Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Making the Holy Black Powder => Topic started by: Rob DiStefano on January 19, 2026, 09:04:44 AM

Title: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 19, 2026, 09:04:44 AM: Today, we call the gun powder made and used before the inception of the 20th century "black powder", mainly to distinguish it from modern gun powder that's mostly nitro based. The ingredients and methods for making black powder are readily available online and libraries around the globe. There is no reason to not talk about and fully understand what is black powder and the many ways it was and is produced.

BE AWARE OF YOUR LOCAL LAWS CONCERNING HAVING AND/OR MAKING AND STORING BLACK POWDER

Why make your own black powder? Availability is not easy these days and there is always the possibility it will cease to be sold. It will be lots cheaper to make good black powder considering its astronomically rising purchase pricing. Self sufficiency - if you have a flintlock gun, all you need is black powder, a rock to make sparks, and either some lead to cast a ball or if the gun is a smoothbore then something(s) to stuff down its barrel.

There are MANY online videos concerning making black powder. Here's one that I like ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GQntdARoiw
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 23, 2026, 07:03:09 AM: I hate it when the truth hurts, but good folks are gonna get squeezed even more in the coming months and years when the price of the holy black skyrockets ... or becomes unobtanium.

You read that here.

However, the smokeless nitro based subs will still be around, but they ain't gonna work well if at all for the flint guns.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on January 23, 2026, 07:40:54 AM: I found times gone tech awhile back, he doesn't have a big following but I subscribed.
I found him when I started researching make BP .
Like how he described and tested serpentine, screened and press powders.
I tried the big C clamp pressing method use shows but ended up with the 20 ton harbor freight press.
With the price of Swiss here, about 56$ per LB and goex unavailable it just makes sense to make your own.
And for those of you worried about pressing and grinding and grading etc
Screened powder is the easier way to go and works pretty darn well too, just use alittle more that you would compared to pressed powder
IIRC that's the way it was made until the mid to later 18th century.
Don't need any special equipment either, just a way to mill it , a harbor freight rock tumbler will work for that in small batches and a kitchen screen type strainer will work .
Go make some powder dang it!!
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 23, 2026, 07:56:51 AM: Right on, Kevin!

Don't need to press pucks, screening will render good powder.

Milling is Important ... it's done with DRY*** powder, just a cheap rubber lined mill and some lead balls is all that takes and there is nothing that will kick off powder milled that way. If yer the least bit concerned (as I'll admit I was!) take the mill outside and run an extension cord to where the milling is done far from yer dwelling and do just a small 1/2 or 1/4 pound mix.

After milling, the powder is wet down with a bit of plain water (NO chance of ignition!) then pressed into a screen and left to fully dry. Done.

***DRY powder means that all three ingredients need to be as dry as possible. Potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur are very hygroscopic and will pull in water from the air which will change the 75-15-10 mix ratio and the resulting powder will not be as efficient or strong. Using a food dehydrator for the ingredients will fix that issue.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 23, 2026, 08:50:18 AM: The rest of the Times Gone Tech videos on making black powder ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esKhFSJ_prQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0FAiktMnxg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV_7kznKx_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQcazW3t_6E
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 23, 2026, 03:56:40 PM: Jake's interesting take on making black powder that can be better than top shelf Swiss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJDjKvjqvpM
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on January 24, 2026, 04:35:22 AM: Yep, another favorite of mine.
I pretty much follow his lead on how to do it.
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Salty on January 24, 2026, 08:49:55 AM: I?d like to try this. Not sure how my neighbors will react to the noise.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Nessmuk on January 24, 2026, 09:25:08 AM: I thought it would be harder and more dangerous. When my current stock gets low i think I'll try it.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 24, 2026, 10:53:00 AM: I wouldn't wait to begin to both think, acquire chemicals and tools, and begin to make powder. It'll take bit of time to get Your process down and test out the potency of what you've made.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on January 24, 2026, 06:33:48 PM: I agree rob, y'all need to get after it, takes a bit of learning but it really is easier than one would think.
You can get potassium nitrate, sulfur of Amazon or any number of online companies.
Charcoal you can make yourself.
Plenty of online instruction there.
I use alder smoker chips from the local store.
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Nessmuk on January 25, 2026, 01:12:09 PM: when I get down to 20lbs left, I will. should be in a couple year.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Nessmuk on January 25, 2026, 01:17:02 PM: a quick question. How well does your homemade powder work with smaller calibers? .32, .36, .40?
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 25, 2026, 01:35:18 PM: Quote from: Nessmuk on January 25, 2026, 01:17:02 PM
a quick question. How well does your homemade powder work with smaller calibers? .32, .36, .40?

