Sorry to hear about Bill going under he was a good man. Bill Knight, aka The Mad Monk or Dutch Bill, the most knowledgeable person in the US about black powder.
@@HoffmanReproductions When we lose the seekers are sharers of knowledge a light goes out in an already darkened world and the hope of humanity is condemned to an endless and empty void. Bill was too good and pure for this world and that's why he got called up to glory. Much more important than remembering him, we should strive to follow his example, Love for the things worthy of love, and honor for things worthy of honor. When pain and fear enter our life let us remember that peace can come just as swiftly. Let our scars be they physical or emotional be worn as awards for fighting evil when and wherever we encounter it.
I used to email Mr. Knight and talk about black powder. He told me the Swiss mill wheels were on a counter instead of being milled for a certain time. The reason for yhis is because over time the electric motor which powers the mill will slow down and mill less. I really miss getting to talk to Bill.
The 75% powder is military grade or common powder. Musket powders, fuse and booster powder. AND there are different milling times for the various powders be they Musket, rifle or sporting with the musket powder being the shortest mill time. I suspect that “cannon” was milled even less. They did not want a fast powder for this. The wheel mill and the press cake were the BIG changes in the 18th c. Prior to pressing and breaking it was granulated by pressing the damp powder through a screen by hand. AND the shine is from a portion of the saltpeter migrating to the surface and the water is evaporated. I have never seen graphite on Swiss thus it tends to clumpSince the graphite ADDs to the fouling since while its carbon its not combustable at the burn temp of BP and the British military, at least, would NOT accept a powder coated with graphite. Oh and blasting powder was/is typically made with SODIUM NITRATE since ballistic uniformity is irrelevant. the sodium version will change its characteristics since it will absorb moisture from the air. Potassium Nitrate, the pure stuff, will but its FAR less uptake and it will then release it back to the air when the humidity drops. Charcoal color? There was at least one premium American powder that was “brown” due to the charcoal they used. And while at Moosic GOI/Goex made the powder with contaminated saltpeter AND ground water contaminated with sulfur oxidizing bacteria with would turn 10-20% of the powder to dust IN THE CAN. ML shooters did not notice this but the BPCR guys using drop tubes sure did. And I used to throw away a portion of ever can. When loading ammo. The fines would settle at the bottom of the can but would slow fall in the drop tube. So it would show on top of the charge in the case. So if you live in an area with coal mines BOIL THE WATER or use distilled. There is lot more to this from the very early 70s on but this is too long now.
Was a genus/species name given for buckthorn alder? I’ve not heard our non-native introduced from Europe buckthorn called by that name. Probably the same plant but maybe not
This is exactly why it is critical that we publish all of this stuff. Thank you very much Mr. Knight and RIP. I can't wait to see more experiments with this information. It looks like the next long term step is doing aging experiments while we work with the other information in the document. I'd be very interested to read it in it's entirety. Keep up the good work Sir
What do you mean by Corning I live in Florida and what kind of wood should I be using from my area that would be my next question anyway I appreciate your info and I follow you and I am making my own black powder I've been using grapevines there around plentiful in my area
Corning is the method used by commercial powder companies to create powder that is more dense and thus, more powerful. Pressed is another term of it. We have a vid on it you can find. Thanks!
@@michaeldemontigny3017 I can't get the my PC to take a picture off my phone for a photo of a willow and it is just out the back door still trying though.
@@michaeldemontigny3017 Ok Willow has a very skinny leaf in the summer ours in Texas is only 3/4 wide and bright green in the winter 3/8 kind of 1/4 at least not so green a yellowing's brown they do fall off if it gets cold enough but I have been all over Southern FL and seen them on every waterway Willows have to have water they love a septic tank some people puts them in yards not to many there gorgeous trees in the summer and the skin on limbs is well skin not bark yet it is smooth like and Beavers eat the bark skin off maybe look for a Biver trees I hope this helps
Watching all I can on this subject and you seem to be one I understand best,Thank I made my first batch of BP last week it can only get better from here and hello from Indiana!!
