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Black Powder - Books, Charcoal, Substitute Powders
Charcoal is the fuel used in the making of black powder, it's portion of the mix is 15% by weight. To make a good black powder you have to use a good charcoal. There are differences in wood types and charring temperatures to produce good charcoal.
Black Powder Ingredient / Charcoal / Wood Selection.
Below you will see a list of wood types, these are listed numerically as to the quality of black powder they will produce when charred properly.
(1) Willow
(2) Birch
(3) Fir
(4) Oak
(5) Beech
(6) Ash
Note: All the above wood types listed, when charred properly and then used as a fuel for black powder will produce an excellent quality black powder.
Black Powder Ingredient / Charcoal / Charring Time.
The charring time has little influence on the carbon concentration of charcoal.
Black Powder Ingredient / Charcoal / Charring Temperature.
The charring temperature is very important to the carbon concentration of charcoal. For black powder purposes wood should not be charred at more than 800°F. Charred at higher temperatures it looses flammability. Charcoals like those used for barbecuing are not suitable for making black powder.
Most of the charcoals that are used for the making of black powder are charred at 750 °F. Brown charcoal, looks brownish in color is charred between 500°F and 700°F, it's very flammable and excellent for making black powder.
Black Powder Ingredient / Charcoal / Making Charcoal.
Charcoal is made by charring wood in the absence of air. To make a high quality charcoal you need to do the following;
Wood Preparation
(1) use only well dried young branches,
(2) approximately 2 inches in diameter,
(3) remove all of the bark.
Wood Container
Just about any pot with a lid can be used.
Heat Source
There are more scientific ways of doing this but this will work quite well. Build a moderate fire outside.
Charring Process
Fill your pot with pieces of wood, close the pot with the lid and put it on your fire. Soon afterward you will see smoke and wood gases escaping from under the lid which catch fire and burn with a yellow flame. Keep your fire going and turn your pot occasionally so the wood pieces are equally heated. As soon as the flame of the wood gases escaping your pot quit burning, take the pot from the fire and let it cool without opening the lid. Once cool enough to handle easily, you should now have charcoal.
