How much FFFg powder fits within this short cylinder?

[Naphtali]

This question appears to fit comfortably into no subforum. But since I ask about black powder and a short cylindrical shape Black Powder Cartridge seems to be closer than any other. How much FFFg powder can be put into a .310-inch cylinder that is .125-inch deep?

[Tom Myers]

This question appears to fit comfortably into no subforum. But since I ask about black powder and a short cylindrical shape Black Powder Cartridge seems to be closer than any other. How much FFFg powder can be put into a .310-inch cylinder that is .125-inch deep?

.0.31" x 0.31" / 4 x Pi x 0.125" = 0.0094345 cubic inches

There are 16.387 cubic centimeters in a cubic inch

16.387 x 0.0094345 = 0.1546 cubic centimeters

1 cubic centimeter of FFFG powder (depending on brand and lot number) weighs about 1 gram per cubic centimeter.

There are 15.43236 grains in one gram.

15.43236 x 0.1546 = 2.3859

If my math is correct, your cylinder should hold approximately 2.4 grains of powder (unsettled and not compressed).

Hope this helps.

[Sharpsman]

0.00943839285714285

[cal50]

Black powder density = 1.82-1.89 g/cc

(This is a variable)

[John Boy]

Huh?

Black powder density = 1.82-1.89 g/cc

Density:

0.919	KIK	FFFg
0.944	Goex	FFFg	99JY02C
0.925	Goex	FFFg	03 46 07NO03B
0.916	Goex	FFFg	03 56 08NO02 B
0.97	Meteor	FFFg
0.978	Schuetzen	FFFg
1.023	Swiss	FFFg

[rancher1913]

I suck at math so if it was me I'd just fill the cylinder with the chosen powder then dump it on a scale, no variables and no math.

[Toymaker]

I'm from Missouri and agree with rancher1913. Sweet, simple and accurate.

[wills]

I suck at math so if it was me I'd just fill the cylinder with the chosen powder then dump it on a scale, no variables and no math.

But that seems too obvious.

[cal50]

Huh?


Density:

0.919	KIK	FFFg
0.944	Goex	FFFg	99JY02C
0.925	Goex	FFFg	03 46 07NO03B
0.916	Goex	FFFg	03 56 08NO02 B
0.97	Meteor	FFFg
0.978	Schuetzen	FFFg
1.023	Swiss	FFFg

When black powder is manufactured the loose powder is pressed under tons of pressure into a "press cake". This is the loose powder pressed into a solid mass before it's corned / granulated. The target pressed density is around 1.7 grams per CC.


Cut / Paste~


Hydraulic Pressing and Corning. Corned powder is powder than has been broken into a grain after it has been pressed into blocks or pucks. Pressing powder makes it sturdier - it does not make it faster than an equivalent grain size in pulverone. Ok.. why does anyone press BP? A quote from Mike Swisher goes something like: "Uniform density makes volumetric measurement of a charge of uniform weight feasible. The main reason commercial powder is pressed to its typical density is to facilitate loading by volume." Another reason for pressing is that pressed powder is unlikely to crumble or separate with storage or vibration. For pyro uses, pressed powders aren't necessary but some love making great lift powder that has a sturdy grain - even though making it can be a lot of work. Others would just as soon use commercial powder or pulverone for their lift needs.

You can compress your BP using a hydraulic press so that it is at least 1.7 grams per cc. A simple pressing device is a reinforced 1.5" PVC tube with a suitable ram (you could pour one from Bondo). That will let you make enough pressed powder to see if you really want to do it. Go bigger if you like this sort of thing.