Swede Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I can get scrap pieces easily You, sir, suck. That is all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiapyro Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I just made a pound of paulownia BP, and I have to say it's very similar to my balsa BP. I will have to do a frame-by-frame analysis to see which one is actually faster. I am using a very large granulation on both, because I have shattered mortars with smaller granulations. I would say my current shell-lifting granulation is about equivalent to 1FA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I've heard that despite being frighteningly fast, Balsa actually has a lower gas production compared to some other woods. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm really not sure how it was observed/calculated actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiapyro Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 that would certainly make sense. I have noticed a smaller flame envelope in my granulated balsa versus paulownia, i'm not sure if that holds any merit in determining gas production. I suppose the most definitive "common testing method" could be a piston test on high-speed camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan999ification Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 i made some balsa charcoal, very voluminous, 15g fills a cup the willow takes 45g to fill so about 3 times denser,the question is.. Should airfloat balsa feel oily? It is very silky to touch but it is clumpy not like my willow which flows a bit like water, the balsa may be undercooked or under milled but i can hardly see a particle of it when rubbed between finger and thumb, should it feel oily? Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I was handed a whole box of paulownia at PGI by a very kind man. I am ball milling it up tonight with hopes of breaking ball shells with NO booster in them this weekend. Ned Gorski has completely stopped boosting large ball shells since this same kind soul turned him on to it. I just love the idea of a weed providing such a great BP.-dag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val77 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) please dag you is lucky Edited August 22, 2012 by val77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algenco Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 I was handed a whole box of paulownia at PGI by a very kind man. I am ball milling it up tonight with hopes of breaking ball shells with NO booster in them this weekend. Ned Gorski has completely stopped boosting large ball shells since this same kind soul turned him on to it. I just love the idea of a weed providing such a great BP.-dag aw shucks http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr47/Algenco/cartoons/blush.gif It's amazing what powerful BP can be made with Paulownia, there are other woods that can be used to make very fast BP, but Paulownia seems to produce more gasses producing very strong breaks and lift. We are finding that when used for lift much less is needed.When compared to Goex about 60%is all that's needed to achieve the same heights/ flight times I'll be busy cutting trees soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Sadly, I lost a good friend and will be going to his funeral on Saturday so no shells this weekend. Maybe this fall. -dag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan999ification Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 i will have to find some paulownia wood or grow some, is it true it can grow 20ft in the first year?Speaking of weeds has anyone tried japanese knot weed charcoal? I dont know how it compares to paulownia but it is faster than willow from what ive seen, im cutting some this weekend, i know a few uk members that have used it as a booster with promising results.So does balsa feel oily or is it my batch? I cant test it for some weeks and am worried about the burn rate being slow due to the oily feel. Dan. Sorry to hear of your loss dag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan999ification Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 was the kind man dressed as the charcoal fairy? Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algenco Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 oily/silky feel is normal with the light weight charcoals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan999ification Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 thanks al, reasuring after all the work and cost, i was going to make some more. Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoonski Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) I live in california and use palm tree stems to make charcoal - light, hard and makes really fast bpyou can find the palm branches lying along the street everywhere. Edit: i spelled lying wrong Edited September 17, 2012 by spoonski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peret Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Bring your best powders to Do It, we'll play Pyro Golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taiwanluthiers Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Just to be silly, I wonder if Ebony will make good charcoal... I am guessing not (I won't try it, ebony is more valuable as wood than as charcoal) due to its very high density. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan999ification Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 it is the only wood that sinks, which palm? The outer bark looks good for sparks. Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemtech89 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Just purchased some balsa from the link dag posted. Great prices, order about $14 of wood which is 6.5 cubic feet of shavings and saw dust but (the company estimated) aprox $40 for shipping! I thought he was joking... I pay less then that for $300 worth of different chemicals. I haven’t shopped around much for balsa. Ill post if I can find something cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algenco Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 how many lbs of wood/dust?you'll be shocked at the yeild in charcoal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrojig Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Speaking of Paulownia charcoals ,I to have been really enjoying building shells with that alone as the burst( no boosters with the P-b.p) . Hot stuff not doubt. It however does hog up the powder cup due to its fluffy nature. I found that "most " fruit trees" offer great charcoal for both really hot bp, and good spark charcoal. Apple = better/ best for both. Plum is supposedly some really speedy stuff as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirCowPeacock Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Perhaps the high sugar content is to blame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algenco Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 Speaking of Paulownia charcoals ,I to have been really enjoying building shells with that alone as the burst( no boosters with the P-b.p) . Hot stuff not doubt. It however does hog up the powder cup due to its fluffy nature.I found that "most " fruit trees" offer great charcoal for both really hot bp, and good spark charcoal. Apple = better/ best for both. Plum is supposedly some really speedy stuff as well. I would call them decent at best, BP made with Apple isn't half the strength of Paulownia or Balsa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algenco Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 I would call them decent at best, BP made with Apple isn't half the strength of Paulownia or Balsa I like to use Dan Creagans site to compare charcoalsDan is very thourough in keeping records.All tests are performed the same from milling, granulating, burning,etc Some results will be different if an effeicient ball mill is used ( tests use a harbor freight mill) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrojig Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 (edited) You are correct about apple being slower , I was claiming it was good for both spark and bp. Mostly sparks, for charcoal stars, but it does make good bp. The Plum on the other hand is claimed by PT# 17 ( pg 20) to be faster than paulownia . This article is a great resource for the charcoals and there respective speed/power/spark formation. Edited December 2, 2012 by pyrojig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 An older member here, Andyboy, tested plum a number of years ago. He said it was very fast, but I don't know what else he had on hand to compare it against. He also posted a mildly frightening photo of him without a shirt and holding an axe, while chopping down the tree. He was a rather imposing nordic man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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