One of the biggest improvements in my powder came from switching from lead milling media to brass. The difference in how much cleaner burning the powder milled with brass is astonishing. What is the percentage of quebracho bark per batch?
@@chaecoco2 Yes, brass works well. All I use too now. I no longer use the bark powder. Cor ing or pressing the powder, made it so it was no longer needed.
@@HoffmanReproductions You have mentioned before, the importance of drying your charcoal and potassium nitrate for accurate measurements. How do you do this? Do you dry in an oven? Thanks. Really appreciate your input.
@@chaecoco2 Yes indeed! Very important part to mill dry ingredients. I put the PN and Char in the over at 200 degrees for about 20 minutes then go right to the mill.
@@HoffmanReproductions Thanks. I will probably have to buy a small toaster oven for that. My wife would probably kill me if I tried that in the kitchen oven.
Great videos. Made two batches one using cotton wood and the other using red cedar for charcoal. Both powders worked great in a small cannon and will test and chrono in revolvers vs Pyrodex. Used 100% denatured alcohol and seems to work well and dry out quickly. Used Harbor Freight tumbler and .440 lead balls.
Charcoal, nitrate and sulphur absorb moisture at different rates, so will be differently damp if left for months (according to your weather!). This usually means that the charcoal takes in more water that the nitrate so 15% charcoal when weighed with lots of moisture will give you only about 10% of dry charcoal in the mix giving you poor product.
Great video , Ben ! I find your videos enjoyable love the time period you represent . My son who is 9 and I are descendants of French - Indian war and the revolutionary war veterans. He wants a tri-corn for Christmas (: Your videos are inspiring us to get involved more into living re- enactment on our property. Thanks ! Love the idea of selling your recipe for black powder .
IF’in you see a big fat x on your tapping tree, it might be your patriot neighbor! 😊 (kidding) My 2 pita pick me up trees in my yard, happen to be Silvers and now I bow down and ask forgiveness for my unclean mind!
@@texascelt8363 Thats I was thinking too.Suphur does produce static electricity. Workers in the exposives use to stay on robber plates,and wear gloves. My Mill is made from iron so you can discharge it in the grownd./ body.
Thank You, this is wonderful information to me. I have followed your posts and have begun making my own gun powder. I have tested mine to try to determine how it stacks up against Goex. By shooting through my chronograph with Goex and homemade powder with different calibers and bullet design I find my powder to require about 30 % more to near the Goex velocities. I use willow bark and will try to find silver maple, (southern Colorado). I think I can make better. I have not additives.
Are you compressing the powder after making it? If you're having to use that much extra, it sounds like you're not. To match or exceed commercial powder, it needs more density. You can find videos here on YT for using a press to make pucks and corning them.
very satisfying....i use cedar mulch for charcoal.....that i mill for 36 hours then mill the combined elements together for 48 hours. it feels really good. i havent shot for accuracy but the speed is very good and the recoil feels on par with commercial...thank you
I often keep those little Silica desiccant bags ( you can find that in some food packages ) and put them in my KNO3 and black powder to keep moisture away.
Thanks for the video. I too was not real certain about the screening process and still not. If you get a chance to film that part I would greatly appreciate it. Overall I feel relatively confident I can do this. I understand it. If I can get the screening to get desirable size I'm good to go
You can actually dry everything at 50 degrees in the oven for a few hours as well.. and black powder. I would be careful though if I a had a propane oven. So this advice is for electrical ovens only. I use it all the time before and after grinding. Especially if you grind in a ball mill outside as you are! And I'm talking Celsius. I've dried up to 75c but would never go higher. Make a habit of drying your powders before use to get consistent results. Even Tupperware let's in moisture. You could also use a desecant that collects moisture.
