I've been watching Terry's experiments with making homemade percussion caps, and my understanding is that he's using a nitrocellulose lacquer to bind the percussive material to the inside of his caps and to make them resistant to humidity. It doesn't appear to inhibit the combustion of the percussive materials in a significant way, and may even make the explosion last longer. I would expect coating black powder with nitrocellulose lacquer to slow the combustion since it is flammable when cured, but not explosive like the black powder. It was an interesting experiment, and that's what experiments are for, to determine whether one's expectations are confirmed or contradicted.
Thank you for your reply. Think about if the burn rate is slower, would it not act like Pyrodex or 777 and build a little more pressure in the bbl??? and perhaps more FPS???
Very interesting info Michael and I Thank You! I don’t have a Walker for the same reason, that lever dropping down every shot would drive me bananas! I’ve been experimenting with caps as well and after I place the powder from matches, I tamp it down and place a disk from a roll caps on top. A 5/32 leather punch works perfectly to cut out the small charge. After I lay this on top I take a tiny artist brush and apply a very diluted drop of shellac, very diluted. So far they’ve worked well but I haven’t used them at the range yet. I get a good strong pop but setting off a charge I’ll test asap. Now I’ll make some using the lacquer and let you know how that goes. And boy O boy, that wind there? Perhaps you might consider hang gliding and shooting at your targets from the air! Now that would go viral! But really, better weigh yourself down or buy a kite, eh? Thanks Again and Many Blessings! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Cellulose is a polymer, this means the molecule has a large number of locations where the nitrate ion can attach. Thus nitrocellulose can vary greatly in how much it is nitrated, it can be expressed as a percent ie what percent of the available locations for attachment have been taken. Low, medium and highly nitrated nitrocellulose can differ greatly in solubility and are used entirely differently, as plastic, as adhesive, as wound dressing, as hair spray, as lacquer, and as smokeless powder. It is an interesting and useful substance.
I've thought about getting a Dragoon loading lever and locking lug and fitting it to a Walker. It wouldn't be historically correct, but they are just replicas.
Just a thought, If the Walkers were not prone to mal- functioning I can imagine someone figuring out a way to overcome this issue in such a manner. But, the revolver did evolve very quickly in that historical time frame. Historically the percussion cap ignition system was very short live.
I've heard somewhere some guy used a neodimium magnet to keep that loading lever in place in the dragoon and/or walker revolver, a source for nitrocellulose is just good quality ping pong balls, but they add a white powder to that nitrocellulose based plastic, another source was collodion. Have you heard abouth the explosive billiard balls when they were triyng to find a substitute for ivory?
At 5:15pm where I'm at, it was 86° and 69% humidity. Wiki says "It (KNO3) is not very hygroscopic, absorbing about 0.03% water in 80% relative humidity over 50 days.". So .03% = .0003. Basically nothing, for 75 grams that would be 0.0225 grams or about 1/3 grain. I'm may dehydrate some just to make sure that is the case.
Thank you, 3 times over. I did not want to be the one to state (KNO3) is hydroscopic, but at a much slower rate than most think about. That is why to dissolve it quickly you boil it in water not just place it in a pan of water. Even though I am not overly concerned about the moisture I tend to go 75.3 grams.
I've watched a few times and am very green at this, and this is my first time replying, but maybe when the lacquer dries, it is no longer combustable, just flammable. I am assuming the faster the flash, the better. Is that why you try different kinds of charcoal? And as a mountain man, did they use something similar to spray on the charcoal for their caps?
Thank you for commenting, and welcome. It is true Lacquer does burn when dry, almost at a predictable rate. I was hoping for a hotter faster burn since BP is an explosive. In a flint lock, yes, faster is better. Some will argue or state what goes down the bbl goes in the pan. I have used 3f in my flint lock pan w/o any problems. I prefer to use 4f and a 1 gr charging valve so as to not overcharge the pan thus having a delay in the ignition. Knowing wood has a specific gravity value when properly seasoned and Swiss ages their Alder 3 years before charcoaling it, shows charcoal can and will affect burn rates. That is why I started showing what 15 grams looks like in clear glass jars and comparing them. Since Swiss is what every one values as a premium BP why change what they do?? The best most of us can do is find a good alternative in our charcoals that would match the specific gravity of European Alder. Density also plays a huge part in the process. Scroll back on this channel and you will see all of my non professional data.
I love the concentration of testing woods for powder.
Doc
I've been watching Terry's experiments with making homemade percussion caps, and my understanding is that he's using a nitrocellulose lacquer to bind the percussive material to the inside of his caps and to make them resistant to humidity. It doesn't appear to inhibit the combustion of the percussive materials in a significant way, and may even make the explosion last longer. I would expect coating black powder with nitrocellulose lacquer to slow the combustion since it is flammable when cured, but not explosive like the black powder. It was an interesting experiment, and that's what experiments are for, to determine whether one's expectations are confirmed or contradicted.
Thank you for your reply. Think about if the burn rate is slower, would it not act like Pyrodex or 777 and build a little more pressure in the bbl??? and perhaps more FPS???
Very interesting info Michael and I Thank You! I don’t have a Walker for the same reason, that lever dropping down every shot would drive me bananas! I’ve been experimenting with caps as well and after I place the powder from matches, I tamp it down and place a disk from a roll caps on top. A 5/32 leather punch works perfectly to cut out the small charge. After I lay this on top I take a tiny artist brush and apply a very diluted drop of shellac, very diluted. So far they’ve worked well but I haven’t used them at the range yet. I get a good strong pop but setting off a charge I’ll test asap. Now I’ll make some using the lacquer and let you know how that goes. And boy O boy, that wind there? Perhaps you might consider hang gliding and shooting at your targets from the air! Now that would go viral! But really, better weigh yourself down or buy a kite, eh? Thanks Again and Many Blessings! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Sad to say Shellac did not work for me. I have not sprayed any Lacquer in my Caps yet. I want to use up the Duco cement first.
I may be wrong but I think you need to use 100% cotton for the cellulose part. I believe that they bleach wood pulp not dye it. 👍🤠👌
Yes Bleach the TP. But bleached also add to the burn rate??? even though charred.
Cellulose is a polymer, this means the molecule has a large number of locations where the nitrate ion can attach. Thus nitrocellulose can vary greatly in how much it is nitrated, it can be expressed as a percent ie what percent of the available locations for attachment have been taken. Low, medium and highly nitrated nitrocellulose can differ greatly in solubility and are used entirely differently, as plastic, as adhesive, as wound dressing, as hair spray, as lacquer, and as smokeless powder. It is an interesting and useful substance.
I've thought about getting a Dragoon loading lever and locking lug and fitting it to a Walker. It wouldn't be historically correct, but they are just replicas.
Just a thought, If the Walkers were not prone to mal- functioning I can imagine someone figuring out a way to overcome this issue in such a manner. But, the revolver did evolve very quickly in that historical time frame. Historically the percussion cap ignition system was very short live.
@@lamebeavertradingco.1642 I concurr.
I've heard somewhere some guy used a neodimium magnet to keep that loading lever in place in the dragoon and/or walker revolver, a source for nitrocellulose is just good quality ping pong balls, but they add a white powder to that nitrocellulose based plastic, another source was collodion. Have you heard abouth the explosive billiard balls when they were triyng to find a substitute for ivory?
At 5:15pm where I'm at, it was 86° and 69% humidity. Wiki says "It (KNO3) is not very hygroscopic, absorbing about 0.03% water in 80% relative humidity over 50 days.". So .03% = .0003. Basically nothing, for 75 grams that would be 0.0225 grams or about 1/3 grain. I'm may dehydrate some just to make sure that is the case.
Thank you, 3 times over. I did not want to be the one to state (KNO3) is hydroscopic, but at a much slower rate than most think about. That is why to dissolve it quickly you boil it in water not just place it in a pan of water. Even though I am not overly concerned about the moisture I tend to go 75.3 grams.
I recently got some duco cement from Amazon
Thank you. I am the type of person to shop locally first, and have not been able to locate any. Amazon for me is the last resort.
100 % 👍
I've watched a few times and am very green at this, and this is my first time replying, but maybe when the lacquer dries, it is no longer combustable, just flammable. I am assuming the faster the flash, the better. Is that why you try different kinds of charcoal? And as a mountain man, did they use something similar to spray on the charcoal for their caps?
Thank you for commenting, and welcome. It is true Lacquer does burn when dry, almost at a predictable rate. I was hoping for a hotter faster burn since BP is an explosive. In a flint lock, yes, faster is better. Some will argue or state what goes down the bbl goes in the pan. I have used 3f in my flint lock pan w/o any problems. I prefer to use 4f and a 1 gr charging valve so as to not overcharge the pan thus having a delay in the ignition. Knowing wood has a specific gravity value when properly seasoned and Swiss ages their Alder 3 years before charcoaling it, shows charcoal can and will affect burn rates. That is why I started showing what 15 grams looks like in clear glass jars and comparing them. Since Swiss is what every one values as a premium BP why change what they do?? The best most of us can do is find a good alternative in our charcoals that would match the specific gravity of European Alder. Density also plays a huge part in the process. Scroll back on this channel and you will see all of my non professional data.
Hairspray laquer
"Film"!!!! is nitro cellulose as I recall. "I Love" this idea, failed in making it. I hate nitric and it hates me.
LOL!!! Watching me fail ensures you wont fail. I am glad some can see this value.
@@lamebeavertradingco.1642 already did fail.
but I love the spray idea.