Swiss VS Balsa Black Powder

[@chuckaddison5134]

Balsa is, or used to be, used to sandwich between fiberglass layers for boat decks, and sometimes hulls. If you get someone at a boat company to tell you where they source it from, you might find it less expensive.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

I get 99.9 mill cert Lead from a local supplier I found when a co near built X Ray rooms Lined in Lead. Now I have Pure Lead and Cheap! after I called a roofing supplier next door looking for lead flashing I got on the scent and followed it all the way to my new supplier! NOW? I found wooden air freight pallet and dunnage Local Strangely Light Weight! I suspect is Bolsa or close cousin?

[@brianr555]

Jake the scientist! Great work you all have done, from the different types of wood, corning, ingredient ratios to ball mill media etc etc! Thank you for your time and efforts and for bringing us along! Your videos are great, very much appreciated and fun to watch!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@mattwhite9046]

Years back, somebody had suggested to me to try and make an old style balsa surfboard out of fig wood. He said it was almost as light as balsa but, at the time, people were ripping out fig orchards to replant almonds, he could get fig for free. I never went through the trouble but it has me wondering if fig could be a substitute for balsa in your antique propellant. It grows very fast and you can likely make a test batch from just the dried annual prunings.

[@hessex1899]

I am a BPCR shooter and tend to look more for powders that clean "easier" than actually produce less visible fouling in the bore. With the general theory that being less likely to produce regions of "crusty" or "difficult to remove" fouling is preferable to less fouling overall. This channel, however, has me questioning this wisdom. I frequently have considered making my own "anachronistic firearm propellant", paying close attention to the content of resins and other volatiles in the charcoal (which I believe is the primary thing that makes fouling easier to manage). I have even considered, but have not tried, adding violin rosin into my recipe for bullet lube. You are the first person that I have found that is actually doing any documentation of carbon sources for BP and the associated changes in the physical characteristics of the combustion products/velocity/etc. I think that, given this, that you are now my favorite KZbinr. :)

[@kurtgepner9329]

I saw that someone asked about other organics. For instance, I have read that activated charcoal made from cow bone is particularly good at bonding with heavy metals and radioactive isotopes. Now that you are getting dialed in, it might be fun to experiment with non-traditional charcoal sources. Either way, your videos are very appreciated.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@donakahorse]

what an interesting question, and if it does work, and work well, what kind of heat has to be generated for how long to carbonize the bones? Sounds like an interesting rabbit hole

[@luisgarza2036]

Great info as always, in theory balsa wood contains more % of cellulose and less % impurity by weight (more elemental carbon after cooking) than harder woods, this could be the explanation why the residue is a little less or at least softer than other woods, (if that is true at least in part); using 100% cotton (it contains at least 95% cellulose, thats what the books state) using charcloth from old t-shirts and/or old denim could make good clean burning black powder.

[@djjaysky9071]

That would be really interesting to see

[@missingthe80s58]

An assay will show clearly.. Generally depending on temperature of the charring temperature you're looking at about 30% volatile hydrocarbons, 65-69% fixed carbon content and somewhere between 1-5% mineral content. The higher the char temp, the lower the volatile hydrocarbons, the higher the fixed carbon and ash content. The hydrocarbons offset the less desirable material. You can look up the hydrocarbons in the wood, look at constituent elements and get a fairly good idea the byproduct of the hydrocarbons. You can use chemistry and math to estimate the beneficial gas and vapor byproduct weights. I do this. I'm going to make a video about it soon.

[@steveandrews8301]

Is Cottonwood a relatively light weight wood? It doesn’t grow here in my area of Florida. But what does grow here is Moringa, a very light weight, soft wood, which I plan on trying, per a viewer comment on this channel from India that said it is a good, alternative wood for BP. I think they primarily use the “gunpowder tree” wood over there, for their BP charcoal needs. Thanks.