I don't know, I've only used it with .54 and .62 bore sizes, rifle and smoothbore.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on January 25, 2026, 02:13:40 PM: Quote from: Nessmuk on January 25, 2026, 01:17:02 PM
a quick question. How well does your homemade powder work with smaller calibers? .32, .36, .40?

Not sure but imagine would work just as well
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on February 12, 2026, 12:24:15 PM: https://youtu.be/j6BEYtz5XHQ?si=IJmSAoW_rJvmsynb
So Jake has modified his pressing methods. Guess I didn't need to spend 350$ on a new 20 ton press and pucking die.
This more aligns with Terry on the times gone tech videos where he uses a C clamp to press his powder
I made a few of the " new" pucks and they are quite hard , ground up a little bit and open air tested it, very fast.
As soon as I get time I'll test it thru the Chrono and compare it to my older powder from the over pressed method.
Stand by for news!

Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 12, 2026, 12:49:09 PM: I had a 20 ton press, what a pain. I ditched that for a 1 ton press and experienced no difference in powder quality. My process pretty much parallels Terry's.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on February 12, 2026, 01:52:30 PM: I hear ya, live and learn.
Eric went out and got a 20 ton press and rockysworks pucking die too.
Wish I'd stuck with Terry's method from the get go but I'm sure that press will sell when garage sale season comes along. :pray:
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 12, 2026, 02:38:10 PM: I have a Rocky's puck die, too big, never even bothered to use it.

I use this one ...

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/135023497542
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Second-rate Marksman on February 12, 2026, 03:30:09 PM: Kind of a bummer to have spent hundreds of dollars on equipment at Jake's urging only to find that it's now unnecessary and obsolete, but he's experimenting and learning as he goes, just as we all are.

I've screened powder in the past with decent results, though I had to double my powder charges to achieve comparable velocities as commercial powder. Like I was explaining to Kevin... who really cares if it requires extra powder, though, when you can make the stuff at such a very small fraction of what you'd pay for the commercial equivalent. It's inconsequential, if you ask me. This is how it was done up until the late 1700's, so it ought to be good enough for you and I, right?

I've got quite a bit of Pyrodex from when I was first introduced to muzzleloading. I'm seriously considering using the stuff in my fowler cartridges, with a 10/15 grain "booster" charge of holy black sitting on top of the cartridge, and priming the pan with my priming horn. Thought perhaps I might be able to make my existing black powder go farther this way, although I'm fully aware of the drawbacks.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 12, 2026, 04:31:51 PM: Yup the chemicals and tooling components to make really good holy black are cheap 'n' easy.

Terry's giant "C" clamp produces really GOOD powder - there's really no need to jump through hoops and empty big dollars for what can be made for a fraction of the commercial cost.

I can fully understand any newbie concerns - I was there too, big time - it's not as complicated or dangerous as one erroneously thinks.

Making the holy black is far less dangerous than not clearing out a bbl that's just been shot and immediately dumping down a full measure of powder - now THAT is scary stuff! :scared:
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Salty on February 23, 2026, 06:35:41 AM: Rob, where do you buy the powders? Does the fineness of the powder make a difference?
about the charcoal, Ive read that the source of the charcoal can make a big difference too. What do you use? where do you get it?
I think it's time to start making my own.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 23, 2026, 07:47:34 AM: Do a search for firework chemicals. I use Skylighter but there are others.