I found that all very interesting. The 78/12/10 ratio matches the ideal ratio I calculated: the exact chemical reaction, actually many different reactions happening simultaneously, is only summarised by most of the formulas found in books or online. The most complex formula I've come across which tried to encompass most of the major reactions is 74KNO3 + 96C + 30S + 16H2O = 35N2 + 56CO2 + 14CO + 3CH3 + 2H2S + 4H2 + 19K2CO3 + 7K2SO4 + 8K2S2O3 + 2K2S + 2KSCN + (NH4)2CO3 + C + S. Ignoring the 16 molecules of water, plugging in the molecular weights gives the 78% 12% 10% ratio . I'm no chemist, but the fact that 16 molecules of water are involved in the reaction implies to me that it is possible for powder to be too dry!
in all of that, i really wonder why this charcoal or this one is better. One day i heard dense wood, another day i heard light wood, an other again it is some plants, there i can see mine coal is bad, etc...
@@HoffmanReproductions This is quite attainable for home gamers.. in fact even a convection oven/air fryer style unit with some insulation added, a pc fan on the electronics, and the thermostat modified/replaced should be able to handle it AND dispense the heat evenly enough. Folks have been doing this for annealing ovens for a while. One would simply need to fab up a box that vents through a tube that leaves the unit so that the smoke and steam leave the unit. You'd also need to decrease heat somewhat slowly to prevent the inrush of cool air.. but PID controllers are getting cheap
Ideally charcoal would be all carbon and then the stoichiometric ratios to produce complete (clean) combustion in BP would be 75 KNO3, 10S, and 15 C, however charcoal is not pure carbon, and the impurities are not likely to be consistent from wood to wood, region to region, or from season to season. The ratios that Swiss is using may only be relevant to the wood they use, where they get it, when they get it, and on the conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) of aging it. But just knowing what variables Swiss is focused on is a big leg up.
I can see where the alder would make a better grade of charcoal. A friend of mine went out west years ago on a hunting trip. While there they stayed in a cabin provided by the outfitter. When they got ready to leave he asked the outfitter, shouldn't we clean out the wood stove for the next party coming in. They had been burning the stove 24/7 for a week. The outfitter told him there's really no need but you can if you like. He cleaned the ashes out and he asked what kind of wood was that? There was barely a cup full of ashes. The outfitter replied it's alder.
"I Never" tied the graphite to ESD or Static potential? I'm still chasing after your BP Speeds, maybe there? with glass tumblers and ceramic media, next I'm charing chicken's waste and more day old bread.
Could you do a video or maybe make a list of tools for beginners to have to be able to make black powder? I enjoy your videos and just subscribed to you channel. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated thank you.
Very interesting stuff. Went out and immediately cut some buckthorn and have it split and debarked. We still had snow 3 weeks ago so I'm hoping it's early spring enough. Will have to try to slow roast it the best I can this summer.
I wonder if you mill 24 hours. How do you deal with the powder clumping in the edges, and if you don't shake and hit every 15 minutes, it is just wasting the time rolling. I baked the potasium nitrate and made sure it was absolutely dry powder, but after a couple of hours, it starts clumping.
@Hoffman Reproductions maybe my mill is really doing a faster job and completely ready for 12h. Clumping starts after 3-4 hours. I made it out of brass and not round, but hexagon and using metal balls.
One more question: Have you tried charcoal from plum? Could you try to compare with alder buckthorn. I still can't find an alder buckthorn to compare but my results with plum are amazing, and I just wonder if even better than buckthorn.
Great info, Ben, thank you! Quick question - what would you recommend as a close second in lieu of buckthorn alder? It doesn't grow down here in the south...
If ya want to copy swiss, alder is the way to go as it gives max power and is 1 key to clean burning. However, just about any wood works to make charcoal for black powder. silver maple, cedar, grapevine and many others work good too.
Thank you for sharing that information, and guiding us. I stated before in one of your videos, that just for fun, I milled the powder for 48 hrs, shaking the milling barrel up every few hours as I could to sort of break the clumps back up and let them mill again. Unscientifically, the powder seemed to be more energetic.
Thank you for bringing this info to us. I cant wait to see how this works. Also i know you sell charcoal. But do you sell buckthorn alder still in wood form.
Sorry to hear about Bill going under he was a good man. Bill Knight, aka The Mad Monk or Dutch Bill, the most knowledgeable person in the US about black powder.
Agree. He was a man at the top of his game for sure.
@@HoffmanReproductions When we lose the seekers are sharers of knowledge a light goes out in an already darkened world and the hope of humanity is condemned to an endless and empty void. Bill was too good and pure for this world and that's why he got called up to glory. Much more important than remembering him, we should strive to follow his example, Love for the things worthy of love, and honor for things worthy of honor. When pain and fear enter our life let us remember that peace can come just as swiftly. Let our scars be they physical or emotional be worn as awards for fighting evil when and wherever we encounter it.
Glad he left the documents to benefit other black powder enthusiasts. The BP community is the best.
Me too!
Amateur radio operators rank pretty well, too. 😊
Bill was a real gentleman. I had the pleasure of corresponding with him over the years. The man was a treasure trove of information
Very true.
I used to email Mr. Knight and talk about black powder. He told me the Swiss mill wheels were on a counter instead of being milled for a certain time. The reason for yhis is because over time the electric motor which powers the mill will slow down and mill less. I really miss getting to talk to Bill.
Are you going to post links to the information?
I will on the next vid. Thanks!
I am glad that you got that valuable information and delighted that you shared it. Have fun and safety in your experimentation.
Thank you!
I haven't even tried to make my own powder yet and I am excited about the results of your tests!! Looking forward to your next video!
Thanks! Should be fun!
carful? You can get Hooked Like a BIG OL' bass with your pie hole Wide open and eyes rolled back! got me in 1976 still can't spit the hook.
Try making your own BP charcoal using pressed cotton wool. You should get excellent results.
The 75% powder is military grade or common powder. Musket powders, fuse and booster powder. AND there are different milling times for the various powders be they Musket, rifle or sporting with the musket powder being the shortest mill time. I suspect that “cannon” was milled even less. They did not want a fast powder for this. The wheel mill and the press cake were the BIG changes in the 18th c. Prior to pressing and breaking it was granulated by pressing the damp powder through a screen by hand. AND the shine is from a portion of the saltpeter migrating to the surface and the water is evaporated. I have never seen graphite on Swiss thus it tends to clumpSince the graphite ADDs to the fouling since while its carbon its not combustable at the burn temp of BP and the British military, at least, would NOT accept a powder coated with graphite. Oh and blasting powder was/is typically made with SODIUM NITRATE since ballistic uniformity is irrelevant. the sodium version will change its characteristics since it will absorb moisture from the air. Potassium Nitrate, the pure stuff, will but its FAR less uptake and it will then release it back to the air when the humidity drops. Charcoal color? There was at least one premium American powder that was “brown” due to the charcoal they used. And while at Moosic GOI/Goex made the powder with contaminated saltpeter AND ground water contaminated with sulfur oxidizing bacteria with would turn 10-20% of the powder to dust IN THE CAN. ML shooters did not notice this but the BPCR guys using drop tubes sure did. And I used to throw away a portion of ever can. When loading ammo. The fines would settle at the bottom of the can but would slow fall in the drop tube. So it would show on top of the charge in the case. So if you live in an area with coal mines BOIL THE WATER or use distilled. There is lot more to this from the very early 70s on but this is too long now.
Thanks for sharing!
Knew to black powder after 55 yrs ty so much for tutoring me and ty mr knight RIP sir
Knew to black powder after 55 yrs ty so much for tutoring me and ty mr knight RIP sir
Was a genus/species name given for buckthorn alder? I’ve not heard our non-native introduced from Europe buckthorn called by that name. Probably the same plant but maybe not
Not sure on that one.
This is exactly why it is critical that we publish all of this stuff. Thank you very much Mr. Knight and RIP. I can't wait to see more experiments with this information. It looks like the next long term step is doing aging experiments while we work with the other information in the document. I'd be very interested to read it in it's entirety. Keep up the good work Sir
Thank you! Will put the link in the next vid.
link to this report?
dave2.freeshell.org/ammo/madmonk/madmonk/Swiss_Booklet.pdf
Thanks for the effort and for sharing the info. Great job. 👍
Thank you!
What do you mean by Corning I live in Florida and what kind of wood should I be using from my area that would be my next question anyway I appreciate your info and I follow you and I am making my own black powder I've been using grapevines there around plentiful in my area
You should be able to find willows easy I don't know if we have that buck horn wood on the coast but we have lots of willows
@@Nobodys-bd3bg honestly I wouldn't know what Willow send a picture I live in Florida
Corning is the method used by commercial powder companies to create powder that is more dense and thus, more powerful. Pressed is another term of it. We have a vid on it you can find. Thanks!
