Drying out powder

[mike alexandre]

Anyone got a reliable safe way of doing this please.

 

[musketman]

Anyone got a reliable safe way of doing this please.

Use the sun, place the powder on a news paper (taped down) in a draft free place so the wind won't blow it away, the sun will dry it out in no time...

 

[sledgemeister]

I think I read some where with black powder and please some one correct me if I am wrong (most likely)but in the olden days they used to wet black powder and make fist size "balls" with it for ease of transportation only to break it up again when needed to be used. As a result of this the BP had become a little more oomphy. If this is the case would this happen in modern times if the powder gets wet and dried out again?

 

[Cherokee]

Like said put it in newspaper and find a window shelf or maybe your car or truck seat setting in the sun.
If you could put it in a car or truck thats like an oven with the windows up.

 

[Swampman]

They used to spread it out on the decks of ships, to dry it while at sea.

 

[sledgemeister]

makes you wonder how much BP was lying on the deck below huh? It would sure make a person emptying their pipe nervous.

 

[musketman]

I believe there is a entree in the Lewis & Clark journals where they had to dry their powder, they also used the sun...

 

[J.D.]

I've used momas oven when she was finished baking, and the oven was still hot. Spread it thin on aluminum foil placed on a cookie sheet, and with the oven off slide it into the warm oven, leaving the door cracked a bit.
J.D.

 

[Old Ironsights]

I believe there is a entree in the Lewis & Clark journals where they had to dry their powder, they also used the sun...

'course, this little problem is why they brought along a Girandonidi "Assault Rifle" (21 shot, .461 , sidelock, repeating air rifle.)
[url] http://www.beemans.net/lewis assault rifle.htm[/url]

God I wish I could have one of those....

 

[Joel/Calgary]

I just posted some information from Bill Knight in hte thread on powder storage that also applies to drying powder in the oven.
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/265050/[/url]

Joel

 

[noahmercy]

I assume you're not talking about very slightly damp powder, but one thing to consider is that when powder gets very dry (below 3% moisture content I believe), its burning rate changes. When it becomes too dry, it becomes unstable and/or more energetic. A tiny bit of moisture is a good thing...

:thumbsup: