Powder

[bigted]

Bout ready to take the plunge into home made powder.

I have read a bunch on this as well as gleaning info from several you tube video's from sources I trust.

One thing that seems to be the variable in the recipe is the charcoal.

I have not read about this particular wood being used to retort into charcoal and wanted to pick brains as to the why not.

Wood in question is WESTERN RED ALDER.

The other wood I wonder about is WESTERN VINE MAPLE.

Has any one experimented with either of these woods for their charcoal?

I also have access to wild western willow which I wonder how it stacks up for the fastest powder.

Thanks all for what I figure will be a plethora of answers and suggestions.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I have always wondered how cascara would do , willow and alder have in my reading both been used and made good powder , I have all the supplies also except the charcoal , still have store bought , but keep thinking about the milling of my own .

That vine maple is a tough wood , hope to hear of your results .

[rancher1913]

go read the homemade black powder thread, it has everything you could possibly want to know about making holy black

[bigted]

Well made it to page 40 ... WHEWWW ... no mention of red Alder nor vine maple.

May just need to experiment for myself.

I will go collect Willow in the hills and use it for my first batch.

More news later.

[GregLaROCHE]

When I was researching to make BP, I found some pictures taken with an electron microscope of good quality charcoal for BP. You could see holes and crevices in it. The other ingredients get embedded in these and that’s what makes that type of wood charcoal the best. You can Google them if it interests you.

[Nobade]

@bigted For your first batch, let me recommend the shaved cedar pet bedding at Walmart. It is easy to turn into charcoal, already ground up, and makes very good gunpowder. That will save you some work and get you started down the path.

[Markopolo]

I personally think your on the right path with western willow... I also use willow. and the exercise is great!!

[bigted]

@bigted For your first batch, let me recommend the shaved cedar pet bedding at Walmart. It is easy to turn into charcoal, already ground up, and makes very good gunpowder. That will save you some work and get you started down the path.

Thanks for that Nobade, good hint and I will definitely try a batch using the shaved cedar.

Also going to go out and collect some river willow to try... also no harm in getting some red Alder to give a whirl.

If the red Alder goes well ... there is an unending supply of it in the western side of the coast range down in the swampy areas. Heck when I fell n bucked timber , it was a nuisance tree that was no good for anything but paper chips ... would be wonderful if the Oregon Alder makes great BP.

[Nobade]

Might want to wait a while. Apparently the best powder is made using wood cut when the sap is rising and has the most sugars in it, according to the Waltham Abbey book.

[HamGunner]

I am not sure what types of Willow you have out in the NW, but (Salix Nigra) Black Willow is supposed to be the preferred Willow for BP. Not the same as what is commonly known as Creek Willow, but it will normally be found along water as well. Especially around lakes. I doubt that you have Black Willow that far West, but any fast growing soft wood will no doubt make some good charcoal. It needs to be charred without oxygen at under 600 degrees F. White or Silver (soft) Maple native out that way?

http://www.creagan.net/fireworks/charcoal_tests.html