My homemade black powder

[Fly]

Yes I must agree. One really fast wood is Balsa if that's a hint.

Fly

[Boz330]

I checked the links and through this thread and haven't seen Dogwood mentioned for BP making. I have a dead standing non-rotten decent sized Dogwood I cut down recently. It is some super hard wood. I turned some on the mini lathe and it is rock hard.

I was doing research into what I could make with it (mallets, mold handle replacements etc.) I ran across a few articles saying it was really good for making BP. Just wanted some intel from the pros here. I tried mesquite and it was bad. Did not work well at. I just want to know if this is a good option. I am going to char some and try it one of these days, but wanted to know from anyone's experience. Thanks folks.

You are in TN just get some Tree of Heaven, I know they have that around. It seems to be everywhere. It was giving me velocities 50fps faster than my willow BP.

Bob

[Eddie2002]

I've used red cedar and Carolina Willow so far, both are fast growing which seems to be one of the main criteria for CC making. Dogwood is pretty slow growing and is a hardwood, don't think it will fill the ticket for CC. Track down some willow, it seems to be the go to wood for home grown BP.

[EMC45]

You are in TN just get some Tree of Heaven, I know they have that around. It seems to be everywhere. It was giving me velocities 50fps faster than my willow BP.

Bob

I will track it down.

[EMC45]

I have tree of heaven growing on my property.....

[Nobade]

I have tree of heaven growing on my property.....

Doesn't everybody?

[EMC45]

Doesn't everybody?

I was sweating the whole balsa Willow vs. other woods when the suggestion was made for TOH and lo and behold I have a trees in the backyard.

[Nobade]

I was sweating the whole balsa Willow vs. other woods when the suggestion was made for TOH and lo and behold I have a trees in the backyard.

It does work pretty well. Recently I've been using red cedar lizard bedding from Walmart. It's already chipped up and makes pretty decent powder. Lots of ways to go about this.

[Eddie2002]

Red cedar works for me, Walmart lizard bedding sounds like a plan, just check for any lizards. I'm too far south for TOH.

[EMC45]

I have a few that are about 2.5 in diameter that I will saw down and prep.

[Tasbay]

Just wondering has anyone tried Elm as charcoal ? Have a Elm grove on the property. Normally just use Willow.

[Nobade]

Just wondering has anyone tried Elm as charcoal ? Have a Elm grove on the property. Normally just use Willow.

I wish it worked. This city is covered in Chinese Elms. It grows fast but is really hard, and doesn't even make decent firewood.

[Boz330]

I was sweating the whole balsa Willow vs. other woods when the suggestion was made for TOH and lo and behold I have a trees in the backyard.

Good news bad news sort of thing. Good news you have all you need for BP. Bad news is they are a very invasive plant and will crowd out good trees.
I have been trying to kill the stuff off of my farm for years and I believe I'm losing the battle.
I use finger size pieces since I'm charring them in an old gallon paint can and that size fits better. Peeling the bark is a little bit of a pain since they stink when peeled.

[EMC45]

Good news bad news sort of thing. Good news you have all you need for BP. Bad news is they are a very invasive plant and will crowd out good trees.
I have been trying to kill the stuff off of my farm for years and I believe I'm losing the battle.
I use finger size pieces since I'm charring them in an old gallon paint can and that size fits better. Peeling the bark is a little bit of a pain since they stink when peeled.

There are a few 2.5-3 inch diameter trees and then there are shoots all over the place.....

[Boz330]

There are a few 2.5-3 inch diameter trees and then there are shoots all over the place.....

They reproduce through the root system of the existing trees as well as seeds that birds drop. I have been using a chemical that also kills the root system this year and we will see how it does. If you stand around for a couple minutes you can see it grow. Kidding aside just check the sprouts a couple times a week and you will see the growth rate. Royal Pawlonia might grow a little faster but not by much.

Bob

[Fly]

Man this thread has really slowed down. We must have showed everyone how to make black powder. In fact Cast Booilts across the board has slowed.
They have banned many good posters, that's ashamed it can't help.

Fly

[Whiterabbit]

Maybe getting ready for hunting season

[Eddie2002]

I finished making my first batch of home made black powder, ended up with about four pounds of screened 2F which looks like it works great. Haven't been able to get out to the range cause I'm stuck in the Florida summer weather pattern where it starts raining just about every day by noon. Been busy casting some round balls and reloading for some military surplus rifles just to keep occupied.
Been checking in every day or so but not posting.

[Tasbay]

Maybe getting ready for hunting season

Whats a Hunting Season? Deer we shoot all year round down here.

[EMC45]

Got 2 TOH trees down and sectioned up. I will peel and split to dry for charcoal.