Thanks great video, living in wine country there is so much grape vine around here it’s burned in giant piles all the time, I’m going to try that wood first
I sure liked your videos and look forward to making my own. I did want to add my 2 cents if worth knowing, there are hardwoods and softwood. There are also varying degrees of each soft and hard based on their densities so woods like cottonwood, poplar/popular, red maple, silver maple and even birch could be used as their densities allow for uniform burning. Any more and your fire will require a ton of more energy to burn through. I'm eager to try some pine and Douglas fir near me. They produce shiny charcoal in leftover fires. Good luck in more of this.
Great videos, I love them. I found it interesting that some said your dirt cheap kit was too expensive but watch the videos for free. I would be surprised if a fireworks warehouse would sell 1/2 pound of anything. haha Nyms. ;)
Oh very cool. I just chased down the raw ingredients but I’ll buy from you next time just to support the excellent videos and history! I wonder if my woods have some Silver maple 🤔 Yes, the big firework companies have kits BUT just you go look at the shipping charge. Yikes.
@@HoffmanReproductions Ah daulp. Who knew your video would bring families together. My daughter and I have searched the woods after much research on tree, leaf, and fruit of the WRONG maple tree! 😂 You said Silver maple but I heard another. I guess I’m all set for making Jack Daniel’s smoother!! Daulp!
Hi ,my ancestors manuals( he made the rockets for Hong Kong 1860s) ..say for sporting powders season the charcoal wood willow ,grape,alder,etc for at least 3 years and to use the charcoal immediately, never use old charcoal. Regards.
I just made a batch using a rcbs vibrating case cleaner with 00 lead buckshots. After 10h i made 2 lines in a V shape and got more speed than what i bought at the store. Seems to burn cleaner too.
You can order desiccent in large bags. Just put a couple small packs, or large pack in to your ingredients if they are to be stored. Work great. Even after you have made your powder and storing it, drop a small packet of desiccent into the container to keep the moisture down. You won't have to heat it over a direct heat.
@@HoffmanReproductions Your welcome. Sorry I spelled it wrong earlier. I got two large bags dirt cheap from Amazon. But other people can collect them from products they buy. It's the charcoal that absorbs the moisture from air. So if in a wet climate... you know the routine. But they do work great.
Have yall tried willow charcoal? The British were reducing Sulphur content and apparently achieving almost smokeless BP results. I forget the name but it was brit govt arsenal tests
Thank you for this valuable information, great video.I have a question: Can xanthan gum, or guar gum powder be used as a thickening agent?? Greetings from Greece
From what I understand, Goex powder is lightly coated with graphite. Other than it giving the powder a nice shiny black appearance, would there be any actual benefit to adding a little finely powdered graphite to the mix? I think I’ve also heard somewhere that the small amount of graphite also helps to dampen the effects of static electricity on the powder (less clingy), although I’m not 100% on that.
Yes Sir, most commercial powders are graphited as I understand, for the reason you gave. Not to sure on anymore additional information on the graphite.
Already 1 year old, nevertheless thank's for sharing, very well made and clear video. I will try to rewind your first video to get the answer but yourself, are you using 11 or 10 parts of sulfur ? What differences have you noticed between these 2 quantities, if you used both ? I wish you good.
Hi Ben, great video. Goex will no longer be available by the end of the year. Thank you for showing us a viable alternative. I read an old method that recommends using "stale urine" to make the dough ball. Something about the nitrates in it increases the power. Any comment on that?
Hello! Well, I have never tried it that way so hard to say. I would tend to think in would not make too much of a difference as that would be over nitrating it. I would think that would throw off the chemical mix. Again, hard too say. Pee might just be the secret to super powder lol! Thanks a bunch and your most welcome.
I'm using peeled willow as a charcoal source. I haven't tested this out yet, I'm at the ball mill stage at this point. What are your thoughts on using willow as a source? Your producing one of the best instructional videos I've seen to date, please dont stop! Thank you sir.
Thanks a bunch! Willow works well but not the cleanest burning. Pine, ash, cedar, silver maple, buckthorn alder are a few that work good to. Thanks again!
So what should I do to make a historically accurate 17th century musket powder for a .75 caliber matchlock? I'm wanting to do a accuracy test for our channel with the our matchlock however the original 12 apostles carried 175 grains of powder and I'm pretty sure that that's a much lower quality powder than what we use nowadays.
Yes, that sounds like poor quality to require a charge of 175 gr. This recipe would be correct for the 1700's that I use. Seems I came a crossed the different blends used from the 1400's on to the 1700's. If I can find it, will send it your way.
Great info! I'm in an apartment, so I'll have to mill at a friend's house, so a shorter mill time of the full mixture would be beneficial. Have you ever tried milling the ingredients separately (+/- 12 hrs) to make a fine powder beforehand? Would that facilitate a shorter mill time with the full mixture? That way I could do most of the milling in my apartment safely. Do you think that could work?
You Can very safely mill all ingredients wet, and No Dust. then dry into cakes or do the pan/alcohol cook method be SAFE. I feel the mill works even faster and Better wet as everything sticks to the mill balls.
having a hard time with the Borracho bark? I LOVE THE KITS idea!!! even though I am Into making myself, But Hay CLOSE ENOUGH for Gov Work!! and Your's is FASTER! I will look! can I get the bark in My Kit? LINK PLEASE! I'm IN!
I just trimmed up a silver maple for a guy and the limbs are green. Having never made charcoal, how long does it need to season before making it in to charcoal? The limbs are 3-4 inches in diameter.
So, have you given any thought to milling your ingredients with an added 10% water by weight, and then pucking the wetted mill dust (pucking dies can be bought from Woody's online)? Doing so is supposed to make the power of the gunpowder on par (or better) with that of commercial powder.
100% true Sir. Some call it the CIA method and it does yield a powder more powerful even than that of store bought BP. May do a video on it sometime. Thanks!
I have an adequate stock of factory made black powder for my needs on hand, but am interested in making some of my own just out of personal curiosity. I'm located in the southwest where we do not have silver maple trees. I grill with mesquite lump charcoal and have a lot of that on hand. Would that be suitable to use? If not, I'll find a way to get some silver maple. Thank you for your excellent videos!
hi, i love your tutorials. Im tryng to found some good wood for the charcoal. I live in spain, and its so dificult to finde silver maple or alder wood. My first try was with bbq charcoal and was a completly fail. it burns soooooo slow, i think its for many reasons what im fixing (thanks to your videos) but i really dont know how to search a good charcoal here. We have a lot of pines, but i think this will not works as i want, no? can anyone help me with the wood? Thanks for all! gg for your chanel!
Hello! Glad they are of help! Pine works very well its just makes finished powder that is a bit weaker than other woods. Give it a try! Don't be afraid to try other woods you have available in your area. Thanks!
I was very interested in trying out your kit before purchasing large quantities of the individual ingredients. You're stating 1/2 and 1 pound kits, however, on your website you only offer 1/2 pound. I would like to get 1 pound. Do I contact you directly?
Sorry for the confusion. There are two types of Quebracho tree - white (Quebracho Blanco), and red (Quebracho Colorado). Does matter which is used? Love your content, by the way. Keep up the good work and keep your powder dry.
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks, I would like to order your black powder kit , if you have gone ahead with the project ( is there a recipe in the kit ? ).
A lot less talking & marketing, and getting to the actual making of usable black powder would be helpful! With this in mind, I will go to another site that DOES make shootable black powder.
With all do respect Sir, we have 4 other videos that go into great detail about how to make powder. They are all posted for public use. Check out our channels videos and you'll find them. Thanks!
Ben do you still sell your 1/2 pound and one pound kit powder kits sir. If so I'm interested in a one pound kit and a half pound kit if possible. I'm sill experimenting with different wood for charcoal even though I like the pet cedar and balsa wood charcoal that I made for my muzzleloaders I would like to try your kits out. I'm in york pa
One of the biggest improvements in my powder came from switching from lead milling media to brass. The difference in how much cleaner burning the powder milled with brass is astonishing.
