Help Me Diagnose My BP!

[Kurr]

Formula was KNO3 - 168 gr, C - 33.6 gr, S - 22.4 gr. Spectracide Stump Remover for kno3 (Labels and MSDS | Spectracide), Bonide 90% garden sulphur (http://www.bonide.com/lbonide/msds/msds141.pdf), Red Ceder charcoal.

This is just the components mixed into powder, did not mill, but thoroughly mixed after running through fine mesh. I have some I wet mixed that is drying waiting to be screened into grains. My main concern is identifying the residue.

Could it be from just not milling the ingredients fine enough? Or that 10% bentonite clay in the sulphur? Any constructive advice would be appreciated!

[video=youtube;Dvn9ARG4wRU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvn9ARG4wRU&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[straight-shooter]

From the studying I've been doing on the subject, I would venture to say that it's because you didn't mill the ingredients together into a very fine powder. Once it's milled it's almost like a talcum powder. This is the stage where you wet down the powder before running it through a screen for proper grain size.

In fact, the longer you mill the stronger the powder becomes. Most experiment between 4 to 6 hours of milling.

In the video that powder is way to weak and should almost instantaneously ignite the entire amount you have laid out there. So when you do mill some and test I wouldn't recommend using a lighter with your hand to light it.

Side Note: The type of charcoal is also very detrimental to a good product.

Good Luck and keep us updated as to your progress!

 

[Kurr]

I think you are right.

I improvised a morter and pestle using my shaving soap bowl and a screwdriver handle. Then I ground a bit for a while while watching a movie and without wetting and screening, ran the same fine powder through the same test. It seem to me from point of ignition to end of burn I have a 50% increase and much less residue, which I have read is KNO3 due to not having an "intimate" mixture.

Here is the second burn test.
[video=youtube;45dNnCTimj0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45dNnCTimj0&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Not wanting to shell out the big bucks for a good mill, or waste money on a cheap one, I have a drill press like the one in this video. Next time I go into town, I will be picking up 1/2" round and pipe insulation and PVC/end caps and making this mill:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9S2fToAmWA Video is 3 mins.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Your systolic is very high while your diastolic is ok...

 

[Kurr]

Much much better.

Built the ball mill, tweaking it currently. This is after 1 hour of milling with .36 caliber round balls, 1 water bottle full, in a 4 inch pvc pipe with slip caps, bout a foot long.....
[video=youtube;aQGuxZtSQ6U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQGuxZtSQ6U&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Ill mill it some more, then wet and screen it. Lookin good, I think!

 

[Vamptepes]

Looks like progress to me. Well done!

 

[BGDave]

You have my admiration, for sure.

Ever since burning about a pound of FF in my back yard and having to hot-foot it into hiding.

Lets just say all those movies about powder trails are things for "Mythbusters".

Black powder burn rate is closer to Det-cord.

 

[Kurr]

Sucess!! Milled it till it stuck together on it's own, screened it, wetted it to get it to stick together really well, Then screened with window screen last nite. Seemed fairly dry so I re-screened it with window screen this morning to get uniformity of granules since some was a bit over wet last nite and globbed up.

I used paper this time so you could get an idea of granule size.

This is the tail end of second screening, the lager granules. Once this dries I'll be ready to test fire!


[video=youtube;C5nLzvamPLQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5nLzvamPLQ[/video]

 

[Ford Truck]

Impressive.

 

[UncleNorby]

I'd shoot it.

 

[Kurr]

Finally made it to the range today and she shoots better than what I buy at the store. Clean up is a lot easier than pyrodex too! Waaay less cylinder binding.

I'm sold!!! Here's some of the test shooting...

[video=youtube;YNPT8o_5rwU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNPT8o_5rwU[/video]

 

[warthog]

You cannot make good B without a ball mill. They are easy to make and you can even buy them ready made if you aren't that handy. Until you get a ball mill you will not be able to make quality BP. Back when I had a license to make my own fireworks I mak=de hundreds of pounds of BP myself so I really do know what I speak of here. I would also suggest you find a firework maker's chemical suply company and get quality chemicals to use in your ball mill. The biggest thing that effects how "fast" your powder will be is what sort of Charcoal you use. Hardwoods are ok but the general rule of thumb is the faster growing the wood is the faster the BP will be when made from that kind of charcoal. Cedar should make a fairly fast powder.

As for shooting it, not without a bit of testing to see what sort of powder I made plus you will need to granulate it or you are trying to ignite dust. Too few air channels when you pack dust so better t granulate for best results.