My homemade black powder

[PianoManA440]

As you guys have noted with your finished powder im getting 1g/cc to 1.03g/cc loading density.

[indian joe]

As you guys have noted with your finished powder im getting 1g/cc to 1.03g/cc loading density.

0.95 unpolished corned FFg --this stuff has given me single digit extreme spread numbers and velocity approaching swiss and I aint messin with that!

0.8 unpolished Screened FFFg

[DoubleBuck]

PianoManA440;
How are you getting 1.7 grams per cc of density at the puck, using 8% moisture and not losing any moisture? I've never been able to press even a 1.6 g/cc puck using more than 4% moisture. And, I've never pressed a 5% puck that didn't lose some moisture. Are you counting the moisture weight, in the equation you're using, or subtracting it, first?
I think TrapperJack is pressing pucks around .8 g/cc using high moisture, and then gaining back loaded density through the rest of his procedure. In the one test I did, I got the same results from the high moisture, low pressure pucks, of not over .8 density.

[PianoManA440]

Yes the water is included. (Example say my die holds 100 grams of volume.
So that would be 92 grams of bp and 8 grams of water.) Just checking my numbers looks like im pressing too
1.68. Also my scale is accurate to half a gram. The water scale is accurate to 1/20 of a grain.
My rams/pistons are wood. So could be that the wood absorbs some. That and my
measurements may be slightly off.

[DoubleBuck]

It's all good. If the water weight is included, I get it. I just go by dry weight and couldn't figure it out.

[indian joe]

you fellers are better organised than me ! if I tried to measure puck density I would not trust the answer I got - so I dont bother with it - the only measure I do is finished powder and compared to commercial...........................

[DoubleBuck]

indian joe;
I understand and I see nothing wrong with using loaded density. You're not testing a lot of different charcoals. Measuring at the puck, you can adjust the powder's density before you are left with only loaded density, what ever it is.
I try to get 1.65 +or- density on every batch, for consistency. Most of my powders, with my measures, will throw a 1/1 weight/volume at that density. And, again, that is only important if you're using different charcoals and trying to keep everything heads up, to test with. If the density is uniform, it's just one less variable that can make results somewhat unreliable.
After measuring several 10's of pucks, it is second hand to me, now. Since I had the HDPE spacers made, my puck thickness only varies by about .002", if I load the die correct. I measure them in the middle and four around; average them and they come out real close.
Plus, I measure my water, so I know how much, near exact, is in the powder. That way, I only have to deduct the moisture weight when I measure a puck for density, to know real close; what that loaded density SHOULD be. It's not perfect, and I don't claim it to be. But, I try to make every batch equal on density to rule that out on opposing charcoal tests. As Forrest Gump said, "It's just one less thing."
Good to see you post! You need to quit lurking in the shadows!!!