Post by tsalagidave on Nov 26, 2010 19:12:29 GMT -5
I have written this before in other sites but trial and error has compelled me to revise this as I find better methods. I have simplified this process recently.
Below are the instructions followed by more information documenting period loads and methods.
How to make a Combustible Envelope Cartridge
First, you need the following to create your manufacturing kit and make rounds:
(.36 cartridges)1/3 inch dowel & .375 or .380 cal conical pistol mold & 20gr. powder measure
(.44 cartridges) 2/3 inch dowel & .450 or .455 cal conical pistol mold & 35gr powder measure
* Lead and ladle (Crucible)
* Masking tape
* small calipers (preferred)
* 16 weight typing paper, Onionskin Paper or Cigarette Paper (I prefer lightweight onionskin)
* Scissors
* Molten paraffin
* Paint brush
* Cotton-stock paper printed with label
* Felt pistol wads or felt/cotton lint wadding (optional)
* Cake pan
* bottled water
* Can of FFF black powder
* Can of potassium nitrate "Saltpeter" (from) chemical retailer
* Can of sodium silicate "water glass" (from) chemical retailer
MAKING NITRATED PAPER:
1. Get a cake pan large enough to lay a sheet of paper flat inside of it. Put about 1/2" of water in the pan, set cake pan on stove, bring water to a boil
2. Turn heat of stove down to simmer
3. Stir in Potassium Nitrate (Salt Petere), one tablespoon at a time until you reach a super saturated solution (no more salt petere will dissolve.)
4. Take one sheet of Onionskin Paper and thoroughly soak it in solution
5. Hang soaked paper to dry on a string by a clothespin(s)
6. Turn off stove when you are done
*Note, you just made flash paper. It is highly flammable so be careful with it.
MAKING THE CARTRIDGE:
1. Cut your paper so that it wraps completely around the base of your bullet and overlaps by about 2mm. Make sure that the length of the tubed paper admits enough powder to fill it to the brim but not overflow.
2. Use water glass (Sodium Silicate) to attach the paper around the base of the bullet and seal the sides.
3. Cut the circular ends so that they are slightly larger than the diameter of the open-end of your cartridge. Form it to the end of a dowel of equal diameter so that it can be easily attached to seal the powder in the cartridge. (Use water glass).
*Do not use white or instant glues as they become rock hard and will cook to the inside of your barrel when firing. This will ruin your gun.
(Note* I have tried a pistol wad at this point but it is a pain to do.) The originals that I have inspected don't appear to have wadding but I have tried it as an added safety feature. It may not be necessary but I have never had a chain fire doing it this way. I don't like using pistol grease because it is messy, attracts abrasive dust when on the march that scours the barrel, and contributes heavily to the fowling. When I load rounds without the wad, I put 1-drop of grease on every bullet that fills in between the wall of the tube and the bullet itself.)
That being said, it is very authentic to just load the cartridge and then grease it so do what your common sense and historic knowledge seem to agree on.
(*Safety tip: In addition to hot gas causing chain fires from the front, it is often debated that chain fires may be commonly caused when caps fall off of loaded tubes as well. Since the cap is no longer there to prevent hot gas from reaching the powder charge, it is entirely feasible. For this reason, always have tour rounds with a wad, greased, or with both...and squeeze your caps so that they fit snugly.)
8. Slide in the bullet base first half-way into the paper tube and glue it to the nitrated paper. If done right, it should be snugly packed without loose powder rattling around.
Packaging the rounds:
I like using using wood blocks and card stock boxes but this article is long enough so we'll skip it for now and focus on a simple paper envelope.
* Print out your package label on heavy rag-stock resume paper, size it until it is about 2 1/2 times larger than the length & width of 6 cartridges packed side by each like sardines.
* Make sure that the packaging paper is well painted with the paraffin so that it is saturated. Then let it dry.
* Wrap Vertically first, then horizontally
* Tie with packing string just like a package.
as written from gatofeo
Below are the instructions followed by more information documenting period loads and methods.
How to make a Combustible Envelope Cartridge
First, you need the following to create your manufacturing kit and make rounds:
(.36 cartridges)1/3 inch dowel & .375 or .380 cal conical pistol mold & 20gr. powder measure
(.44 cartridges) 2/3 inch dowel & .450 or .455 cal conical pistol mold & 35gr powder measure
* Lead and ladle (Crucible)
* Masking tape
* small calipers (preferred)
* 16 weight typing paper, Onionskin Paper or Cigarette Paper (I prefer lightweight onionskin)
* Scissors
* Molten paraffin
* Paint brush
* Cotton-stock paper printed with label
* Felt pistol wads or felt/cotton lint wadding (optional)
* Cake pan
* bottled water
* Can of FFF black powder
* Can of potassium nitrate "Saltpeter" (from) chemical retailer
* Can of sodium silicate "water glass" (from) chemical retailer
MAKING NITRATED PAPER:
1. Get a cake pan large enough to lay a sheet of paper flat inside of it. Put about 1/2" of water in the pan, set cake pan on stove, bring water to a boil
2. Turn heat of stove down to simmer
3. Stir in Potassium Nitrate (Salt Petere), one tablespoon at a time until you reach a super saturated solution (no more salt petere will dissolve.)
4. Take one sheet of Onionskin Paper and thoroughly soak it in solution
5. Hang soaked paper to dry on a string by a clothespin(s)
6. Turn off stove when you are done
*Note, you just made flash paper. It is highly flammable so be careful with it.
MAKING THE CARTRIDGE:
1. Cut your paper so that it wraps completely around the base of your bullet and overlaps by about 2mm. Make sure that the length of the tubed paper admits enough powder to fill it to the brim but not overflow.
2. Use water glass (Sodium Silicate) to attach the paper around the base of the bullet and seal the sides.
3. Cut the circular ends so that they are slightly larger than the diameter of the open-end of your cartridge. Form it to the end of a dowel of equal diameter so that it can be easily attached to seal the powder in the cartridge. (Use water glass).
*Do not use white or instant glues as they become rock hard and will cook to the inside of your barrel when firing. This will ruin your gun.
(Note* I have tried a pistol wad at this point but it is a pain to do.) The originals that I have inspected don't appear to have wadding but I have tried it as an added safety feature. It may not be necessary but I have never had a chain fire doing it this way. I don't like using pistol grease because it is messy, attracts abrasive dust when on the march that scours the barrel, and contributes heavily to the fowling. When I load rounds without the wad, I put 1-drop of grease on every bullet that fills in between the wall of the tube and the bullet itself.)
That being said, it is very authentic to just load the cartridge and then grease it so do what your common sense and historic knowledge seem to agree on.
(*Safety tip: In addition to hot gas causing chain fires from the front, it is often debated that chain fires may be commonly caused when caps fall off of loaded tubes as well. Since the cap is no longer there to prevent hot gas from reaching the powder charge, it is entirely feasible. For this reason, always have tour rounds with a wad, greased, or with both...and squeeze your caps so that they fit snugly.)
8. Slide in the bullet base first half-way into the paper tube and glue it to the nitrated paper. If done right, it should be snugly packed without loose powder rattling around.
Packaging the rounds:
I like using using wood blocks and card stock boxes but this article is long enough so we'll skip it for now and focus on a simple paper envelope.
* Print out your package label on heavy rag-stock resume paper, size it until it is about 2 1/2 times larger than the length & width of 6 cartridges packed side by each like sardines.
* Make sure that the packaging paper is well painted with the paraffin so that it is saturated. Then let it dry.
* Wrap Vertically first, then horizontally
* Tie with packing string just like a package.
as written from gatofeo