Density of Black Powder
Jason Greene
charges for my first dual deployment rocket. Since I don't have a
scale that measures in small quanities I was thinking I could simply
use measuring spoons to measure out the correct amount of powder. I
realize that density will probably vary a little from brand to brand
and from batch to batch, but I figure the variation it is bound to be
less 10-15%. So I was wondering if anyone knew what the density of 4F
black powder is so I could convert from grams to teaspoons.
Jason Greene
Andy Waddell
we sell came out to about 1/4 teaspoon using 4F.
--
Andrew D. Waddell
PML Online Support Rep
NAR L2 52875/TRA L2 2043
Email: ADWa...@home.com
PML: www.publicmissiles.com
"Jason Greene" <jgre...@spam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3b030c8d....@news.newsguy.com...
Des Bromilow
I think it's Bob Fortune who has a BP calculator chart on his page..
( I'll send my find function out while I type...)
but one thing I got from that document was the density of approx (close
enough for rocket science) 1g==1cc or 1 gram == 1 Cubic Centimeter.
I then grabbed a short length of copper pipe and soldered up a 1cc scoop
which I use for making my charges.
"Find" came back.. I was wrong, it's on bob Chmara's page
http://www.chmara.com/cgi-bin/bptable.pl
I made a series of EC holders based on the aluminium canisters I saw on
ROL a year or two ago. Mine are built using copper pipe (easy for me to
get) and use a removable "plug" (with a flange) so they're easier to
clean than the originals. (that and I can cast the plugs myself out of
epoxy to save on machining)
I'm going to get a webpage up one of these decades and that'll include
some pictures so people can see what I'm on about.
Des
--
Des Bromilow
Queensland Rocketry Association
Brisbane
Australia
"Inner Child" be darned... I'm having WAY too much fun rediscovering
my "Inner Teenager"!!! dyb 11/2/99
Email addresses: des.br...@citec.com.auV2 and
desbr...@primus.com.auV2
remove the German anti-spam device before replying.
Kevin Trojanowski
You can buy powder measures there.
-Kevin
R. J. Talley
variation in volume due to batch variations is so little as to be
negligible. The measurement you want is dram equivalent. I don't have a
chart handy but I can tell you what you can do. If you have a couple of
empty 357 cases or 38sp cases on hand you can solder coat hanger handles to
them and make your own dippers. If you then empty a standard AT ejection
charge into one and then mark the fill line, you can later cut the case down
and you will have a perfect scoop. By using the same scoop method each time,
you can eliminate any serious variables. The reason I mention making your
own scoops is that the accuracy of your volume measure is greatly affected
by the variation in surface area of the scooped sample. The narrow neck of a
straight-walled pistol case reduces the surface area down to a point were
little variation can take place. We all do this in competitive shooting
without any problem at all. A teaspoon measure works well in the kitchen but
permits too much variation in measurment IMHO. Another possibility is to
purchase one of the adjustable pistol measures designed for BP cap and ball
pistols. These are available from most gun shops and retail for around $6-10
dollars. They are graduated in either dram or ounce equivalents and are more
than accurate enough for ejection charges. Dixie Gunworks has an online
catalog where these may be ordered as well.
--
R. J. Talley
NAR 69594
"To do is to be"...Descartes
"To be is to do"...Voltaire
"Do be, Do be, do"...Sinatra
"Jason Greene" <jgre...@spam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Daniel Kirk
face, and I think you'll be impressed with how we've grown and what we've
accomplished since last summer.
"Jason Greene" <jgre...@spam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
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The Silent Observer
Black powder in granulated form is very close to the density of water --
so a cubic centimeter weighs almost exactly a gram.
Now, there are six teaspoons in a fluid ounce, and 12 ounces is 355 ml
(a ml is the same as a cc), so each teaspoon measure should deliver
about:
355 ml / 72 tsp = 4.9 ml/tsp
So, a teaspoon measure will deliver very close to five grams of FFFFg,
and the quarter teaspoon that's almost never used will produce about a
1.2 g ejection charge. If you have a set of metric measuring spoons,
just use the one milliliter size as a gram charger.
--
It is well to approach all wonders and miracles by gradual stages or
degrees . . .
Fritz Leiber
Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer NAR # 70141-SR Insured
Rocket Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/launches.htm
Telescope Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/astronomy.htm
Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.
Jason Greene
according to my calculations, 1/4 teaspoon is about 1.2g. I plan on
using my level 1 certifiction for the first time (meaning these are
the first H and I motors I purchased my self) with a PML D-Region
Tomahawk modified for dual deployment. The altimeter is an RRC2. I
will do the ground test tomorrow. Then, if everything is okay, Sunday
at Tripoli MO-Kan she will fly.
Jason Greene
tai fu
Mike Pearson <see .sig>
> Another possibility is to
> purchase one of the adjustable pistol measures designed for BP cap and ball
> pistols. These are available from most gun shops and retail for around $6-10
> dollars. They are graduated in either dram or ounce equivalents and are more
> than accurate enough for ejection charges. Dixie Gunworks has an online
> catalog where these may be ordered as well.
The Dixie Gun Works catalog also has a nifty little chart showing the
capacities of various spent cartridge casings, from .22 shorts all the
way up to umgawa-big shells. IIRC, it showed measurements for 3F and 4F
(the catalog is downstairs, I'm upstairs, and...).
I posted a copy of the chart here about a year or so ago...a search in
DejaNews^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Deja^H^H^H Google might turn it up.
--
Mike
NAR #70953 - Sr/HPR Level-1 ~ SeaNAR - The Seattle NAR Section #568
NO Junk Email, please! Real email to: amphoto [at] blarg [dot] net.
<Vegetables aren't food; vegetables are what the food eats!>
Scott Aleckson
the correct measuring equpment you need in a couple days. Here's what
you want:
Lee Powder Measure Kit
Item # IB-21-0598
Price $9.99
This is a complete set of volume powder measures with a slide chart to
convert volume to grain weights for most powders (including BP).
You could also get a scale to measure exact amounts, but this really
isn't needed for rocketry purposes. If you're within about 25% on
your ejection charge weight it will probably still work.
Lee Safety Powder Scale
Item # IB-21-4004
Price $22.99
Lew Garrow
>From: jgre...@spam.hotmail.com (Jason Greene)
>Date: 5/16/2001 11:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <3b033ff5....@news.newsguy.com>
just a little aside...I am diabetic and found that the cap that goes over the
plunger (not needle) on my B&D syringes held about 1.2 grams of FFFFG. I put a
twist tie around the rim of the cap twist the ends and CA them into a coffee
stirrer and....Voila! an (approx) 1 gram measure (and for those more musically
inclined...Viola!)
Lew Garrow
TRA 7181 L3
NAR 77928 L3
METRA BOD
Maryland Delaware Assn
Steven Rogers
> Jason,
>
> I think it's Bob Fortune who has a BP calculator chart on his page..
> ( I'll send my find function out while I type...)
>
> but one thing I got from that document was the density of approx (close
> enough for rocket science) 1g==1cc or 1 gram == 1 Cubic Centimeter.
I checked it with a 10 ml graduate from the aquarium and a gram scale.
This is very close. However, I noticed that it makes a BIG difference
when you tap on the side of the container to settle the powder. A 10 ml
shot of powder settles down to about 7 ml when you tap on the side,
and THEN it weighs 1 gm / ml.
Steve
Gene Costanza
"Steven Rogers" <srog...@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:3B5B6B1E...@austin.rr.com...
| I checked it with a 10 ml graduate from the aquarium and a gram scale.
| This is very close.
I'm assuming you meant 1g = 1cc.
| A 10 ml shot of powder settles down to about 7 ml when you tap on the
side,
| and THEN it weighs 1 gm / ml.
Doesn't that mean it weighs 1.43 gm / ml.? Or does 10 ml. weigh 7 gms.?
Inquiring minds want to know.
--
METRA BOD TRA #07017 L3 NAR #74503 L3
I give in to sin,
Because I like to practice what I preach...
| Des Bromilow wrote:
|
| > Jason,
| >
| > I think it's Bob Fortune who has a BP calculator chart on his page..
| > ( I'll send my find function out while I type...)
| >
| > but one thing I got from that document was the density of approx (close
| > enough for rocket science) 1g==1cc or 1 gram == 1 Cubic Centimeter.
|
However, I noticed that it makes a BIG difference
| when you tap on the side of the container to settle the powder. |
| Steve
|
Oliver Arend
as well.
Oliver
Gene Costanza
--
METRA BOD TRA #07017 L3 NAR #74503 L3
I give in to sin,
Because I like to practice what I preach...
"Oliver Arend" <oar...@web.de> wrote in message
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Oliver Arend
I'm not exactly sure. Steve?
Oliver
Steven Rogers
> It sounds like 7 ml (ml = cc) tapped weigh 7 g, and 10 ml untapped weigh 7 g
> as well.
Exactly. Or if you preferr, its 0.7 gm/ cm3 in the "fluffy" state, and 1 gm/cm3
when settled.
Steve