What is the percentage of quebracho bark per batch?
@@chaecoco2 Yes, brass works well. All I use too now. I no longer use the bark powder. Cor ing or pressing the powder, made it so it was no longer needed.
@@HoffmanReproductions You have mentioned before, the importance of drying your charcoal and potassium nitrate for accurate measurements. How do you do this? Do you dry in an oven? Thanks. Really appreciate your input.
@@chaecoco2 Yes indeed! Very important part to mill dry ingredients. I put the PN and Char in the over at 200 degrees for about 20 minutes then go right to the mill.
@@HoffmanReproductions Thanks. I will probably have to buy a small toaster oven for that. My wife would probably kill me if I tried that in the kitchen oven.
Great videos. Made two batches one using cotton wood and the other using red cedar for charcoal. Both powders worked great in a small cannon and will test and chrono in revolvers vs Pyrodex. Used 100% denatured alcohol and seems to work well and dry out quickly. Used Harbor Freight tumbler and .440 lead balls.
Hey that is great! Good work!
Thanks! I will try cedar pet bedding next! Every try I make just is Not Fast enough? YET!
Very Interested to see the side by sides!
Charcoal, nitrate and sulphur absorb moisture at different rates, so will be differently damp if left for months (according to your weather!).
This usually means that the charcoal takes in more water that the nitrate so 15% charcoal when weighed with lots of moisture will give you only about 10% of dry charcoal in the mix giving you poor product.
Yep! That is why I tell all that ask to dry both the PN and CC prior to milling.
Great video , Ben ! I find your videos enjoyable love the time period you represent . My son who is 9 and I are descendants of French - Indian war and the revolutionary war veterans. He wants a tri-corn for Christmas (: Your videos are inspiring us to get involved more into living re- enactment on our property. Thanks ! Love the idea of selling your recipe for black powder .
Really appreciate it! Thank you and have fun!
Glad to hear the idea of silver maple. It's everywhere here along the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers in central PA!
Sounds good!
IF’in you see a big fat x on your tapping tree, it might be your patriot neighbor! 😊 (kidding) My 2 pita pick me up trees in my yard, happen to be Silvers and now I bow down and ask forgiveness for my unclean mind!
@@johnnottahcal5725 Thanks for watching! Silvers are very useful come to find out!
How do you make sure there is no static spark to set the powder off
@@texascelt8363 Thats I was thinking too.Suphur does produce static electricity. Workers in the exposives use to stay on robber plates,and wear gloves. My Mill is made from iron so you can discharge it in the grownd./ body.
Thank You, this is wonderful information to me. I have followed your posts and have begun making my own gun powder. I have tested mine to try to determine how it stacks up against Goex. By shooting through my chronograph with Goex and homemade powder with different calibers and bullet design I find my powder to require about 30 % more to near the Goex velocities. I use willow bark and will try to find silver maple, (southern Colorado). I think I can make better. I have not additives.
Hey that is great! Thank you for sharing Russell!
@Jason Bored
I have heard that as well. Let me know how it works. Thanks Jason!
Silver maple is all over my property, that's one thing I won't have to buy😉
Are you compressing the powder after making it? If you're having to use that much extra, it sounds like you're not. To match or exceed commercial powder, it needs more density. You can find videos here on YT for using a press to make pucks and corning them.
very satisfying....i use cedar mulch for charcoal.....that i mill for 36 hours then mill the combined elements together for 48 hours. it feels really good. i havent shot for accuracy but the speed is very good and the recoil feels on par with commercial...thank you
Your most welcome! Glad it helped Sir.
I often keep those little Silica desiccant bags ( you can find that in some food packages ) and put them in my KNO3 and black powder to keep moisture away.
Good idea!
