My homemade black powder

[LAGS]

There have been times where I accidently added too much water to my mix , to the point where it turned it to a thick black slimy Mud.
I just let it dry out a bit.
Then Extruded it thru a screen or strainer.
I let it dry some more , then ran it thru a screen again.
I would repeat this process several times untill the mix was granulating instead of extruding into strips.
I could take the granulated Screened powder and then press it into Pucks.
Or just let the granulated powder dry out and shoot it as Screened Powder.

[Vettepilot]

Two different subjects. You guys had been talking about soil compacting and road building. My first line was a reference to that; rain washing the fines out of your ABC, making for compaction issues.

Re BlackPowder, rain would likely mean it is humid enough you probably wouldn't have to add any water at all when pressing pucks, I would say...

Vettepilot

[Fly]

I have a friend in Fla that a huge fire works maker. He tells me when he it pressing pucks he does not even mist them with water.
He said the humidity is enough he can press them with out water. I think where you live has much to how much water to add when
screened or corned. Enough water to activate your binder.

Fly

[LAGS]

I don't put Binder in powder intended for Pressing.
But stuff that I screened and gets Repressed does have Binder in it.
Seems to make it harder grains , but doesn't increase the weight.
Still works the same.
But here in Az. , I don't get the advantage of Humidity.
In fact.
My pucks can dry out in like 4 hours in the sun this time of year.

[LAGS]

My construction experience , is more towards the Dirt that the Road base covers.
But Compaction Principals are all the same.
Just plain Gravel will compact to 80% just by Vibrating.
But you need Fines or some kind of Binder to Retain that compaction over time or increase it to 90% or better.

[EMC45]

There have been times where I accidently added too much water to my mix , to the point where it turned it to a thick black slimy Mud.
I just let it dry out a bit.
Then Extruded it thru a screen or strainer.
I let it dry some more , then ran it thru a screen again.
I would repeat this process several times untill the mix was granulating instead of extruding into strips.
I could take the granulated Screened powder and then press it into Pucks.
Or just let the granulated powder dry out and shoot it as Screened Powder.

I know this has been asked before, but.........What is better - Screened or pucked powder? Until this thread was started I had always heard of the screening method and not the puck method. I did build a press to puck powder but was curious as to the advantage one way or the other.

[LAGS]

I second Indian Joe's opinion.
The only reason I Press Powder , is if I intend to store it for a long time.
Being denser , it does not tend to turn back into powder again being shook around and sitting for years.
But most of my powder will get shot up in very short order , so that isn't a problem using screened powder.
And I currently do not shoot any Cartridge guns or Revolvers.

[EMC45]

You guys answered my question perfectly. I plan to make some this week using the 75/15/10 recipe. Thanks!

[Hotfxr]

Finally got the shop clean enough and all the quarantine family projects done. Time to return to making powder. With the cannon taking up to 4 ounces at a time (for really long shots) along with just blasting it in the front yard to annoy my neighbors, I have used up almost all of my stockpile. If this was any more fun, they would find a way to make it illegal.

[Fly]

I agree with the above. Lags I do not put binder in corned powder, just screened. I should have worded that differently.

Fly

[LAGS]

I don't put Dextrin in my Corned powder either.
But if I have Screened powder with Dextrin , then Re mill it , then Corn it , it will have Dextrin in it.
It doesn't seem to make any difference in how it Corns .
I only Re Mill Screened powder that weight to Volume is Really Low , or it seems Fluffy and soft.
I don't let anything go to waste.
I am sure Daniel Boone and Davy Crocket Re screened their powder if it got wet crossing a river.

[LAGS]

I just got back from the range today.
A friend of mine had never shot my powder before.
He just Upped his load by 15% and couldn't tell the difference between it and the store bought stuff he has.
He also said it burns as clean as the factory stuff , even with the increased charge.
Now he wants to start making his own too.
He likes the home made stuff a lot better than the Pyrodex or other substatutes.

[Boz330]

I have used screened in cartridges but is fiddly - fill the case brimful - compress it - top it up again - compress again till ya get the required weight charge in there or else accept a bit less velocity from that case.

others may answer differently

I tried that multiple compression idea but the accuracy went south so gave that up.
I thought about using screened in my 577-450 but haven't tried it yet. That case is so big the fluffy powder should work out nicely.

Bob

[Boz330]

Sounds like a good plan for the big martini - a full load of good powder in one of those can stop bein fun after a while.

Especially with the converted shotgun brass, they hold 115gr of store bought and the Martini ain't that heavy. I had a carbine for awhile but it proved to be waaaay too much fun even with the original load.

Bob

[Fly]

I wish someone would try that. Be nice to know how it works.

Fly

[Boz330]

It is on my round-to-it list but pretty far down at this point.

Bob

[LAGS]

Lucky for me , the range by my house is still open with some restrictions.
I hope to get to the range this week again.
I did up 10 lbs of powder durring this slow down.
Now time to cast up some more lead balls for the 5 calibers I shoot.

[Hotfxr]

At 8 ounces per batch, I have spent the last several days making powder. Have 32 ounces in 1 ounce packets for the cannon, the rest is in paper, ageing in the wooden box. Plus cast up a few more cannon projectiles. At 17 3/4 ounces each, I am going to experiment with some smaller sizes. Less lead, less powder, same apparent effect.

[swamp]

Wed. was a nice day with a slight breeze so figured it was a good day to grind charcoal. Ground up about a 5 gal pail of lump. Now have about 3/4 pail of ground willow. Should last for awhile. Also have 4 1lb. coffee cans of Tree of Heaven float. I think I am set for now.
swamp

[LAGS]

What is the Bore on your cannon ?
My late cousin had a cannon , that he made a Hollow base projectiles for his cannon to make a lighter slug , and thus use less powder.
I don't know if he ever took my suggestion and cast his out of scrap Zinc Wheel Weights.
I make my powder in 8 oz batches also , and screen half and corn the other half for right now.
I just aquired 4 lbs of Willow charcoal , so I think I am set with all materials to finish out the year.