[@keithmoore5306]

most people forget all front stuffers are different some you swab at 3 shots some will be good at 7 shots! you jake i was talking to a guy the other day and he said he uses aluminum rods or different sizes in the mill and he gets good results! the balsa got me thinking wonder how mullen stalks would do for charcoal? they work pretty good for char for a flint and steel set they might make descent powder charcoal.

[@teresamoore15]

The stem of palm fronds, just below the leaves and before the flair where it attaches to the tree (remove the two rows of hooks from the stem) Palm stem looks alot like balsa w/ a very thin, hard dense skin. Each stem is about 3 ft x 3" x 1.5".

[@michaelmaclean4751]

I love these kinds of videos. As someone who has only shot inline muzzleloaders with substitute powders, I have been researching and want to get into flintlocks and percussion muzzleloaders with real BP. I think I am going to purchase some Swiss BP once I get a "real" muzzleloader, but the casting of bullets and the making of black powder intrigues me to try that as well when I get the basics down. The in depth videos and testing videos of yours have been very interesting.

[@a.r.m.4you182]

Well said on pushing back against those who just want to be cruel armchair criticizers. I've always enjoyed your approach to figuring this out and have learned quite a bit myself from your channel. Keep up the great work and thanks for taking the time to share it all. 👍

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@richkidd1263]

Very interesting. I have always used Goex in my flint. It’s really all that’s available in my area. I too shoot 3 & swab, because it’s how I’ve always done it, it’s neither right nor wrong. Love the videos, it’s getting me excited about shooting black powder again!

[@palavrasdoventania5371]

try the embaúba. The elephant manufacturer in Brazil used it. And as light as balsa.

[@bubbadoolittle2812]

It might be expensive but it would be interesting to run some Swiss through a spectrometer and see what is really in it (hope I said that right!). Swiss is fast and clean, so what if they were adding trace amounts nitrocellulose to their powder. Not enough to affect pressures much but just enough to clean up some of the black powder residue and add a touch of velocity. Just speculation but interesting.

[@kreelaban3420]

The softer the wood, the better the results. I would like to see the pressure comparison. I bet the balsa would be low enough that the Powder charge could be increased an greatly outperform Swiss.

[@MrTacklebury]

Tree of Heaven pith is also close for density also. If you find a stand of it. They will get up to 8" in diameter and when you cut them down, if the wind hasn't knocked them over, they often have a 4" plus core in the middle.

[@samellowery]

I can't remember what book it was but it stated balsa was one of the best for this with I think grape vine or something like that being a close second.

[@calvingreene90]

Dried out Cottonwood logs are fairly light.

[@djjaysky9071]

I'm tempted to try that because it's invasive species where I live and it's all over and some people let you cut down the cottonwood tree for free if you just get rid of it for them

[@Don-od9il]

It generally goes the lighter the wood the better

[@stevenmike1878]

hmm i wonder if its the density and softness of the wood. im curious on what just plain soft cotton would be like if it got turned into charcoal. a bag of cotton balls or a cotton coil is super cheap.

[@noclassmac1972]

Pawlonia wood could be an option instead of Balsa wood. We use it as a substitute for balsa in model aeroplanes also a lot of the kitsets from china use pawlonia due to it being so much cheaper. I will be trying both for some black powder once all the other ingredients arrive. Regards Robert (New Zealand)

[@malcolmbains7908]

Definitely does not suck ! Best info on antique muzzloading propellant I have ever found ,keep doing what you are doing Sir !

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@hillwooky]

You should try Paulownia wood charcoal. It is the classic wood used in Chinese fireworks. It is super lightweight and makes super fine charcoal powder. This tree is considered an invasive pest tree and around here it can be found growing along the side of the highway.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I’ve heard it’s great but I haven’t found any yet

[@kentherapy7022]

This channel has the most useful gunpowder information from all over KZbin.

