16 replies to this topic

[six-five-two]

Hello, I am interested in starting to make stars and I am wondering where abouts I can obtain strontium carbonate. I prefer to buy it at a store instead of from the internet. Thanks in advanced.

[GalFisk]

Hello, I am interested in starting to make stars and I am wondering where abouts I can obtain strontium carbonate. I prefer to buy it at a store instead of from the internet. Thanks in advanced.

Strontium carbonate (and lots of other useful chems) can be found in stores selling raw materials for pottery.

[six-five-two]

Heh, wow I never knew that. Thanks for your help. Is that strontium carbonate at pottery stores like 99% pure? Also, do you have a list or something of other ingredients that could be obtained at a pottery store? Thanks again.

[AdmiralDonSnider]

Others are: BaCO3, LiCO3, Fe2O3, CuO, CuCO3, and clay of course.

[six-five-two]

Thanks. Final question though, I think it may sound kinda suspicious walking into a pottery store and asking for strontium carbonate, so does anyone know what it is used for with pottery?

[GalFisk]

I've also found Na3AlF6 (cryolite) and Fe-powder.
It's used for glazing of some sort, but real pottery people also ask for the chemicals by name, so it's no problem.
The carbonates may contain sulfate residue from manufacture.

Edited by GalFisk, 09 March 2008 - 12:49 AM.

[six-five-two]

Thank you, kind sir.

[AdmiralDonSnider]

Has anyone ever had problems with the purity of pottery-grade SrCO3? Does it give a good red? Just wonder, cause it actually is not high purity I think...

[Arthur Brown]

Strontium carbonate is an innocuous chem with pottery uses so buy it from a pottery supplier. As it is low hazard -non flammable, there is no problem buying it by post, Most pyro suppliers will sell you small quantities without problems. 100g is a fair few stars, most potters suppliers want to sell kilos and that is too many stars!

[cooperman435]

I have stront carb already available now Have a look on the new site (or the link from my old site).

[MDH]

eBay is another place. If you look up any carbonate you will get literally thousands of results.

[dr thrust]

i think he's asking if the impurities will effect the color, and so whether to bother with it

[digger]

Has anyone ever had problems with the purity of pottery-grade SrCO3? Does it give a good red? Just wonder, cause it actually is not high purity I think...

I have had very good colour results with the stuff from pottery suppliers (naff when using pvc as a chlorine donor, but great with parlon).

[AdmiralDonSnider]

Yeah I was asking whether to bother with impurities. I´ve already got this stuff at home. Just wondered if my stars perform as intended: made some Lancaster red cut (no plastic as fuel, just red gum) and they looked slightly pinkish.

[portfire]

Yeah I was asking whether to bother with impurities. I´ve already got this stuff at home. Just wondered if my stars perform as intended: made some Lancaster red cut (no plastic as fuel, just red gum) and they looked slightly pinkish.

Lancasters KP#1 red is slightly pink. The best red I've seen that uses SrCO3 is 'Buell Red'. If you have MgAl try that. There's a video of them in action in the mine thread.