Thanks for the video. I too was not real certain about the screening process and still not. If you get a chance to film that part I would greatly appreciate it. Overall I feel relatively confident I can do this. I understand it. If I can get the screening to get desirable size I'm good to go
Supposedly a 20 mesh screen will produce 3f and 16 mesh will make 2f. I've yet to produce any but I'm going to here soon
You can actually dry everything at 50 degrees in the oven for a few hours as well.. and black powder. I would be careful though if I a had a propane oven. So this advice is for electrical ovens only. I use it all the time before and after grinding. Especially if you grind in a ball mill outside as you are! And I'm talking Celsius. I've dried up to 75c but would never go higher. Make a habit of drying your powders before use to get consistent results. Even Tupperware let's in moisture. You could also use a desecant that collects moisture.
I do a "Similar" job as I have gas ovens. I Pre heat the oven, turn it OFF then just use the heat to dry my powder or my KNO3?
Remember that there is a pilot light in a gas oven when it’s off 👍
Thanks great video, living in wine country there is so much grape vine around here it’s burned in giant piles all the time, I’m going to try that wood first
Sounds great! Thank you!
Good job Ben! No surprise there are those that want it for free
Thank you!
I sure liked your videos and look forward to making my own. I did want to add my 2 cents if worth knowing, there are hardwoods and softwood. There are also varying degrees of each soft and hard based on their densities so woods like cottonwood, poplar/popular, red maple, silver maple and even birch could be used as their densities allow for uniform burning. Any more and your fire will require a ton of more energy to burn through. I'm eager to try some pine and Douglas fir near me. They produce shiny charcoal in leftover fires. Good luck in more of this.
Thank you and thank you for sharing!
There is also a hybrid Willow which works amazingly well its called an osstree
Awesome!
Great videos, I love them. I found it interesting that some said your dirt cheap kit was too expensive but watch the videos for free. I would be surprised if a fireworks warehouse would sell 1/2 pound of anything. haha Nyms. ;)
Thank you! Most appreciated!
Oh very cool. I just chased down the raw ingredients but I’ll buy from you next time just to support the excellent videos and history! I wonder if my woods have some Silver maple 🤔 Yes, the big firework companies have kits BUT just you go look at the shipping charge. Yikes.
Thanks so much John!
@@HoffmanReproductions Ah daulp. Who knew your video would bring families together. My daughter and I have searched the woods after much research on tree, leaf, and fruit of the WRONG maple tree! 😂 You said Silver maple but I heard another. I guess I’m all set for making Jack Daniel’s smoother!! Daulp!
@@johnnottahcal5725 Lol! Yep, whiskey makers love the old sugar maple, powder makers the silver! Sounds like a fun time in the woods though.
Excelente tus vídeos el molinillo de bolas tiene alguna marca para buscarlo, soy de Argentina
Hi ,my ancestors manuals( he made the rockets for Hong Kong 1860s) ..say for sporting powders season the charcoal wood willow ,grape,alder,etc for at least 3 years and to use the charcoal immediately, never use old charcoal.
Regards.
Thanks Ben!
I just made a batch using a rcbs vibrating case cleaner with 00 lead buckshots. After 10h i made 2 lines in a V shape and got more speed than what i bought at the store. Seems to burn cleaner too.
Hey that is great! Good job Sir.
Great video
You can order desiccent in large bags. Just put a couple small packs, or large pack in to your ingredients if they are to be stored. Work great. Even after you have made your powder and storing it, drop a small packet of desiccent into the container to keep the moisture down. You won't have to heat it over a direct heat.
Thanks Robert!
@@HoffmanReproductions Your welcome. Sorry I spelled it wrong earlier. I got two large bags dirt cheap from Amazon. But other people can collect them from products they buy. It's the charcoal that absorbs the moisture from air. So if in a wet climate... you know the routine. But they do work great.
Have yall tried willow charcoal? The British were reducing Sulphur content and apparently achieving almost smokeless BP results. I forget the name but it was brit govt arsenal tests
Thank you for this valuable information, great video.I have a question: Can xanthan gum, or guar gum powder be used as a thickening agent??
