How to Corn Black Powder

Рет қаралды 16,123

Hoffman Reproductions

Жыл бұрын

On this episode, I show you how to corn your powder for commercial results.

Пікірлер: 85

@franciswashack89 Жыл бұрын

I started making my own powder because of your videos, but I have avoided corning my powder because of the extra effort involved. But then you put up this video which shows how easily it can be done with minimal expense. Then you include some historical reference which compels me to try corning my next batch. I also really like the music you use in your videos. Please keep the videos coming.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you so very much and glad they are helpful!

@ardogon 9 ай бұрын

Is it safe to compress it?

@HoffmanReproductions 6 ай бұрын

Yes it is.

@markleasure3243 6 ай бұрын

@@HoffmanReproductions I was always told not to use anything metallic when handling BP would PVC pipe and and a wooden board or flat piece of brass with the wooden dowel compression work ok?

@HoffmanReproductions 6 ай бұрын

It has a measure of wetness at this stage so no chance of lighting up. However, never be afraid to try a different method than shown here. Many ways to "skin that old cat" as they say.

@Everythingblackpowder Жыл бұрын

Good to see you again, Ben.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jake! Looking forward to seeing what your low temp charcoal does!

@2gpowell Жыл бұрын

Hi Ben, good to see ya . Thanks for showing the process.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Hello! Thank you!

@jamesvatter5729 Жыл бұрын

Good stuff, Ben. Happy New Year to you and your's!

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you! You as well!

@rebeccaback3287 Жыл бұрын

Verry glad to see you again Ben!Learned something from this video! Keep the good videos coming! Best wishes to you and yours! Happy New Year. David Back from Menifee county Kentucky.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@nicholasproietto2500 Жыл бұрын

I'm getting into making my own powder. I watched another video where the guy uses an H frame shop press. I have a harbor freight 12 ton H frame press and use that to make the hockey pucks. Works great.

@davefellhoelter1343 Жыл бұрын

I never noticed the Humidity relation pucked, or pre pucked, as I am in a low humidity location. But I sure have missed your channel! Very Happy to see you Back On the Tube. FYI I just cracked My Head "Wide OPEN" still with the bandage! doing Almost this Very same thing in a Good Vise, looked Alost the Same. Cast iron Driver nut blew up on the screw shaft and my cheater about same size almost took me Out right twixed my eyes! while taking out a stubborn stoner's breach plug, but I Won the War after I lost this battle. My DIY never really changes in the weather? But I do gauge my KNO3 ratios while looking at my fouling a few hours after a batch speed test in an SS test vessel. I test pre pucking and post corning. Yours is still the Speed I am Chasing After! Never have used proper store bought BP. I covet the materials from Hoffman for pan Use Only! Thanks AGAIN! Keep Your Smoke Poles SMOKING! Keep Chasing the DRAGON!

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Yikes! Glad you are okay! Thanks so much Dave & glad the stuff is working!

@davefellhoelter1343 Жыл бұрын

@@lurch789 YES!

@chopsddy3 Жыл бұрын

Loving the music.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@fatherwolfs1 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Love the Poor Man aspect 🙏🐺

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Country Boy Can Survive lol.

@snappers_antique_firearms Жыл бұрын

A simple way to increase your compression on your pucks while making them. make your mold smaller in circumference. so say it was one inch round and you made it half a inch you'll double your PSI with the same effort

@equipyourselflifeskills5802 Жыл бұрын

I 100% agree. I press my disks at 8k psi using a 40mm star pump (press). Am I getting 8k psi on the product? No! If it’s total surface area was 1” I would (psi-Pounds Per Square Inch). A two inch die as he uses way exceeds the 1” boundary by multiples. If he used as you say, he would drastically improve compression density. Hence the quality of the product.

@equipyourselflifeskills5802 Жыл бұрын

The amount of dampening is a critical part of corning. Why? The three chemicals used to make your black powder, two are not soluble in water or alcohol. One is, so, when you have moisture dripping or oozing out, you are losing the dissolved KnO3. Your composition has become diluted. Use a mist sprayer to dampen your compression, and only to the point that your air float composition is no longer air float. No more then that. Why? The KnO3 forms crystals as it dries. You want the fastest drying time you can “safely” achieve. You want those crystals to grow only to a bare minimum. Using water or alcohol or 50/50 (water/alcohol) as minimal as possible allows the bonding and more rapid drying of your BP disks. Never place them in the sun to dry! If you do, one day you will understand why this should never be done. If you adhere to this simple requirement of moisture control, you will notice a marked improvement with your finished product. I’m not trolling, just trying to help. Stay safe!

@mharm734 Жыл бұрын

I love your videos but there is one thing I've heard about that would be nice to see. I've heard with hillbilly corning you can just use your cars jack with your car for the pucks when corning. Would be fun to see how that method works out.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yes, I have heard of that myself but never tried it. I'm sure if a proper jig could be made it would work well.