@@michaeldemontigny3017 I can't get the my PC to take a picture off my phone for a photo of a willow and it is just out the back door still trying though.
@@michaeldemontigny3017 Ok Willow has a very skinny leaf in the summer ours in Texas is only 3/4 wide and bright green in the winter 3/8 kind of 1/4 at least not so green a yellowing's brown they do fall off if it gets cold enough but I have been all over Southern FL and seen them on every waterway Willows have to have water they love a septic tank some people puts them in yards not to many there gorgeous trees in the summer and the skin on limbs is well skin not bark yet it is smooth like and Beavers eat the bark skin off maybe look for a Biver trees I hope this helps
Red Alder from pet bedding is just as good!
When you stated that Swiss cooked their Alder at 608Deg. was that Fahrenheit or Celsius?
Fahrenheit.
I was wondering if you could use a gas grill with the lid closed and indirect heat as a temperature controlled way to char your wood.
Not sure. Never tried that one.
Watching all I can on this subject and you seem to be one I understand best,Thank I made my first batch of BP last week it can only get better from here and hello from Indiana!!
Great! Glad it was helpful!
78:12:10 ... interesting!
Great research
appreciate all your efforts and research brother!.....God bless...woods
Much appreciated!
I found that all very interesting. The 78/12/10 ratio matches the ideal ratio I calculated: the exact chemical reaction, actually many different reactions happening simultaneously, is only summarised by most of the formulas found in books or online. The most complex formula I've come across which tried to encompass most of the major reactions is 74KNO3 + 96C + 30S + 16H2O = 35N2 + 56CO2 + 14CO + 3CH3 + 2H2S + 4H2 + 19K2CO3 + 7K2SO4 + 8K2S2O3 + 2K2S + 2KSCN + (NH4)2CO3 + C + S. Ignoring the 16 molecules of water, plugging in the molecular weights gives the 78% 12% 10% ratio . I'm no chemist, but the fact that 16 molecules of water are involved in the reaction implies to me that it is possible for powder to be too dry!
in all of that, i really wonder why this charcoal or this one is better.
One day i heard dense wood, another day i heard light wood, an other again it is some plants, there i can see mine coal is bad, etc...
i see carbon monoxyd in your formula, a incomplete combustion product. Not good.
Do you have a reference temperature for the oven that Swiss uses? Might be pretty easy in an annealing oven.
I already watched DIY oven vids for casehardening or tempering and could use for THIS! I'm ON IT!
608 degrees.
@@HoffmanReproductions This is quite attainable for home gamers.. in fact even a convection oven/air fryer style unit with some insulation added, a pc fan on the electronics, and the thermostat modified/replaced should be able to handle it AND dispense the heat evenly enough. Folks have been doing this for annealing ovens for a while. One would simply need to fab up a box that vents through a tube that leaves the unit so that the smoke and steam leave the unit. You'd also need to decrease heat somewhat slowly to prevent the inrush of cool air.. but PID controllers are getting cheap
@@HoffmanReproductions I'm ON IT!! may go a "Bit Hotter?"
@@davefellhoelter1343 Great to hear! Swiss states that is the highest temp they use 608 degrees.
Thanks for that... Not worth it for my cannon, but for the flintlock for sure!
Thank you
no link in description, on this document ? not fair.
dave2.freeshell.org/ammo/madmonk/madmonk/Swiss_Booklet.pdf There ya go.
Ideally charcoal would be all carbon and then the stoichiometric ratios to produce complete (clean) combustion in BP would be 75 KNO3, 10S, and 15 C, however charcoal is not pure carbon, and the impurities are not likely to be consistent from wood to wood, region to region, or from season to season. The ratios that Swiss is using may only be relevant to the wood they use, where they get it, when they get it, and on the conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) of aging it. But just knowing what variables Swiss is focused on is a big leg up.
I can see where the alder would make a better grade of charcoal. A friend of mine went out west years ago on a hunting trip. While there they stayed in a cabin provided by the outfitter. When they got ready to leave he asked the outfitter, shouldn't we clean out the wood stove for the next party coming in. They had been burning the stove 24/7 for a week. The outfitter told him there's really no need but you can if you like. He cleaned the ashes out and he asked what kind of wood was that? There was barely a cup full of ashes. The outfitter replied it's alder.