Greetings from Greece
@@johnspn1064 Thank you! Not sure on that one. If you corn or press your powder, the thickening agent is not necessary.
Could you do a video on sizing the powder and what mesh screens you use ?
Hi Robert, check out part 4. I cover that subject on that one. Thanks!
What can be used for thickening that is local??
Not sure Keith. Some make it without using a thickener by just using more or less water to mix and grain. Have not try more or less H2o myself.
From what I understand, Goex powder is lightly coated with graphite. Other than it giving the powder a nice shiny black appearance, would there be any actual benefit to adding a little finely powdered graphite to the mix? I think I’ve also heard somewhere that the small amount of graphite also helps to dampen the effects of static electricity on the powder (less clingy), although I’m not 100% on that.
Yes Sir, most commercial powders are graphited as I understand, for the reason you gave. Not to sure on anymore additional information on the graphite.
I would be interested in a kit as well
I learned that lesson too. Soggy powder is no good! I store all my ingredients and finished powder with desiccant packs and silica gel nowadays.
For sure! I was shocked how much of a difference it made. Good idea on the silica gel packs!
Already 1 year old, nevertheless thank's for sharing, very well made and clear video. I will try to rewind your first video to get the answer but yourself, are you using 11 or 10 parts of sulfur ? What differences have you noticed between these 2 quantities, if you used both ? I wish you good.
Glad it was helpful! Currently, 10 on the sulfur. Not sure on adjusting what the result would be.
what do you think about static electricity when using glass balls in ball mill?
@@ФёдорЗародышев-т2ц Some say it is risky. I use solid bass balls now a days.
Nice video!
How else can you dry potassium nitrate and coal before grinding?
Take a flat brick / stone, heat it to 90⁰-100⁰, put the stuff on in dry place.This is my way
@@cristianpopescu78 thank you for your reply
I’ll try
Hi Ben, great video. Goex will no longer be available by the end of the year. Thank you for showing us a viable alternative. I read an old method that recommends using "stale urine" to make the dough ball. Something about the nitrates in it increases the power. Any comment on that?
Hello! Well, I have never tried it that way so hard to say. I would tend to think in would not make too much of a difference as that would be over nitrating it. I would think that would throw off the chemical mix. Again, hard too say. Pee might just be the secret to super powder lol! Thanks a bunch and your most welcome.
Interesting.
I'm using peeled willow as a charcoal source. I haven't tested this out yet, I'm at the ball mill stage at this point. What are your thoughts on using willow as a source? Your producing one of the best instructional videos I've seen to date, please dont stop! Thank you sir.
Thanks a bunch! Willow works well but not the cleanest burning. Pine, ash, cedar, silver maple, buckthorn alder are a few that work good to. Thanks again!
So what should I do to make a historically accurate 17th century musket powder for a .75 caliber matchlock? I'm wanting to do a accuracy test for our channel with the our matchlock however the original 12 apostles carried 175 grains of powder and I'm pretty sure that that's a much lower quality powder than what we use nowadays.
Yes, that sounds like poor quality to require a charge of 175 gr. This recipe would be correct for the 1700's that I use. Seems I came a crossed the different blends used from the 1400's on to the 1700's. If I can find it, will send it your way.
Excellent tutorial. The best. Would air float charcoal from a pyro supply work for this BP?
Thank you! I'm sure it would work. Just not sure if it would work well. Might be worth a try though!
Great info! I'm in an apartment, so I'll have to mill at a friend's house, so a shorter mill time of the full mixture would be beneficial. Have you ever tried milling the ingredients separately (+/- 12 hrs) to make a fine powder beforehand? Would that facilitate a shorter mill time with the full mixture? That way I could do most of the milling in my apartment safely. Do you think that could work?
I would think that would work but its something I have not tried Thank ya Jacob!
You Can very safely mill all ingredients wet, and No Dust. then dry into cakes or do the pan/alcohol cook method be SAFE. I feel the mill works even faster and Better wet as everything sticks to the mill balls.