@user-yd4mr8jr6o 6 ай бұрын

They also call that pucking because it’s like a hockey puck works great 👍🏻

@thomasboylan3751 Жыл бұрын

I've seen black powder pellets in stores. Have you tried making them. I have been very curious as to how they would burn. I don't own a black powder rifle or handgun, I have a 32 & 1/2 in cannon with an inch and three quarter bore. I was thinking about making a .50 caliber size pellet and see what that does in my cannon. Then work my way up from there.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Have not tried it.

@jusplars6750 Ай бұрын

Do the pucks become very hard after drying?

@rosskstar Жыл бұрын

cool - by the ending i see you'll be happy to know the morning star has been delivered and the hidden manna is being gathered

@billyhenard1473 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting, I have a couple of questions if you dont mind First ,do you know how this was done bach in the late 1700's and early 1800"s? Next,If the powder was uncorned how would it compare to Pyrodex or Pyrodex P as far as Velocity and Fouling when shot from A Remington 1858 revolver?

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Yes Sir, powder was made "lose" style prior to the 1800's. Have never tried un corning the powder, so could not say. Please see our other vids on powder making to view the lose method of making. Fowling is the same with corned or uncord but corned powder is way more powerful.

@billyhenard1473 Жыл бұрын

@@HoffmanReproductions Thanks,I will check those out.

@karlnash7105 8 ай бұрын

Yum, corn 😊

@JohnB-dr8sk Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this. Theoretical question-- If you were only able to say, stand on that wooden dowel with your foot for compression, because you did not have access to a bench vise like you have, would it at least improve on loose powder? Or is this an all or nothing deal where unless you exert great force through a vise or hydraulic press, it will do nothing to improve loose powder? I guess I'm interested to know this because some of us don't have a full workshop or if things get rough and we have to make do with less tools to make black powder for hunting in our flintlocks. Would love to see a test of this to see if there is any improvement in FPS between loose powder and "Poor Man's corned powder" by using just your foot/body weight instead of a vise. Thanks!

@matteoorlandi856 Жыл бұрын

i can answer that. you need at least 2-3 tons of pressure to do it right. but probably more. this sayd, a car jack can do the trick, if you find a way to put it between the powder and something that won't break beacuse of the extreme pressure...

@joearledge1 Жыл бұрын

@@matteoorlandi856 I've heard of people using the car jack and a car, and put the powder puck between them, and slowly jack the car up over 15 to 20 min till tires are off the ground, let it set for a bit, then slowly lower the car and you should be ready for the next puck

@matteoorlandi856 Жыл бұрын

@@joearledge1 that could do.

@JohnB-dr8sk Жыл бұрын

@@matteoorlandi856 Thanks for the reply. This is good to know, but it still doesn't answer my question- would some compression (like body weight) still improve the powder compared to no compression/corning at all?

@michaelpriest6242 Жыл бұрын

Pounds per square inch of pressure is the key factor. I am guessing that Mr. H uses a 2" diameter pipe because it's handy and makes a handy-sized-"puck." Using a smaller pipe as a die will allow one to press the powder tighter, but probably not tightly enough without using some sort of mechanical press. A 2" die with a 200 pound man will yield just shy of 64 pounds per square inch. (Area of the circle = 3.1416 × 1 × 1 200 lbs ÷ 3.1416= 63.66) The same 200 pound man can get about 255 pounds per square inch by using a die made of a 1" pipe. (200 ÷ 3.1416 × 1/2 × 1/2 = 254.65) That's considerably more than 64, but still probably not enough for adequate corning, and are the pucks of sufficient size...

@atvheads Жыл бұрын

Never use to mutch alcohol. :) Becauce it will drain out some of the Potassium nitrate.

@shanecluett5643 Жыл бұрын

i am currently finding the material needed to corn powder as you suggest,could i wet my loose powder again with some alcohol ,and corn it ,or would i need to do a fresh batch,also i am thinking for the graing of the pucks ,useing a small hand powered coffee grinder,as i could set the grain size ,what are your thoughts on the coffee grinder idea

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

I have heard of guys doing just that in both regards but have never tried it. Be carful if you grind the finished powder!

@equipyourselflifeskills5802 Жыл бұрын

If you have a mill, rock tumbler or a method of milling your powder back down to an air float state, you can put it through the Corning process.

@Steven-cr8ju 4 ай бұрын

You are cutting pucks with a knife on a tray (ferrous?) Is that a spark risk or not a best practice?

@HoffmanReproductions 4 ай бұрын

The pucks are wet. No risk of lighting up till dry.