[@arthurvarady7258]

I wonder if it’s because the Balsa has had everything stripped from it to cause it to be feather light before it is processed into charcoal for this purpose. because the charcoal is just a catalyst to carry the sulfur and nitrate for these substances to have something to bind to. Just my two cents , but what the hell do I know because Jake I am following your steps to the wonderful world of Super Duper Bad Ass Antique Muzzle Loading Propellent because you have been testing everything except Linoleum to make the stuff and my hats off to you my brother. Keep us in the loop…..

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@matthewhickok4421]

I see that others have commented on Cottonwood. I live in Wyoming and the state tree is the cottonwood species Populus Balsamifera (AKA "Great Plains Poplar"). I do not have a Cottonwood tree in my yard but I see them around everywhere. They tend to shed "Branches" with winds and weather. I hear that dried stripped branches work great. I shall have to visit some city parks and collect branches after a wind or snow storm. Sometimes the Tree Service Folks will be selling cottonwood as firewood. If branches work better than logs, I shall see what I can get.

[@johnboyz4615]

Thank you for this. I have balsa and was wondering how well it would do. Great channel by the way

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Had to do a little reading on _Ochroma pyramidale,_ or the common balsa wood tree. Interesting stuff. Commonly grows in more subtropical areas.

[@mattfleming86]

Man, I love where this is going. I now regret throwing a load of palowina(princess tree or something like that. invasive) on the brush pile. It was quite light.

[@WarFrog935]

Try making Charcoal with Bamboo, it's basically an unlimited wood source since it grows inches by the hour, I'd like to see what kind of Black Powder it could make.

[@Thecathunter]

Great video. Nice to see quality in this day and time and quality cost most of the time. Keep work on it you will get your FPS up with Swiss. Good to see a young fellow such as yourself interested in old traditional ways.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@noapologizes2018]

I've been itching to try balsa ever sense I saw your last video on how clean it was. But you are right. it is expensive for what you get. And knowing how light balsa is, I was certain you would need a lot. Organics burn at different rates, so an organic that burns quick and thoroughly leaving no residue, might be something to look at. And, the charcoal doesn't have to come from a tree, does it. Good video by the way.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@djjaysky9071]

I have no idea if this will actually work but bamboo might be worth a try

[@qhack]

Would love to see a side by side comparison of various types of wood.

[@Matzah1982]

Fascinating experiment! I’ve never used Swiss myself. I was always a Goex man. Nowadays most places sell Schutzen. I used to think Schutzen was Swiss but the way I know the difference is Swiss has the red cap and Schutzen has the blue cap. I don’t shoot black powder anymore and have never used the percussion cylinder that my Uberti 1858 new model army revolver came with because it’s so hard to find within 300 miles of where I live as are Remington percussion caps. Winchester super x .45 Colt 250 grain cowboy loads are easier to find within 300 miles of where I live so I just shoot those from my piece using my Howell cylinder

[@banjowoodsman7675]

Jake thanks for sharing your knowledge on antique propellant. Man I like your reasoning on your experimentation on this. Like your no BS style too. ATB

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@MemorialRifleRange]

Thank You!!!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@toddknecht2106]

Finally made my first amount of willow charcoal yesterday! It looks great! (I think)😊

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Glad to hear it

[@Slowly_Going_Mad]

That's a very interesting find. I would have expected a dirtier burn. I've noticed my faster powders tend to leave more soot and tar where my slower ones leave sulfur heavy ash. I still have a lot more to try though as I think I've only tried a handful of different chars for powder making.

[@robertakerson7186]

It must be satisfying to come up with good black powder that you make on your own, not to mention that you will not be dependent on a big company for your needs! Also, the balsa wood charcoal should make your load of gear lighter to tote! (bad joke)

[@taofledermaus]

If you had to go buy balsa to make a batch equal to the volume of a bottle of Swiss, would it end up costing more for the balsa, factoring in the cost of all the ingredients?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

No but since I can make a pound of powder for about $4 because the wood I use is free. Having to buy balsa would up the cost to about $8-10 a pound.

