Wet BP Can it be used?
- Thread starter docmel
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
True.
When you grind the dried powder, use non sparking materials.
When you grind the dried powder, use non sparking materials.
A few thoughts if it gets wet you can dry it and use it some say no change in power others say it's weaker' As far as regrinding , extreme caution should be taken NO metal or sparking tools should be used. I will leave any grinding advise to members who have done it. Black powder is an unforgiving beast
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
- Messages
- 7,498
- Reaction score
- 21,032
- Location
- On the Border in Idaho looking at BC
if it gets just wet enough to clump in your bottle/can, dry it out, drop a half dozen lead round balls in and shake it like a James Bond Martini!
if you actually regrind it you can change the burning properties by disrupting the factory glazes. probably not enough change to discern but the possibility is there.
people fear black powder needlessly. it needs heat to ignite .
if you actually regrind it you can change the burning properties by disrupting the factory glazes. probably not enough change to discern but the possibility is there.
people fear black powder needlessly. it needs heat to ignite .
Thomas.bill92
40 Cal
Just be aware that if it gets really wet and stays that way for awhile, potassium nitrate will readily dissolve in water and the resulting separation may cause your powder to be less efficient and/or burn incompletely causing more fouling. If it dries and looks like it has a white powdery coating, that's the potassium nitrate separating out.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
- Messages
- 7,498
- Reaction score
- 21,032
- Location
- On the Border in Idaho looking at BC
in which case one can recombine via tumbling with lead ball media. the components do not disappear.
So...don't dry it on the woodstove, is that what I'm hearing?
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
- Messages
- 7,498
- Reaction score
- 21,032
- Location
- On the Border in Idaho looking at BC
i have!
‘Hars wet powder and no fire to dry it!’
Old Mountain man saying, I’m thinking for this to have become a saying it must have happened more then once
Old Mountain man saying, I’m thinking for this to have become a saying it must have happened more then once
After the failure of Fawkes to blow up James VI and I and his parliament, Catesby and other conspirators determined to continue with their treason. They stole gunpowder which got wet in the torrential rain. There was no sunshine to allow gentle drying so they spread it out in front of a fire. Not a good idea! A spark ignited the powder injuring some of the malefactors who were successfully engaged by the authorities shortly afterwards.
Thomas.bill92
40 Cal
True, but at that point you're milling and if you are trying to resurrect commercial powder without the know how or equipment to turn millings into useable powder... I can just feel the admins looking at me
DO NOT TRY THIS! But old timers who had been on a hunt in wet conditions would often heat a skillet and set it off the fire and pour a thin layer of powder from the horn or flask into the skillet and the retained heat would dry it out.
Lewis and Clark mentioned doing it in their journals.
Incorrect re: heat. It needs a spark or flame to ignite. Indirect heat does not set it off. I have seen full cans of powder with half of the labels burned off in a house fire that did not ignite. Putting the lead balls in a can and shaking it up is a good idea.
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
The Lewis and Clark Journals mention drying out wet powder on at least one occasion by spreading it out on canvas sheets or animal hides in the sun.
Has been done many times over the centuries.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
- Messages
- 7,498
- Reaction score
- 21,032
- Location
- On the Border in Idaho looking at BC
certainly. flame =heat. spark = flame=heat.
Black Powder will ignite at 490 to 530 degrees kelvin.
The composition of true black powder is still the same. The problem is; commercial powder has a graphite coating on it to prevent the hydroscopic properties of nitrates. It also helps the grains remain their relative size and shape while tumbling. Once you grind it up; the powder that was once coated with graphite, now is mixed with it causing it to be dumbed down. On top of that, I’d recommend it being re-corned so it can burn at a uniform rate.
Johnny Tremain
Silversmith in training
When making holy black, it heats up as part of the process.
I would wonder after getting wet, as it dries, will it still heat up.
I would wonder after getting wet, as it dries, will it still heat up.
Archer 756
40 Cal.
Please let us know your health insurance if one heats BP as noted it will go BOOM 