@@davefellhoelter1343 that's great! What solvent do you use? Something like water or rubbing alcohol?
For making charcoal doesn't have to be Greenwood.Or dried or doesn't matter
what about drying potassium nitrate in the oven for example?
@@ФёдорЗародышев-т2ц Yes, that works good.
good video. I heard Swiss BP is made with alderwood? Also, what does the ATF say about making black powder?
Yes Sir, Alder is what I use now. It's up to the State where someone lives. Totally legal here in Ohio as it falls under home reloading.
Could you do a specific video on sizing BP to make 3F? Screen size etc? Thanks
Check out part 4 of this series. Should answer most of those questions.
So, after it has dried and screened for size. I got more 4f than 2&3. Can I soak in the alcohol mixture and grain it again?
I've never tried it myself but I have heard of others doing just that.
having a hard time with the Borracho bark?
I LOVE THE KITS idea!!! even though I am Into making myself, But Hay CLOSE ENOUGH for Gov Work!! and Your's is FASTER!
I will look! can I get the bark in My Kit?
LINK PLEASE! I'm IN!
www.hoffmanreproductions.com Thank ya! Just ran out of the kits for this week, but making more soon.
@@HoffmanReproductions sent you an email, found your store! Thanks so much for your channel and info!
@@davefellhoelter1343 Your welcome! Sent one back, hopefully you got it.
Maples come in a variety of hardnesses. Ask a cabinet maker
Very true.
Just checked your website, you only show 1/2 lb kits for sale, yet this videos states that 1 lb kits will be available. What am I missing?
1 pound kits did not work out to post for sale. I will do a 1 pound kit upon request though. Please shoot me an email if interested. Thanks!
Well, count me "in" for one of those kits.
Thanks Drew!
Do you still sale the little kit today if so how do I get in touch with you?
Yes Sir, you can find them for sale on our website at www.hoffmanreproductions.com Thanks!
I just trimmed up a silver maple for a guy and the limbs are green. Having never made charcoal, how long does it need to season before making it in to charcoal? The limbs are 3-4 inches in diameter.
Well Sir, never cut it green and tried it but I would say 6 months or so should do the trick to age.
@@HoffmanReproductions Thanks Ben. I'll let that wood season and try some seasoned red cedar I've got here.
TC
Sounds good! I've heard cedar works well!
So, have you given any thought to milling your ingredients with an added 10% water by weight, and then pucking the wetted mill dust (pucking dies can be bought from Woody's online)? Doing so is supposed to make the power of the gunpowder on par (or better) with that of commercial powder.
100% true Sir. Some call it the CIA method and it does yield a powder more powerful even than that of store bought BP. May do a video on it sometime. Thanks!
I have an adequate stock of factory made black powder for my needs on hand, but am interested in making some of my own just out of personal curiosity. I'm located in the southwest where we do not have silver maple trees. I grill with mesquite lump charcoal and have a lot of that on hand. Would that be suitable to use? If not, I'll find a way to get some silver maple.
Thank you for your excellent videos!
Give it a try Mark. Might work just fine. Cedar, grapevine and pine all work great too! Thanks a bunch!
@Jason Bored You are VERY correct! I looked at the Janka rating: Mesquite 2,345 vs Silver Maple 700!
Would you offer individual components? The silver maple would be my request
Afraid I'm just offering the kits. Sorry!
Great job keep up the great work what is your website info thanks for sharing
Thank you! www.hoffmanreproductions.com
Are you familiar with double & double ball milling? It's touted as a safer way to ball mill.
No Sir, have not heard of it.
hi, i love your tutorials.
Im tryng to found some good wood for the charcoal. I live in spain, and its so dificult to finde silver maple or alder wood.
My first try was with bbq charcoal and was a completly fail. it burns soooooo slow, i think its for many reasons what im fixing (thanks to your videos) but i really dont know how to search a good charcoal here. We have a lot of pines, but i think this will not works as i want, no?
can anyone help me with the wood?