[@mkultraification]

@@Everythingblackpowder That's still better than $30/lb.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

@mkultraification definitely

[@geargnasher9822]

@@mkultraification And better powder than you can buy for $30/lb.

[@trevorfitzgerald4996]

Less then $140 for 2.2 lbs or 1 kilogram. For $1 Aud is 70 US cents

[@kerryperkins2989]

I wish I could send you some of our native species of softwoods from here in Oz to see how they'd perform. There are 3 I'd love to see the results of being Silky Oak, Blue Quondong and Bunya Pine. I reckon customs wouldn't let em through though.

[@miketell8182]

Jake I have been using balsa to make charcoal because on my little farm in Costa Rica it is very attainable. It is thought of as a junk tree here. .what I have found is it depends on what part of the tree you get the balsa from . I don’t have a black powder gun but I do have a 20 inch black powder cannon that I have made .it shoots 1/2 in lead balls made from car batteries ( you have to use what you can get) .I have found that if you use the wood from the trunk or base of the tree it is about 60 feet faster than the larger branches. My friend visited me last week and brought a chronograph and now I can really see the difference. I have found the same thing about volume of wood to charcoal,but only with the trunk of the tree .I have been useing a propane tank that I cut the top off and made it to hold the wood . I converted a old barbecue for my heat to slow cook .I have found if you put the tank on its side you will get a more even burn verses a paint can standing on end. I rotate 1/2 turn ever hour for 4 hours and it is done.I then process it using an old sugar cane mill to grind it up before I mix it with and potassium nitrate in my homage ball mill .I am currently making four different kinds of balsa charcoal. Now that I have a chronograph I can get better results,even though I am using a cannon. I forgot to mention that I was told that the balsa imported to the states is soaked and pressed. The trees I use are only cut . If you look close the model airplane balsa is very closed on the ends from being compressed.the balsa I use is like a lot of little straws that store air in there tubes maybe that is a factor in burn rate. I am bring 50 pounds of my home made balsa charcoal home with me in August if you like I can mail you several kinds to Cary on your science . Anyway keep up the great work

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you. That would be great

[@miketell8182]

@@Everythingblackpowder ok I will ring you plenty of charcoal from different parts of the tree. I am 73 years young so I have a lot of time to make charcoal . I will keep in touch and let you know when I will be going back to colorado

[@Everythingblackpowder]

@@miketell8182 thank you!

[@miketell8182]

@@Everythingblackpowder I was reading some comments from some viewers and one said you could buy a 12 by 12 in by 6 inch box and it was about 7 lbs . This is the what I call the junk part of the tree I don’t use it any more the part I use is pure white and a box of that would maybe weigh one and a half pounds.. THE BALSA tree has only sap in the bark once cut and semi dried the bark just falls off it is about 3/8 of a inch thick.

[@rjoetting7594]

You might want to try basswood, I believe it is cheaper and a little denser than balsa. And it's a northeastern American wood making it more available. It's supposed to have a lot of similar characteristics of balsa wood. Good luck, I I really enjoyed the content in your videos, and as soon as I get set up, I want to try making black powder myself. oops!! (I meant to say muzzleloader propellant) 😅😂😊

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@shihanjulio]

You said in another video that grapevine is also excellent for making charcoal. Can you use, or have you tried using scuppernong vine?? Grapevine is very rare here in SE Alabama, but many people have scuppernong vives in their yards. Love your videos!!!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I’m afraid not. If it’s close to grapevine it will probably work swell.

[@jackmrozinski337]

Thank you .