I notice that you mention the sugar content of the Alder. Wouldn't just adding a small amount of sugar to your mix accomplish the same thing?
Lots of good info thanks
Glad it was helpful!
For me, the BIG question is : WHAT can replace sulfur for the same result ?
Knowing that sulfur allow faster burning and lower temperature.
Why replace it? Sulfur is cheap and easily available, you can buy it anywhere that sells gardening supplies.
"I Never" tied the graphite to ESD or Static potential? I'm still chasing after your BP Speeds, maybe there? with glass tumblers and ceramic media, next I'm charing chicken's waste and more day old bread.
Fun stuff!
Could you do a video or maybe make a list of tools for beginners to have to be able to make black powder? I enjoy your videos and just subscribed to you channel. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated thank you.
Thanks for watching and welcome to the channel! Check out our video called DIY Powder where we go over much of the tools and making methods.
Todo información vale para mejorar 👍👍
Very interesting stuff. Went out and immediately cut some buckthorn and have it split and debarked. We still had snow 3 weeks ago so I'm hoping it's early spring enough. Will have to try to slow roast it the best I can this summer.
Thanks! It works great!
Bill was very knowledgeable about black power! Hate to hear of his passing! I have learned more about black power from this video! David Back.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this "new"/old information! Do you continue to use the small amount of quebracho bark powder?
Your welcome! No Sir, not if corning. Not necessary if doing that.
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing 👍
From what I have read Buckthorn and Black Alder are native to Europe. Can you find them in the US?
The type we have here is very close to those.
I miss my old mentor. Bill was the best.
Would you be willing to sell Buckthorn Alder? Cannot find here in Oklahoma.
Planning too soon!
You should get a federal license and go into BP production business.
Thanks Jerry! Maybe some day!
Excellent! Thanks for sharing👍
Welcome! Thank you!
Very very interesting??? Thanks again for this!
Thank you!
I wonder if you mill 24 hours. How do you deal with the powder clumping in the edges, and if you don't shake and hit every 15 minutes, it is just wasting the time rolling. I baked the potasium nitrate and made sure it was absolutely dry powder, but after a couple of hours, it starts clumping.
PN & Char will do that if there is an moisture before milling. Mine clumps too but not until after 24 hours of milling.
@Hoffman Reproductions maybe my mill is really doing a faster job and completely ready for 12h. Clumping starts after 3-4 hours. I made it out of brass and not round, but hexagon and using metal balls.
One more question: Have you tried charcoal from plum? Could you try to compare with alder buckthorn. I still can't find an alder buckthorn to compare but my results with plum are amazing, and I just wonder if even better than buckthorn.
@@JasonBeck26 Planning to sell some alder on our website. Have never tried plum before but sounds like a good one!
@Hoffman Reproductions I will be happy to buy if I was in the US, but I am in Bulgaria (Europe) and don't think it will be worth it, but we can check.
Great info, Ben, thank you! Quick question - what would you recommend as a close second in lieu of buckthorn alder? It doesn't grow down here in the south...
South? I bet ya got grapevine everywhere.
If ya want to copy swiss, alder is the way to go as it gives max power and is 1 key to clean burning. However, just about any wood works to make charcoal for black powder. silver maple, cedar, grapevine and many others work good too.
Also, planning to sell some on our website soon.
@@HoffmanReproductions how bout juniper its all over my area of texas
Thank you for this
Thank you!
Great information
Thanks!
Very interesting!
Thank you!
Thanks, Ben.
Welcome!
Awesome information!! We will keep the traditions alive and well used!!
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing that information, and guiding us.
I stated before in one of your videos, that just for fun, I milled the powder for 48 hrs, shaking the milling barrel up every few hours as I could to sort of break the clumps back up and let them mill again. Unscientifically, the powder seemed to be more energetic.
Thank you! Always fun to try new things when making.
Thank you for bringing this info to us. I cant wait to see how this works. Also i know you sell charcoal. But do you sell buckthorn alder still in wood form.
Planning to on the alder. Thank you!
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks i have been looking for it to buy. I wish i could find it local to me.
@@snappers_antique_firearms And I have willow if you know