YES, the finer the 3 three powders the better.

Charcoal is THE key ingredient.

The 3 powders are hygroscopic and they MUST be kept as DRY as possible. I run each chemical for a few hours in a food dehydrator and then Mason jar each separately.

A basic way to make black powder is ...

Get good chemicals that are "air loft" fine and dry.
There are a few different formulas for potassium nitrate (KNO3)/charcoal/sulfur, 75/15/10 is the original, some use 77/13/10, all by weight.
Tumble the 3 chemicals with lead or brass ball media for 12 or 24 or 48 hours - the Harbor Freight rock tumbler is what most use, tumbling 1/2lb (making 1/2lb of black powder).
Mix the results with a small amount of water, 4%-10%, to form a dough-like ball.
There are 2 ways to create powder granules using that dough ball - scrape the ball through a 20 mesh screen and allow the kernels to dry or compress the granules into pucks.
When thoroughly DRY, the 20 mesh screened powder will be about 2F or a bit coarser, What's left can be 50 mesh screened for 3F or finer.
When the pucks are are thoroughly dry they're put into a grain grater that will produce granules that can be screened for size.
Any and all kernels produced by screening can now be "glazed" - take that dry powder and tumble it without media for a few hours - glazing will greatly improve powder "flow".

Religiously review the videos in this thread!
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on February 23, 2026, 10:06:57 AM: Watch the video in my last post on Jake's new pressing recommendation and watch some of his ( everything black powder) or terry ( times gone tech ) videos on the proper mix ratios and you should be fine.
And follow what Rob says too, good luck and post your progress.
We're here to help, just like the government :bigsmile:
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: dmarsh on February 23, 2026, 01:51:38 PM: So will this work for the charcoal part?

Hmmm--not working right.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7XPNDQ6/?coliid=I2NEZ3U730S0GR&colid=1DWGN8KA1YJ8C&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Tried to post a picture of it but could not. The link works.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 23, 2026, 02:41:06 PM: Quote from: dmarsh on February 23, 2026, 01:51:38 PM
So will this work for the charcoal part?

Hmmm--not working right.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7XPNDQ6/?coliid=I2NEZ3U730S0GR&colid=1DWGN8KA1YJ8C&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Tried to post a picture of it but could not. The link works.

Waste of money, you want this ... https://www.skylighter.com/collections/chemicals/products/charcoal-airfloat
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on February 23, 2026, 03:02:20 PM: Smokehouse All Natural Alder Wood Smoking Chips 242 cu in Mfr# FK71 - Ace Hardware https://share.google/1Hn0tw3kpC52vFuxj

I use this and Make my own charcoal, easy enough.
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: dmarsh on February 23, 2026, 03:32:39 PM: Thanks guys. Appreciate it. :hairy
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on February 24, 2026, 05:47:52 AM: http://youtube.com/post/UgkxEMLly2tLIDhcXj59G77w5-4-DWC35yfD?si=vNcytXRMuqE7euXV

Well stay tuned I guess, looks like a new video coming
I usually make my own charcoal but .... anything that makes it easier I'm willing to try.
Kevin
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 24, 2026, 06:00:35 AM: Paulownia is a great hardwood that can be almost as light as balsa and grows about 30 feet in a year. An Asian native "weed wood" but we grow it here in the states as well and I used to make electric solid body guitars out of it. Makes awesome charcoal because it's as lightweight a hardwood as anyone can readily find.
Title: Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
Post by: KDubs on February 24, 2026, 07:42:18 AM: Hope it shows good results in Jake's new video
I mentioned I use alder chips although they are not buckthorn alder, some kind of Pacific alder, it still works quite well but it takes time to char it then pulverize it in my mill and it's a rather dirty process.
If I can get air float charcoal of good quality I'd certainly do that instead.
I haven't used the skylighter air float stuff , mostly out of ignorance I suppose.
Kevin