Black Powder Production

[bob]

I posted this in the test section just cause it is such a meaningless question, however it wasn't getting any replies, so I'll post it here.

I'm working on a project that will be requiring about 3 kilos of bp, so I'm thinking about making a batch in the 8 kilo range so I'm good for awhile, and out of curiosity I was wondering just how much bp you guys have made in a single batch. This is just to see how much eight kilos in a single batch is compared to what you guys have done.

Edit; sorry I meant the most you have granulated in one sitting.

bob

Edited February 25, 2014 by bob

[pyrokid]

You should make the amount that is optimal for your mill. Too much powder or too little powder will reduce efficiency significantly.

 

I'm not sure there is an upper limit on quantity produced. Think about the large wheel mills in factories.

[marks265]

What I do and what you can do is mill all your powder and save it in a 5 gallon bucket lined with plastic garbage bags. I use the double bag method. Once you have enough milled for your batch size that you wish to make mix shake or roll the bag around to make one master batch of powder. Then work with as much as you can handle at a time to make which ever BP product you seek. I collect it until the bucket is full then it is about 20 to 25 pound batches that I make at a time. Depending on where I am in a season I may bring out the mill to mill more powder while I'm working with the powder I have already milled. There is always something to do when the mill is running.

[Mumbles]

I'm not really sure what you're asking, but I've granulated in the vicinity of 300lbs in a day of similar compositions. Typically in a normal setting I work in batches, or multiple batches, of about 6.5lbs (3kg) at a time. I find this amount fits nicely onto a 24x36" sheet of paper. 3 or 4 batches of this size can be wet and granulated in maybe an hour including wetting time.

[superstring]

Bob, there's no such thing as a meaningless question, (at least in my humble opinion) That said, make up what you are comfy with. If you're a newbie, my recommendation is start small and gradually work your way up the ladder. Experience here is what will give you the most benefit.

 

Iv'e made literally hundreds of small batches, and dozens of large batches. Just remember, large incorrectly formulated batch = large waste of money. Truth be told though, it's kinda hard to screw up a batch of BP to the point where it's totally useless. (turn it into polverone) is a viable solution.

 

Good luck on your endeavors, and remember, there's several valuable resources of information out here in cyberland. Passfire and Fireworking.com are especially good with an enormous talent pool of dedicated pros and hobbyists alike.

 

and to answer the question of "how much?" I have granulated about 25 lbs in one session.

[bob]

Thanks for all of your replies guys.

@Marks265, I'll probably use that exact method when I make this. So your vote is 25 lbs as a standard batch.

 

@Mumbles, sorry about not communicating my question very clearly, so the question is just what is the most bp you have ever granulated in one day? So your vote is 300 LBS. Three hundred pounds must be a little hard on the bank and the back!

 

@Superstinger, I don't know if I'd be considered a newbie, but not too far ahead of one by all accounts. My largest batch of bp was about 3 kilos. And your vote is 25 LBS.

 

thanks for taking the time to answer my um shall we say strange question. I'm now thinking this batch will be in the twelve kilo range.

bob

Edited February 26, 2014 by bob

[schroedinger]

If i understand mumbles right, he recommends 3 Kg batches. But the maximum he granulated in one session ( propably 1 day or so) is 300lbs.

That sounds reall sounds like a hell lot, what whre you doing, opening aour own factory ;-)

[superstring]

Bob, I saw you had quite a few posts in here, so I was speaking in general terms when I said "newbie" Anyway, I think if Mumbles made up 300 lbs. in a day's time, doing it all by hand, he was probably really pooped by the end of the work day. I would be! Have fun and be safe!

[bob]

@Superstinger, Yeah I thought it might be something like that, I just wanted it to be clear that I have already made bp and stuff like that, your kindness is appreciated.

 

@Schroedinger, Mumbles also said that three or four of those three kilo batches can be made in one hour, and I don't think there are too many pyros out there who would not spend a hour or more granulating bp, so I think he is just saying that X amount will fit on such and such a size of paper and 3 or 4 of those can be made in one hour, rather then saying you should make a three kilo batches.

 

bob

[Mumbles]

The 300lbs was when I was working at a factory. Hurt my back, but not my chemicals, and I even got paid a bit to do it. Good arm and upper back workout at least.

 

I think I know what you're asking now. Work in whatever size is comfortable for you. I personally work in multiples of 3 kilos. 3kilos, 6 kilos, 9kilos, etc. Do as much as you can handle. This will be some combination of size of mixing bucket, size of screens, and area/screens you have to dry material. When working in 5 gallon buckets, I'd prefer to keep it around 3-6 kilos, otherwise it gets kind of hard to mix the wet composition. With a wider bucket, up to around 30lbs is pretty manageable. I find it harder to mix and kneed much more than that with my hands at once.

[marks265]

I'm starting to see where this is going a bit more now too. For me one batch is whatever I make for that day which can be as high as the 20-25 pounds. I only work with 1 -1.5K at a time and at the most. Basically, I work out of 5 quart ice cream pails because it seems easy to work in the moisture and get the BP ready for granulating. Plus I get to give my hands a rest, the meat hooks get tired a lot easier at my age! By the end of the day that is what I call a batch and is what goes in the books as one ID mark. Some days are hotter, some are more humid, and some days are dryer than others. I feel if the individual working batch gets too big the powder would start to dry out sooner than I like. Then I start to have to make adjustments to the moisture of the BP. By working with a smaller amount I believe I am more consistent in regard to moisture. I am sure it is more work but it works for me. I also believe that I work with slightly damper BP than others, I believe I get a harder grain and the nitrate leaches better. Add that to the mechanical work of pushing moisture into the composition while granulating seems to be the way to go. I may be rambling on a bit now, but it does explain the method to my madness a bit more.

 

I also consider what my target grain size is. Sometimes I want a lot of grain size that is -10 or 12 mesh. Sometimes I want grain size that is +8 or maybe +5, those days I love! If I'm pushing for larger grains then the batch sizes are bigger. If I want a smaller grain size I keep the batch size smaller otherwise I have a natural tendency to just get it done and have bigger grain size than I want. Which is no big deal because I'll use it, I'll just have to make more batches...Oh darn!