"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
Haven't gotten around to pulling the treadmill apart yet, but most of the motors I've seen from them are sealed. If I don't end up using it for a tumbler, I'll surely find another use for it. I make/create a lot of things in the ole workshop. I've got so many projects either in progress or planned I've had to declare a strict moratorium on thinking up and/or taking on any new ones!
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
Common ailment of coal miners called "Black Lung". Don't breathe charcoal, (nor any other), dust.
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
Yep.
Wear a mask over your Covid Mask
I will be the first to admit that my knowledge is strictly limited. I know that if I shoot my revolver, freehand at a target at a given distance, and then shoot the same bullet with the same revolver, at the same target at the same distance, only faster, the faster bullets will group lower. So why not the same thing with a rifle fired freehand? That was my thought. Refer to the first sentence of this paragraph.
When I first learned that a lesser load grouped higher with a pistol, I was intrigued. Not intrigued enough to test it analytically, but the science made sense.
My only actual experience was with a 30.06 rifle. It was sighted in with 180 grain bullets at 100 yards. When I shot "Accelerator"rounds out of it, (22 cal bullet of 55 grains in a sabot), it grouped 4" higher.
As they say;"Pistols are pistols and rifles are rifles." (Two different "animals".)
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
I just cut 1/4" off the barrel of my .22 rifle, and cut a new recessed target crown on it because the previous owner was nasty, (very nasty!!), with his cleaning rod.
May or may not be an option in your case...
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
Don't mean to interrupt the discussion but I finished the batch of screened BP using Brazilian Pepper charcoal. The recipe was 270 grams Potassium nitrate, 40.5 grams charcoal, 35 grams of 90% sulfur powder and 6 grams dextrin. I've found that a small increase in the sulfur content seems to make my screened powder burn better. First try after eight hours of milling wasn't fast for the "Poof Test" so I milled it for another six hours in a larger container. This made the powder as fast as my last two batches made with Carolina Willow.
The Poof test is just dumping a 1/2 table spoon of powder onto a cinder block and touching it off with a propane torch. If I have to check my knuckles for singed hair the powder is fast enough to be used. Comparing it to a commercial powder is difficult because of the lighter density of the screened powder I manufacture.
Anyways the Brazilian Pepper past the test so far and didn't leave a lot of ash on the test pad. Right now the bush looks like a viable charcoal source that produces one to two inch diameter branches that are easy to debark when green. It's an invasive and is growing everywhere in my area so it will be a lot easier to harvest than any other wood I've tried. I need to get over to the range and test it against my willow BP and commercial stuff to see how dirty it is.
You science majors are making my head hurt!
Fly
By the time tumbleweeds are big enough to think about making charcoal out of, they are covered in thorns and make my allergies go nuts. There is no way I'm going to get intimate enough with one to try that. The only good use of them is to set them on fire and watch them burn from a safe distance.
I think the issue is.
For over 100 years , Willow Charcoal has seemed to be the best for Firearms Black powder.
But I too experiment with other charcoals to find a good Fall Back charcoal in case Willow is not available or others live in areas where Willow don't grow.
But we don't need the extent of trying to reinvent the wheel or build a better Mouse Trap.
I've kind of wondered in passing myself about tumbleweeds. As was said, they burn ferociously and with little ash. They'd be a royal PITA to collect and process, but do seem to meet the criteria of fast growing, light weight, etc. The other thing is that they are prevalent in low rain areas where the other good woods aren't found.
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
Ha!! Just had a mental picture.... a cooking retort stuffed as full as you could get it with tumble weed. Cook it up, open the retort....
and find ONE TEASPOON of charcoal!!
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
The same thing happened when I tried to make charcoal out if cotton fabric.
The powder burned fast .
But it just isn't worth the trouble to make the small amount of that charcoal.
Plus you have to be careful that you don't turn your Charcoal into Ashes.
One thing I've come across in my fun studies of this whole thing, that I don't see mentioned here. That is the temperature of cooking the charcoal. If I recall correctly, it's best to cook it at no higher than 600 degrees farenheit, though I'm betting that could/would vary with different woods.
Sure, you can grab one of the top 5 woods, throw it in a can in a fire, and mix it up 75/15/10, and get useable powder. But I find researching, learning, and exploring a subject is fun too. This thread itself is SUPER, and I've learned a ton right here. Thanks to all contributors!!!
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
I'll have to cruise back through my research material, (and hope it wasn't on the computer that crashed, though I am fairly good about backing things up.)
As I recall, cooking at too high a temp cooked off too much of the volatiles, and made a weaker powder. Don't quote me on that though... I'll try to find where I read it.
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
Well, this isn't where I originally read it, but here's more charcoal info than you want to know...
http://www.fao.org/3/x5328e/x5328e05...rbon%20content.
Vettepilot
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security, have neither."
Benjamin Franklin. (A very wise man!)
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |