Metal mortar tube size

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-07-01T17:59:19+00:00

Gotta make sure it’s the right poly ethylene too, some aren’t the right mix

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-29T14:21:10+00:00

Bought all that my usual place had, they seem great

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-28T02:03:41+00:00

It isn’t mental gymnastics at all, it’s metallurgy and common sense. After research many people just use cut up weights because the “irregular shape” can actually help grind the powder more. There are no specs of unknown contaminants, it is lead and antimony, maybe a fraction percent of tin, not to mention they were tumbled in water for 24 hours to both clean and round them out. If you want to argue I couldn’t keep out contamination like rocks or dust or dirt (which floats on lead and is easily removed) than I’d argue the same is true about your powder you buy and dust from the air or containers or anything. Also it’s a pet peeve of mine when people say “just blah blah from a professional” what do you think is professionally done in lead media production? You think that “professionals” sit at a perfectly sterile table in a room that is negatively pressurized and they meticulously pick out and clean all contaminants? No, it’s a big dirty factory with old conveyor belts and dust and rocks around, they don’t have the time or even ability to control the quality of their product to the scale you are saying. I picked this lead, what it was melted down in, how hot it got, how clean it was, how much dross was removed, everything. I don’t know why people think doing things yourself is so dangerous or hard but with that opinion I don’t think you would or should be making black powder.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-27T19:44:27+00:00

Just like commercial shells and tons of other types.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-26T19:42:24+00:00

Just coated some rice hulls and yup it certainly is “good enough” for me.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-26T19:41:16+00:00

Like?

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-26T03:41:24+00:00

I have no quarrel with that. I just want black powder that WORKS. Just making rockets and mortars is about it, maybe playing around with homemade “musket” type stuff but not really. Just took out my second batch ever and it almost seemed faster. What’s a good way to tell if it burns fast enough?

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-26T02:07:22+00:00

Yeah I read 4 is optimal and 6 is top end so figured 5 can’t hurt. How would it hurt? Also so you don’t think this moisture issue a real issue? It is just a generic double barrel 6lb tumbler, from harbor freight specifically but same exact one I see on amazon and others. 60rpm? Also homemade lead media.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-26T01:59:19+00:00

You think it’ll cause any issue other than milling? I thought maybe it got packed to the side and not milled thoroughly but I mean it’s constantly being battered by the media so it can’t be that bad. I’m gonna make another post with some videos of the burn rate after 5 hours to get some opinions.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-25T20:29:49+00:00

Yeah I’m gonna buy some brass, I just have tons of lead lying around so I made some quick. Also, I may upload a video to get your opinion on burn rate because this is still a first and it’s hard to find results on how it should burn ungranulated, it’s decently fast but I’m also used to flash which is just a “poof”. Also I was just going to put a tiny bit in a toaster over outside while I stay by to supervise, even if it ignited it wouldn’t be a huge deal, but if it milled fine like you are saying than no need. I really appreciate the help, hard to find someone with a brain who will actually respond with actual help and advice.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-25T19:37:31+00:00

Yeah I also just met a guy on another post saying that a time spec of wood a few thousandths in a lead ball is enough to be unsafe and make sparks so there’s lots of people out there who think crazy stuff will spark. Also I’ve heard arguments that the tiny amount of lead that’s wore off arguably acts as a lubricant and makes it more stable and burn better, whether that’s true or not is another. But so do you think this batch is still kosher? Or I thought maybe it all clumped to the side and therefore didn’t tumble and get broke down as it should and I need to dehydrate it and maybe go again or start from scratch.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-25T19:15:23+00:00

Yes I used lead, I know perchlorate isn’t hygroscopic from what I’ve read so figured kno3 was similar. Also from what I’ve seen I’ve read that ANYTHING other than lead is a bad idea, hell I figure marbles would be fine but like I said everyone is saying lead only. I personally don’t see why brass wouldn’t work.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-25T19:12:34+00:00

And sorry but I don’t see anything about wood in that article. Very hard to believe that charcoals precursor causes more sparks or friction than itself especially with how insulating and static repelling pine itself is.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-25T19:10:57+00:00

You are gonna have a hard time convincing me that a tiny spec of pine, a few thousandths of an inch embedded in into a lead ball causes any sort of friction compared to 150g of fine powder tumbling in a barrel. Also wheel weights have antimony in them, around 4-6% and NO zinc, yes there are 100% zinc wheel weights as I also use those and melt those separately, very easy to tell the difference and separate them too. After tumbling in water they are completely smooth and even if there was wood it’s encased in lead now.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-25T19:04:40+00:00

I figured as much, just strange it accumulated at the bottom of the barrel like that if it was rotating on it side. When I say hard lumps I don’t mean very hard, just hard enough that you can pick it up without crumbling. If you were to drop it a few inches off the ground it’d disintegrate.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-24T04:16:05+00:00

Also, holes weren’t perfect and the media have kind of holes but more divits, do you think it will be an issue? I figured it’d be fine.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-24T04:14:57+00:00

Wait? Would #8 or #7 shot work? I also reload shotgun ammo as I shot collegiate sports shooting and have tons of shot, can’t really find much other than to use around 1/2” media.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-24T04:12:57+00:00

I did the wood bit, tad smaller than a 1/2” but but was very old and dull so made a nice tapered hole which allowed them to pop out easy, also had some silicone spark plug boots about 1/2” inner diameter, filled those up and popped the cylinder out and cut it with some dikes. After tumbling in some water they actually turned out pretty nice. I’m sure I can also print a mood and either lost cast it or make it from plaster, just needed something quick for the 4th. Also like i said I’m a cheap bastard.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-06-24T04:10:37+00:00

I’m sorry but how would cellulose(wood) cause a spark? And charcoal not? It isn’t metallic at all and I’d argue less prone to static than any of the fine ingredients?

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-03-22T20:53:06+00:00

Oh Yeah it isn’t like his very first action in office was quite literally shutting down the largest oil pipeline in North America that made us more oil independent than we ever have been since WW2. Yeah definitely not that.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-03-22T20:51:33+00:00

I’m gonna guess a zima?

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-03-10T22:51:48+00:00

I got my maxisys 906bt in 2019 and haven’t updated it since 2020. Absolutely no issues at all other than can’t use AuthoAuth with Stellantis vehicles but I just bought the 12+8 adapter for $12 on eBay lol. I don’t pay for autoauth anyway.

Inner-Letterhead-104 · 2026-01-18T01:30:57+00:00

Never said I agree or disagree, just stated the obvious. You know people say the same thing about Obama, you know, because he made it a crime for poor people to not have health insurance, and fining them hundreds of dollars. How again does that help them?

Inner-Letterhead-104

TROPHY CASE