[@jqpublic9777]

That is AWESOME. Thanks for sharing your experiments. Can't wait to make some of my own. 👍

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@ChrisSmith-vc7xs]

Damn. Your channel is seriously one of those gems sitting out there in YT Land. I'm wondering if Moringa Oleifera (Common: Moringa) wood would be any good for your charcoal making? Moringa dries to a dry, stringy wood, you can rip it and shred it, breaks poorly due to the fibers, and not good as a carving wood. The whole damn plant has edible uses, and depending on growth conditions the plant can be conditioned through pollarding or coppicing to make it grow back shoots semi-yearly and yearly. I own two plants and they produce up to 15 ft branches yearly that I cut down for basic fencing, chop and drop fertilizer, or burn pit material.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you. I have not tried it

[@steveandrews8301]

I live in N. Florida, have Moringa growing in my back yard that I planted from seed off EBay. I’m drying out some branches from it, now. It dies back in the winter but comes back again in the spring. You’re right, it is VERY fast growing and super light weight when dry- probably very comparable to balsa. Plus, when green, it is VERY easy to debark with just your thumbnail and fingers - no other tools required. It’s a very white, light, soft wood underneath, and the bark is vey thin. Someone from India on here said it’s a good alternative wood for BP firearm charcoal, there.

[@ChrisSmith-vc7xs]

@@steveandrews8301 Sounds like we're talking about the same tree, spot on. You can also debark the smallest of pieces by just whacking it with a hammer stone or hammer. I used the bark from my tree this year to make into primitive cordage and then into a basket. I didn't think to harvest all the chunks of wood then, so a lost material this time around. I do plan on saving some next year and charring it up for fire making to see how embers catch to the wood.

[@steveandrews8301]

@@ChrisSmith-vc7xs Thanks for the tip of whacking, smashing the Moringa pieces to debark it! Great idea. I’ll try it!

[@steveandrews8301]

@ I have large diameter wild grape vine showing on my property and everywhere in the woods around here. Have charred some of it up, too in my tin in my wood stove. It’s really hard to debark, so I basically just gave up on trying to do that. Something I learned, though, is that the stripped off bark is VERY strong, almost like nylon rope strong! Even a thin sliver, example 18” x 1/4” can’t be broken by hand. I can only imagine how strong it would be if braided together for cordage purposes. Probably as strong as twisted, braided hemp fibers / rope, maybe Eve stronger. I wonder if your smashing technique would work for debarking these grape vines. I’m gonna try it. I’ll let you know. (Supposedly grape vine makes an excellent BP charcoal, and may work even better with the bark removed, which is a royal pain, though).

[@wadekirby8575]

Bass wood is another light wood sold at craft stores (for carving I think) that might be a good substitute for balsa. (I don't know how it compares price and availability wise.)

[@Michael-rg7mx]

It grows wild in the south. I was thinking about sending in a box full. I have to get ambitious first and find one to cut up. They are fairly rare. Lots of pine forest plantations.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

I noticed that too. It takes a lot of balsa charcoal. Now we need to find a balsa wood supplier / importer and see if we can get it cheap. Wow you used up the balsa i sent with the sea service pistol.🤔 wonder if balsa wood trees grow in our climate. plant a bunch of trees for our black powder addiction

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I hear that they grow in south America

[@brucetepke8150]

Paulonia (aka Empress Tree) is somewhat balsa like and something of a nuisance tree. I'd suggest giving that a try.

[@willallen7757]

Man thats impressive. I'd say you're a Master/Expert/Craftsman Antique Firearms propellant powder maker. Definitely an expert on the subject.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you. I’m just a hobbyist

[@willallen7757]

@@Everythingblackpowder yup, you're like the hobbyists back in the day that write a book and everyone owns a copy.