@carlostrujillo4750 2 ай бұрын

Could you please explain about the ingredients of corn and charcoal and how to mix, what kind, what type??

@HoffmanReproductions 2 ай бұрын

Check out our other videos on powder making. We go into detail about how to do it with great detail. Thanks!

@carlostrujillo4750 2 ай бұрын

Thank you

@texascelt8363 Жыл бұрын

Your not worried about using all that steel that could spark? Wouldn't it be better to use aluminum or brass just curious.

@joearledge1 Жыл бұрын

Wet powder don't go boom... and even if it was a dry compression chance of spark is very very low for this process. It's possible to use brass or aluminum, but you have to be careful because of how soft they are, you may damage them in normal used. Also much harder to make one at home when you get picky about materials. You can buy them, but they're a little pricey. Technically, you could use an all wood jig too, but the chance of breaking it during use would be high too.

@texascelt8363 Жыл бұрын

@@joearledge1 does it really make a big difference corning it into pucks I just run mine through the ball mill for about 12 hours then mix in 2% dextrin wet it water alcohol mixture run it through aluminum window screen let it dry then sift it to get 2f and 3f and pretty much seems as fast as pyrodex and definitely cleaner then pyrodex just wondering I I would get a noticable difference making it into pucks?

@joearledge1 Жыл бұрын

@@texascelt8363 if you're happy with your current method then there's nothing wrong with that! But corning gets you in the ballpark of premium powders like Swiss. Hoffman and Everything Black Powder, and Paper Cartridges all have videos addressing the differences. Also in the time when BP was the only powder, they would not have changed manufacturing from grated to corned if the difference wasn't significant. 1,000 ways to skin that cat, so whatever works for you and whatever you're happy with is what you should go with, most of these guys are trying to push the edge of making the best of the best BP at home, which I'm a fan of, but it's not necessary for everyone or every application. 🙂

@texascelt8363 Жыл бұрын

@@joearledge1 ok I guess I will give it a try then 👍

@usnchief1339 6 ай бұрын

Why am I going backwards in time in my firearms interest and collecting?

@wijpke 9 ай бұрын

Does your corned powder leave dust if you put it on white paper?Then it's not good quality...

@HoffmanReproductions 9 ай бұрын

Mine out preforms all commercial brands but swiss, only in regards to slightly burning more dirty. As far as leaving dust, not really, just a bit of black fouling which matches commercial stuff. Thanks!

@wijpke 7 ай бұрын

@@HoffmanReproductions that is excellent am impressed 👍

@thomasboylan3751 Жыл бұрын

I just uploaded some shorts if you want to watch the powder I made from your recipe

@jimv.661 Жыл бұрын

I was thinking about using a hydraulic car jack and putting the form under the frame of my suburban and lifting it off the ground.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

I have heard of people using a car jack with a frame of some type.

@jimv.661 Жыл бұрын

@@HoffmanReproductions Yes, I've seen them. If I was to do a bunch that would be the way to do it. Thought my suburban is just sitting there, and it certainly would supply a lot of weight to compress. And, if I jacked it up the same height each time I would think the compression would be somewhat consistent.

@chiefbiglew 6 ай бұрын

i was just thinking the same thing lol

@joearledge1 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely the corniest video I've seen all day 😎

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

LOL!

@pacman10182 Жыл бұрын

what about graphiting?

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Yes that can be done to. It is done to ward off moisture. I have not had any trouble with that however, since I started corning my powder.

@pacman10182 Жыл бұрын

@@HoffmanReproductions it's dont to prevent static build up, which would be very bad

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

@@pacman10182 I have heard that as well but never witnessed anyone test it. Have never had an issue with static causing dentation with my home made stuff. Certainly would not hurt to add a small amount to your finished powder. I know guys that do and don't.

@markbuckley3661 3 ай бұрын

Like moist mud

@jameswhite465 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the poor man's press. It works.

@HoffmanReproductions 10 ай бұрын

Great! Thank you!

@matteoorlandi856 Жыл бұрын

since my country is not so "forbearing" as yours about homework, i cannot say this video was usefull or not. but sure, it's an interesting topic of discussion ;)

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Real11BangBang Жыл бұрын

First

@davefellhoelter1343 Жыл бұрын

U got Number Won!! I was slow on the draw. So Glad Ben has a Race! Love his stuff!

@stephen6640 6 ай бұрын

You said Rubbing Alcohol and then you say " I'll keep adding water" at 4:09. Which is it?

@HoffmanReproductions 6 ай бұрын

Either works. Probably just misspoke.

@johnlewis3445 Жыл бұрын

It is my opinion that you are only halfway to true corning.

@HoffmanReproductions Жыл бұрын

Yes Sir, you would need a hydraulic press to achieve true corned powder. However, this method does make a huge difference in velocities compared lose or grained powder.