Thanks for all!
gg for your chanel!
Hello! Glad they are of help! Pine works very well its just makes finished powder that is a bit weaker than other woods. Give it a try! Don't be afraid to try other woods you have available in your area. Thanks!
Ok definitely will have to get a kit soon but since my gunshop is 7 minutes away could I cut out the delivery 🤔 funny how the internet is. Small world
Sure! Next week sometime should work. Please just send me an email at hoffmanreproductions@yahoo.com for the particulars. Thanks bunch!
Swiss black powder is made of alder charcoal.
Yes, I have heard that as well.
still sell kits, ship to Canada?
Yes Sir, we have them listed on the website at www.hoffmanreproductions.com No, only USA sales on them I'm afraid.
The bark additive that you speak of how do you spell that thanks in advance
I think I found it
Quebracho
That is it!
I’d be interested in trying your kit. What is your web site?
www.hoffmanreproductions.com We only have a couple left for sale at this point out of a batch of 20 we had ready.
How do you suppose magnolia charcoal would work?
Not sure. You would have to give it a try.
Ok, I’ll let ya know.
I was very interested in trying out your kit before purchasing large quantities of the individual ingredients. You're stating 1/2 and 1 pound kits, however, on your website you only offer 1/2 pound. I would like to get 1 pound. Do I contact you directly?
Hi Dave, only offering 1/2 pounds kits as 1 pounders did not work out. The website has them for sale as of right now. Thanks!
Where di you find silver maple for sale?
We are blessed as it grows in droves around here. Not sure of a place to buy it.
Better than lead is brass.Lead make powder slowly
@@cristianpopescu78 Yep, that is what I use too now a days.
How many hours you have to work for 1kg of powder?
2 or 3 days. Not much work however, as the ball mill does most of it.
Quebracho Blanco, Quebracho Colorado, or does it matter?
The stuff I use comes from South America.
Sorry for the confusion. There are two types of Quebracho tree - white (Quebracho Blanco), and red (Quebracho Colorado). Does matter which is used?
Love your content, by the way. Keep up the good work and keep your powder dry.
The type I have is red. Not sure about the other kind. Thanks for watching William!
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks much.
I am interested in your 1 lb kit. Looking forward to it. Can you direct me to your website url?
www.hoffmanreproductions.com Thanks!
Could you write out your black powder recipe and post it ?
Please see Part 1 & 2 for all the info Sir.
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks, I would like to order your black powder kit , if you have gone ahead with the project ( is there a recipe in the kit ? ).
Yes Sir, we have a few kits in stock right now on the website at www.hoffmanreproductions.com comes with directions. Thank you!
Dude be honest are you Adam D from killswitch engage in disguise
Or sunshine from remember the Titans ?
Nope, just am who I am. Thanks for watching.
@@HoffmanReproductions your awesome dude and very good teacher but you do favor sunshine alot you promise you wasnt sunshine in remember the Titans
@@kalebloshbough1551 Thanks! Good movie but no, not me lol.
@@HoffmanReproductions lol keep up the awesome educational stuff if i woulda had teacher like you i would still be in school
Any other place to buy the bark? Etsy supports a Marxist movement that I don’t.
Not sure Jim. You would have to do a search and see what comes up.
A lot less talking & marketing, and getting to the actual making of usable black powder would be helpful! With this in mind, I will go to another site that DOES make shootable black powder.
With all do respect Sir, we have 4 other videos that go into great detail about how to make powder. They are all posted for public use. Check out our channels videos and you'll find them. Thanks!
Ben do you still sell your 1/2 pound and one pound kit powder kits sir. If so I'm interested in a one pound kit and a half pound kit if possible. I'm sill experimenting with different wood for charcoal even though I like the pet cedar and balsa wood charcoal that I made for my muzzleloaders I would like to try your kits out. I'm in york pa