[@djjaysky9071]

For what it looks like in the video the balsa powder produced less smoke then the Swiss. This might be a long shot but something that might be cheaper than balsa and may work would be bamboo. And have you tried any of the super hardwoods like North African spotted hardwood or or redwood could it be interesting to see the difference between one of those in like the balsa powder

[@populustremula7496]

I lived in western Colorado for 48 years and the first ten years I heated with wood. We cut down the trees ourselves and it was usually Engelman spruce as there was no hardwood available in the woods and this was the best we could get. No one I knew, and there were lots of us hippies cutting our own firewood back in the day, would waste any time cutting down aspen because the stuff would burn so fast that it was practically useless in a woodburning stove, especially if you were trying to get an all-night burn while sleeping. We would joke around about aspen and call it balsa wood. I just watched this video and the thought occurred to me that you might want to try aspen if you haven't already. The future looks bright for aspen as climate change has allowed the Japanese beetle to devastate conifer forests and aspen is probably the only tree that will continue forward. And THAT brings up the massive amount of beetle killed, standing wood all over Colorado and the intermountain west that you ought to test as well. It might be time to consider a production enterprise if either or both of these woods pan out because supply is enormous. I, for one, would be interested in investing. Anyway, for what it’s worth. Keep up the interesting videos!

[@hawknives]

Balsa - softest PAULOWNIA (Paulownia spp.) 260 LBF (1,160 N) The other Balsa. Paulownia can be very light and soft, and is really the only other wood that at times can even approach Balsa’s lightness. Ironically, both are hardwoods. BALSAM POPLAR (Populus balsamifera) 300 LBF (1,330 N)Related to Cottonwood and Aspen, Balsam Poplar has a unique scent when green, though it dries to one of the lightest and softest of all woods. EUROPEAN SILVER FIR (Abies alba) 320 LBF (1,420 N) Not only the softest of the Fir species (Abies genus), European Silver Fir is also among the softest of the softwoods. The remaining woods on this list are all hardwoods.

[@michaelg4931]

I started 8 Paulownia from seed this past winter though I killed 5 of them due to over-watering so I currently have 1 solid sapling and 2 in recovery. Hopefully in a year or so I'll have some wood to send to Jake to try out.

[@GenXDad1965]

Very nice! Looks pretty dang good to me... good job!!!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@RTOHIO]

Great videos and tips.Many thanks. Can You show your brass grinding media. Brass chunks, balls, etc,

[@kathyarmstrong649]

What about woods that have dry rotted into "punk wood"? I have used punk black willow, charred, for easy flint and steel ember making.

[@steveandrews8301]

Love charred punk wood for it’s ease of fire starting applications. It’s feathery light weight and catches an ember and burns fast. Sounds like it would be ideal for fast black powder purposes. I’m gonna try it.

[@mattbrown9484]

I agree - more shots = cleaner. The engineer in me says visual pads means nothing. What if residual of one of them was completely white in color?

[@btbrilz]

Could you test out cottonwood? We have a ton of it in Colorado and It grows really fast. I don’t have the means and knowledge to test it out to the extent you’re able to.

[@grizsgarage]

When I was shooting competitively, I swabbed every shot. For shot to shot consistency. Once down and once up. Then load, this was a timed event and any thing you could do to be consistent just made you better. Also have you tried cottonwood? While it's technically a deciduous hardwood, it's lighter that cedar.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Not yet. It’s on my list of things to do

[@djjaysky9071]

As for swabbing your barrel I know guys who shoot rolling blocks and Sharp's rifle that swab their barrel after every shot. They'll shoot and then they push a patch through the barrel

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

Try hemp stalks in place of balsa. I'll bet you'll get similar results. Also sumac or catalpa wood might be good candidates. Both are relatively soft, deciduous woods that are widespread and native to the US.

[@The1saturn]

SWISS sure did look cleaner test again with clean dry patches

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Why don’t you test it 😉

[@A.R.American1]

Damn your got the home made antique muzzle loading propellant down good. I really need to learn that skill

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@tiberiusmagnificuscaeser4929]

I wonder if using paper products (e.g. processed cellulose) would result in even cleaner powder possibly for a cheaper price? They would have to be free from dyes or other introduced impurities but it might work.

[@Gunsmith-4570]

Once again great stuff, I would like to know more about the report that balsa is in wind generator propellers and if so where can you salvage some? This is one of the only channels that I read all the comments and replies descriptions and watch the whole video after hitting the like button😂 thanks for all the work you do on this.

