? I would try Spiny Logwood, it's endemic to Puerto Rico, and in the Salicaceae family, like willow and poplar are. That would make for an interesting experiment !
deadman Posted June 23, 2007 Posted June 23, 2007 I wasn't suggesting to buy willow charcoal off ebay just showing that it was there. Plenty of woods work well enough for good charcoal. Make your own from different kinds of wood you can get. Then use the best one for your lift.
Caramanos2000 Posted June 23, 2007 Posted June 23, 2007 Tried with newspaper. About 3 hours in a paint can. It stopped smoking so I took it off the fire. Opened it up and poof lmao like a giant lighter it lit up so to try again. Using some lump charcoal in the mill to try that out. Should I try hemp or coconut?
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