14 replies to this topic

[hangusman]

I was browsing Wilinsons, and found a fertilizer called Phostrogen. I looked it up and found it contains 60% pottasium nitrate. Now, ive heard of recrystalistion, and i was wondering if that would work with this. it also contain; 5% urea, 20% monoammonium phosphate, 1% Ethyline Dyamine Tetra Acetic acid. While im here i might aswell mention, fertilisers with the ingrediant NPK, are they pottasium nitrate rich. id be thankful for any help you could give me.

[Richard H]

Why even bother?

[hangusman]

Why even bother?

my Dad doesnt want to be buying chemicals off the internet. so i want to get some.

[seymour]

Potassium nitrate is not something you should need to buy off the internet. And yes- you should be able to find it pure (98%+)

So, you are from the South East of London?


Get out the phonebook, find Garden Direct. Ring them and ask for Potassium nitrate.

[Arthur Brown]

There is little point in looking at garden centres of large chainstores. The Chlorate weedkiller is 50% unspecified flame retardant or in 2% solution. Chlorates also have serious chemical incompatibilities in pyro and have to be treated with great caution.


Ask your parents to buy you a good pyro book for a Birthday. Ron Lancaster's book (from http://www.kimboltonfireworks.co.uk/ ) is good. Read and learn about pyro. Books are the only part of pyro that will not bite back at some time!

Learn about ingredients then start to research sources. By that time you should be old enough to have an income of your own to spend and transport of your own to collect chems.

Potassium Nitrate
Charcoal
Sulphur

are the basis of lots of good pyro. Add some colour and binders and you can make candles, rockets, stars, mines and shells

Edited by Arthur Brown, 10 February 2008 - 09:07 AM.

[YT2095]

I wouldn`t even trust phostrogen to make Touch paper with! you just never know what side reactions can occur with all those impurities in it.
Nor under what conditions these can occur.

feed it to your plants

[hangusman]

Potassium nitrate is not something you should need to buy off the internet. And yes- you should be able to find it pure (98%+)

So, you are from the South East of London?


Get out the phonebook, find Garden Direct. Ring them and ask for Potassium nitrate.

yer im from south east. ive also heard that npk fertilisers are strong in kn03 is this true?

[YT2095]

no, it`s not true, The Nitrogen, Phos and Potassium can be made up in any number of ways.

[Richard H]

From your past posts, I think it would be wise to spend your time for now doing a spot of reading. The book by Lancaster is recommended. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

[Arthur Brown]

NPK or more accurately N:P:K

Quoted as a ratio.

This is the ratio of Nitrogen to Potassium to Sodium in a fertiliser. These elements are the most commonly beneficial to plants as fertiliser. However it is NEVER just a mixture of these elements! Nitrogen is a gas and P and K are too reactive. SO NPK fertilisers are a mix of compounds that will give the desired ratio for the crop in question. Some crops benefit from different ratios at different stages in their growth. Fertilisers will also contain significant proportions of impurities as there is no need for three digit purity. They will also contain flow agents to stop clumping and allow the powder to flow freely. Several plants benefit most from more esoteric mixtures, and some users find ready to apply mixes most useful.

There are some excellent books on pyro giving both theoretical and tutorial knowledge on the theory and practise. SOME can be found for download as scanned books. HOWEVER the web also contains such things as "the anarch1sts c00k b00k" ( I dont want spiders finding it here!) which will give you enough mis-information to lose your limbs health or liberty very quickly.

Introductory Practical Pyrotechnics by Tom Perigrin is highly recommended. Before you make a device you should have read several books properly, learned about how to weigh, mix, press, ram etc. You should have found a supply of nitrate, sulphur, charcoal, iron fillings, red gum, shellac, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate, and pure PVC!

Regular visits to Abe books ( http://www.abebooks.co.uk ) and searching will yield all sorts of things. -Some at very sensible prices some not so.

[YT2095]

NPK or more accurately N:P:K

Quoted as a ratio.

This is the ratio of Nitrogen to Potassium to Sodium in a fertiliser.

no it isn`t, it Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium.

[Arthur Brown]

Sorry my bad! But bizarrely it still makes sense!


Perigrin
Weingart
Shimizu
Lancaster

Are respected authors for searching on Abe

[YT2095]

If you consider it from a Pure Element basis it would be yes, as that could form potassium phosphide.

but this is Never the case in fertilisers, everything is a compound, it`s these compounds that Could cause all manner of potential side reactions

[Andrew]

my Dad doesnt want to be buying chemicals off the internet.

I wonder, if a chemical is purchased on the internet is it more dangerous?

Sorry I'm being facetious.

There are a few good UK based internet based suppliers that can help you. And to be candid about it, it's also safer IF you get it from a reputable supplier. Forget eBay, forget fertiliser that is not, and I use this term very loosely, 'pure' Potassium Nitrate. You so need to be careful though, there are a few dodge suppliers as well and your asking for trouble. There is a 70 page long thread on "Buying Chemicals" on this forum that is full of useful hints and tips, read it.

Also read up from reputable sources, the books mentioned are very good places to start proving your competence.

[Arthur Brown]

Chemicals off the net/bay are of reduced provenance. You do not get the manufacturers analysis on the bag! Just occasionally net traded chems are not quite what you expected -different purity, different particle size etc.

Please study diligently some of the titles listed. Please read carefully the whole Buying Chemicals thread, and please read about the precautions necessary when dealing with chems.

You have your first and only issue of fingers, eyes, etc there are NO spares.