[@Rustygulley-r3r]

Thanks for doing this research and sharing it with "the world." Balsa has a Janka hardness rating of 100. For comparison eastern white pine has a rating of 380 and red alder is at 590, black cottonwood is at 350. There's got to be something more than hardness involved, but the comparison is interesting. Also, is craft balsa treated with chemicals of any sort? Thanks again.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@noahmercy-mann4323]

That is awesome! Not a target or animal that will notice 30 or 40 FPS.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Agreed

[@AS40143]

Did You ever try to make "brown powder"? The only difference with the usual black powder is that You have to burn your charcoal at 200 degrees only Celsius but for longer. It said that this type of powder burns hotter and cleaner.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Not yet

[@AS40143]

@@Everythingblackpowder Do You have plans to try it?

[@Sonny_Eclipse]

I think you need to test out Bass wood

[@goiterlanternbase]

4:16 Must be the famous butterfly effect. You change a little and get a pretty patch😏

[@greasydot]

Softest wood native to my area is hackberry and is very light in regards to juniper/cedar. Its almost like salt willow. Have you tried hackberry?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

No. In fact that’s the first time I’ve ever heard of it, but I don’t get out much.

[@greasydot]

@@Everythingblackpowder it's trash trees in Texas, they are in every fence where the coons and birds drop the seeds

[@greasydot]

@@Everythingblackpowder according to the internet they are classified as a hard wood. Live oak, Spanish oak and pecan is hard wood to me

[@thomasbutcher1925]

Great video as usual. How about how you make or slow cook for charcoal.

[@lightweight1974]

I used to build balsa airplanes when i was a kid...too many years ago to count. We'd use colored tissue paper for the skin and shrink it with alcohol after gluing it on. Then we'd dope the skin, usually with laquer. Was your balsa salvage from broken models or drop off from the build process? Not sure if the heat from the charcoal process would fully consume the glue and lacquer residue...just a thought. You got very good results. Looking forward to the next batch.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Unused scrap. No glue or contaminants

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

As an old modeler I was buying all my balsa in bulk. Today when you go buy those windmills say thanks for the increase in price and lack of quality in balsa today! I bought my balsa in blocks of 2x4x4 or bigger and cut it to size. it can still be ordered and you can still get scraps.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Excellent, thank you

[@tylerlockridge3956]

Hey. First off I really like your videos, they are very informative and great entertainment. I’d like to own a flintlock myself as soon as I’m able to find one. Making powder is the way id like to go. I live in the Arizona desert and mesquite is very abundant. Would that work in a propellant?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Anything will work it’s just a matter of how well. I haven’t tried mesquite though

[@tylerlockridge3956]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I’ll give it a try. 🤙

[@StevenMMan]

So you addressed the light weight/softness of the wood. In an effort to not sound dumb on my part i going to ask possibly a crazy question just to see if I'm understanding correctly. Due density it takes two and half the volume to equal the weight? So when pressing into pucks it brings into a close weight to volume ratio? Now on a chance im making an equally dumb assumption, it could be the less dense characteristics of the wood could be leading to a more complete burn. As in open fire, open grained redpine burns three times faster than a log of the same size of oak I maybe be completely off on the thought.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Yes but since I double press my powder it is equal to weight grain and volume grains, just like the commercial brands. As for it making it more of a complete burn. Your guess is as good as mine.

[@russellthompson3486]

I’ve had good results using grapevine, dogwood tree& roots and fair results with white cedar

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Grapevine definitely works well

[@glenngray3119]

Slightly different subject; the only alder buckthorne I have been able to find is bark which is traditionally medicinal. Will that work for charcoal or should it be solid wood? One other question, have you used white ash and if you have, how does it compare to other woods? I have been using white oak because that is what I have but it leaves a lot of soot and ash. Also want to express my appreciation for your efforts on behalf of muzzleloaders everywhere.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you. I always strip the bark off my alder buckthorn before I char it. It’s much cleaner without the bark. I haven’t tried ash so I can’t say.

