aquaman Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I find that stump removers containing potasium nirate are the best fertilizers for potassium nitrate(I could be wrong). BTW the charcoal from a hardware store isn't that bad, that's where I got mine and my BP come out fine. As for the ball mill, why not just make your own? There's plenty of plans out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximusg Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Local hardware shop. A litre of 1835g/L H2SO4 for...I can't remember, about $40. A lot of places don't stock it anymore, but me, living in shitsville, still thinking we're in the '50s, has got like 20 bottles on the shelf.Today I went to the town over ( a shitsville, even though it's bigger than my town). Went to a large Mitre 10, didnt find much anything useful.... Then went across the road to a little Ma & Pa hardwares store, and sure enough, Nine Bottles of 1835g/L H2SO4 sitting on the shelf... Awesome. its was $48 a litre btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Po_ Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Exactly the same as here. Mitre 10 has never heard of it but the little no-name shop has shelves stacked high with weird and wonderful chemicals (well...just H2SO4, other than that it's a really shitty hardware store). As for the anodes, we've got an old solar heater. It's got a long anode in it. Like 2.5 or 3m long. The oxide layer is only about 1.5mm and clean in some places. Only problem is if they're throwing away a hot water system it's going to be fairly eroded... I've got two 25kg sacks of KNO3 with K numbers of 39 and 46 (NP 13-0). They both work fine. I suppose I could get the old mill up and running and experiment to find out. I've been using the 46 because it's got anticake in it and isn't a 20kg solid block like the other stuff that was as fine as icing sugar and without anticake (bet that pissed a lot of farmers off ). Charcoal has a lot to do with good black powder, and so does a good mill. You can't expect BBQ charcoal, granulated sulfur and a bit of potassium nitrate whizzed in a coffee grinder for a couple of minutes to be the same quality as stuff made from willow, rather pure S and KNO3 milled for 24 hours in an exceptionally good mill with lead filled brass media... If you're serious about wanting good black powder you'll have to make (or buy) a ball mill and find good chemicals. Pine works fine and it's easy to make (and soft, which will make milling faster and easier). Good quality sulfur isn't hard to find. KNO3 is the main problem, but once you find it you're pretty much set. If you can get KNO3 (bulk is better) you can do most things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximusg Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Yeah KNO3 can be tricky... I am yet to find it in Bulk, not that I have looked around too much for it... Got a few kilos from a hydro place, which will last me ages as I dont make very big display items. Asked at one farm supply place, but they only had it in solution at 10%. They reccomended me a 25kg bag of AN though if i needed nitrogen... Lol, shitsville philosophy at work again, I obliged how ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Po_ Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Wow, you got a bag of NH4NO3? In Australia? They OFFERED it to you? Where do you live and most importantly how long ago did this happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocket Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I've also had the opportunity of getting some NH4NO3 too in a 25 kg bag but i did'nt buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximusg Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Wow, you got a bag of NH4NO3? In Australia? They OFFERED it to you? Where do you live and most importantly how long ago did this happen? Yup... this was about 12 months ago, How ever, My aunty went to the same place several weeks ago and got a couple of bags to kill the clover on her lawn... apparently AN has enough nitrogen to kill clover, but grass loves it. I live in North West NSW, about 500km from the coast as the crow flies. It's werid, i know farmers that go and get bags of AN, or NitraPrill, as they call it, with the intent on blasting large stumps and rocks on their properties. The suppliers don't care and usually end up having a yarn about "this one time when a stray roo got too close to the blast". lol its the fact that they just dont stock KNO3 which annoys me, because i know they would sell it to me with out a second thought. Hell, my local hardware shop owner helped me pick out some componants for model rockets when i was younger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Po_ Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Well I'm about 200 odd km inland on the border. I might have to ask my KNO3 supplier about it. It'd make things a lot easier. I've been treasuring my parents' precious 4.5kg of ice packs from the '80s like...Tasty chocolate milk? I could have fun with that much NH4NO3... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximusg Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Yeah it is fun... i think it will take me a while to use this bag though.... Living in town sux... too much time between dets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mephistos Minion Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 Bumpety bump. I found THE Red Gum supplier and am getting a 25kg bag of -200 mesh red gum in 3 weeks or so. I am willing to sell some, of there is enough interest I might get more than one bag. I am not sure of a price yet, waiting for a phone call. PM me if you are interested so I can make a list of emails and update you all at once. I am also looking into getting some pure PVC powder, so express interest in that if you want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demetroy Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Exactly the same as here. Mitre 10 has never heard of it but the little no-name shop has shelves stacked high with weird and wonderful chemicals (well...just H2SO4, other than that it's a really shitty hardware store). As for the anodes, we've got an old solar heater. It's got a long anode in it. Like 2.5 or 3m long. The oxide layer is only about 1.5mm and clean in some places. Only problem is if they're throwing away a hot water system it's going to be fairly eroded... I've got two 25kg sacks of KNO3 with K numbers of 39 and 46 (NP 13-0). They both work fine. I suppose I could get the old mill up and running and experiment to find out. I've been using the 46 because it's got anticake in it and isn't a 20kg solid block like the other stuff that was as fine as icing sugar and without anticake (bet that pissed a lot of farmers off ). Charcoal has a lot to do with good black powder, and so does a good mill. You can't expect BBQ charcoal, granulated sulfur and a bit of potassium nitrate whizzed in a coffee grinder for a couple of minutes to be the same quality as stuff made from willow, rather pure S and KNO3 milled for 24 hours in an exceptionally good mill with lead filled brass media... If you're serious about wanting good black powder you'll have to make (or buy) a ball mill and find good chemicals. Pine works fine and it's easy to make (and soft, which will make milling faster and easier). Good quality sulfur isn't hard to find. KNO3 is the main problem, but once you find it you're pretty much set. If you can get KNO3 (bulk is better) you can do most things. just one question about the sulfur what is a better way to get it im paying $15 for 500 grams of elemental granulated sulfur it works ok but im sure their is better out their as im reading but living in Australia im having issues with all types of chems and sorry for my spelling English wasn't a strong point back in the days of school but i do use Google chrome with auto correct lol and to Mephistos Minion selling red gum id buy about 2kg's off u in a week or 2 if ur still selling it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 just one question about the sulfur what is a better way to get it im paying $15 for 500 grams of elemental granulated sulfur ... Sheesh! A group buy two years ago, we were paying $.50 a kilo for sulfur! -dag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allrocketspsl Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Yeah magnesium can be found as the sacrificial anode in old hot water systems... I obtained several kilos worth off a plumber mate of mine. But you can usually find dumped hot water systems at the local tip. Also try metal scrap yards. Here is an example of what an anode out of a water system looks like: http://www.weewaautemuster.com/Pyro%20Shizzle/Chems/Magnesium%202.jpg Those anodes are about 5 and 6 feet long. Plenty of Mg there check out the tools they use for making cement youll find magnesium scrappers for smoothing some are pure magnesium get a file grindr go to work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I guess none of you guys realize this thread is 6 years old. I still talk to MephestosMinion, but I doubt he still has that red gum around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potassiumchlorate Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Grrr...I want cheap sulfur too. It's 25 years since sulfur cost $.50 here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmanbeefjerky Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 hi, i found sulfur prices to be fairly reasonable from the "value plus" brand from horse supplement and pet stores , all online. depending on how much you buy, including shipping youll pay between $12-6/kg , and thats including shipping australia wide.A few times around DECEMBER 2011 also ive seen at mitre 10 and some nurseries, ive seen yates brand sulfur, or tropigrow perhaps, which sold 10 or 20kg bags of sulfur for $30-40, and i think if your willing to contact the suppliers, you can get it for a similar deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kos666 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 ok Aussies i can help with some things sulphur powder by the kg or 25 kg pacs depend on the shop if the split it up all the same its cheap as go to farm supply shops if your in a city just go for a drive to one you will have to Google one though i used to go to a place called jack scott n sons kno3 landmark sell it 25kg packs just say you mix up your own nutrients for your garden say its quite large trust me 25kg is alot of kno3 will last you ages i did use it for my garden as well talk about supper grow for tomatoes and makes them taste awesome as well nice tip for u gardeners as well as for stump remover as a source for kno3 i think they use other chemicals for it hear in oz our chemists don't sell these sorts of things as far as i know all medical stuff only hear ill be posting in a welcome part shortly as i have just registered i used to just Google recipes and try them if any other Aussies know of other places to get kno3 around melb by the 25kg sack can you please help as i dont have a car any more (gotta hate break ups) so cant get my ass to a landmark as they are only in country locations inbox me if you dont want the world to know im offering to help get you visco quick fuse etc if you can help me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kos666 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 also last time i brought sulphur i paid like just over $2 per kg i did buy a whole 25kg sack and hocked off all but a few kg on ebay for like $5 a kg to make up for the fees and a little time it takes filling out all the addresses went quick as everyone elce was charging like $10 for 500g or 1kg ridicules prices but the bag was like $50 and that is hear in aust for 25kg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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