[@philroe2363]

I’d watch these videos just to hear the “go make your own damn video” comment at the end. LMAO!

[@titahibayflier3160]

Not sure if it's been suggested but Cryptomeria japonica or japanese cedar has a lower density than balsa.

[@garrettfromsmokeinthewoods]

Well, I guess I need to try some cottonwood

[@kirkmorrison6131]

Very good information, I never would have thought balsa was that good.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Same here

[@kirkmorrison6131]

It's funny what works and does not

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

you could try Paulonia - very fast growing, light and not expensive

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Do you know where I can get some?

[@Vikingwerk]

Basswood might be an option, it’s kind of balsa’s big cousin.

[@ghilleman7806]

potentially try aquarium activated carbon? might be even cleaner than balsa

[@lynnie0526]

Hello can you tell me where you get your brass media for tumbling the powder ? Great videos

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Amazon

[@TheStraycat74]

I bought glossy alder (alder buckthorn) seeds for way too much. Never sprouted. No one near me has it, or silver maple, and there are only about 20 weaping Willow in all of Wisconsin... so still looking for readily available charcoal options.

[@luuk-out-below9804]

Grapevine or red cedar are good.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Willow works well too

[@h-minus2212]

I may be a bit late to the party and I apologize if this question has been asked already - Can you use any type of wood for the charcoal component? I live in Wisconsin and own 4 acres of red and white oak, hard cherry, and maple trees (plus some elm, birch, and box elder). Can common trees like these be used? Thank you for putting these videos together; they represent great and informative content.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you. Yes you can use any type of wood. Hardwood’s generally make weaker powder but still work just fine.

[@h-minus2212]

@@Everythingblackpowder Thank you for the rapid response. One of the things I respect about your channel is how you respond to comment. It may be something as brief as a "thank you" but it is a lot more interaction than some channels provide. You are doing the black powder community a great service. I really appreciate it.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

@@h-minus2212 thank you. Glad to hear it

[@sterlingideas7370]

Have you tried aspen? That was on my agenda but never got around to it.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Not yet

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Closest thing I can think of is cork. Easy to find but unsure of the price.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Good idea

[@andrewkelso3532]

I was thinking maybe you should try the oak would you see how clean Earth would I notice it's cleaner in the wood stoves why not try it on black powder

[@kentowens2179]

Have you tried catalpa wood? It's a lightweight wood.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Not yet

[@larryclark9380]

Rittan? Light wood used for canes.

[@keithbozin1228]

So been thinking on this. Wood and thus charcoal have minerals and other stuff that does not burn Has anyone made black powder from pure cotton? I suspect this would be very clean Gun cotton leave no residue when it burns

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Good point

[@thearrowheadwoodsman3811]

I'll bet basswood or diamond willow would be great. Great video Cheers !!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you

[@ryanjames170]

have you ever tried wood in the aspen or popular family? i have been considering it because where we live is almost a weed of a tree

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Not yet

[@kennethschaidle5995]

After your last video I scanned the internet and found a company; BALSA WOOD INC. they offer a 12x12x6" box of balsa scraps for $10.95. I ordered 3 boxes, total cost just under $50.00. It contained about 7.5lb of balsa. Check them out if that is any cheaper than you have found. I haven't cooked any of it yet, too darn hot.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thank you !

[@johnparrish9215]

I wonder if the extremely high surface area has something to do with it. Now I'm kind of wondering if I can make charcoal out of Pop Corn...lol

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Only one way to find out

[@Spubaru4U]

That’s got me thinking too…

[@duacot6633]

Did I miss the testing of straw (good animal bedding) or grape vines?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I haven’t tried straw

[@308dad8]

That’s cool. Yeah that balsa is really expensive. Did you adjust that balsa charcoal and make it by volume or no?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Weight. As usual