13 replies to this topic

[Chris]

Hi Guys, first of all i'd like to say hello to you all, as this is my first post. Been reading for quite a while now, I must say you make very informative posts round here.

Anyway, to the point. I'd like to order if anyone has placed an order from Labpak chemicals before, I searched and could only find posts about getting charcoal from them and people who haven't made an order.

I made an order for some KNO3, S, Fe filings, Sucrose, and Cu Oxide the other day over the phone on my credit card, they asked me what I wanted it for and I just said I wanted to top up my supplies because i've ran out, then the woman said "the lady who deals with this sort of thing isn't in today, so your order won't be sent until she gets in". What's that supposed to mean, had me kind of anxcious really!

Their prices seem good (except for the delivery), so I was wondering if anyone has had an order delivered from them before.

Thanks!

[BigG]

Please search again. This question and many others - about labpak chimicals, been asked many times before.

[Chris]

Ahh, I found it nestled inside other treads, I apologise.

For anyone reading who wants to know, they send the order within 2 or 3 days if you say 'for experimental reasons' or something like that when you type it in the web form. Seems like if they don't ring you back then you get your order.

Thanks

[Chris]

My order arrived today, not bad delivery time, and the order was pretty cheap in itself, so i'm happy. I can start experimenting this weekend now, as my set of scales came the other day too. Got them off ebay, ?30 for 200x0.1g.

[Gor]

incidentally, dont kid yourselves that Labpak don't know what is going on. If you search on google for 'labpak' this forum comes up fifth on the list.

What company doesn't serch for themselves from time to time to see what comes up. I know we do.

I have had lost of stuff off them and I always find them pleasant and efficient, they sort of know what I do and don't ask too many questions, but then I do stay (just) on the right side of the law.

Edited by Gor, 21 November 2003 - 10:53 PM.

[Chris]

What is it that you do then gor? To stay on the right side of the law I mean. Am I right in thinking that small quantities of comp are legal, as long as they are not in the form of a complete device?

Edited by Chris, 21 November 2003 - 11:15 PM.

[Gor]

If you look at some of my early posts you will see what I do. Mostly I build fire sculptures, such as waterfalls using burning liquids, or big poles of burning flames, or dragons packed with Mg powder. I have been working on hydrogen balloons recently, coupled in long chains and lit at the bottom. Sometimes we have fire jugglers etc involved.

We do shows in the summer mostly, and I am too busy at the mo to do much (I also run a small practice designing ecological buildings and restoring churches etc).

If I mix chemicals it is purely for 'experimental purposes', Actually I do mix chemicals for the shows, and I find it difficult to interpret exactly how far I can go and stay inside the law, but the police have been present at some of my shows and don't seem to have arrested me yet.

Labpak have a general idea of what I do, but I have not yet asked them for perchlorates, which might be pushing the boundaries. However I do buy through my firm and make no secret of what I do.

[The_Djinn]

Gor, whilst ordering a few items I did "inoccently" enquire as to why it did not appear on their web site or in the catalouge and was told they used to stock it and probably could should there be a requirement ( was said in such a way that if you can justify the requierement then they would supply it ). I do know that Twinstar chemicals show it on there web site but have not dealt with them but I assume that since it is on the gov's list they would probably want a good reason for a persons request.

[maxman]

Any Idea as to why Labpak quite happily sells potassium chlorate and not perchlorate when the latter is safer?

[PanMaster]

Simply because potassium chlorate is a lab oxidiser, easily made to yield oxygen by heating, and potassium perchlorate isn't, its only used in pyro normally.

[The_Djinn]

If you live in the States it is also used in some of the high powered rocket engines. From what I have seen on the web, even the rocket boy's over here are restricked by the UK laws. I am still rooting around to see why the laws were tightened so much in this country as a few of our EU counterparts dont appear to be as restricked as we are.
Strange since most of our laws are based on the EU, just appears that as usual the the powers that be in this country push the definitions for these laws to the limit.
I will leave it at that or I will go on all night...

Mark

[BigG]

If you live in the States it is also used in some of the high powered rocket engines. From what I have seen on the web, even the rocket boy's over here are restricked by the UK laws. I am still rooting around to see why the laws were tightened so much in this country as a few of our EU counterparts dont appear to be as restricked as we are.
Strange since most of our laws are based on the EU, just appears that as usual the the powers that be in this country push the definitions for these laws to the limit.
I will leave it at that or I will go on all night...

Mark

Actually, when it comes to pyrotechnic, Britain is the most advance when it comes to law. Europe does not have anything even remotely close to the level of understanding of the profession. The USA explosive regulation is based on the UK explosive act.

Why it?s so hard here? Well, I can?t say for sure. It was not a hundred years ago. Probably, with the lost of commercial appeal for manufacturer, the art was largely abounded and with today morality, dealing with explosive look suspicious. Spending lots of my time reading the law, it is not impossible to become legal. In fact, it might be very similar to how you do it in the USA! The problem, that with virtually no legal amateurs around, someone has to be the first.

The requirements are very similar to what you would expect in the USA. You have to have an explosive storage that is legal by the consul (which is possible ? if you have the land, and willing to put a reasonable amount into a portable structure. Problem is, will your neighbours be so understanding?. In the USA ? ?Land of the free?, it is perceived that everyone can follow his or her dream. Is you are located within a reasonable distance from the next house (like a farm), you are not likely to meet much objections. Here ? hell will break loose with such suggestion.

When you done this ? you have to get it approved by the HSE, which is technicality.

[The_Djinn]

So BigG,

In basic terms if someome was to find a nice friendly farmer or disused military base where a couple of porta cabins / structures could be set up under the relavant HSE guidlines and the correct license was obtained for the site then this could open the doors for further developemnt of the amature pyro scene.
Almost seems like if we can get one up and running to use as a model it could pave the way forward for other sites accross the country.

Maybe we should continue to throw ideas / information around in the "BPS Providing Home For Amateur Firework Makers" thread.
I know from that thread you have had initial contact with HSE BigG, maybe we need to scope out the exact requierement and see where we can get to from there.

Mark

[KNO3]

Yes, sounds a brilliant idea. Legal amature pyros are too rare, so the government is not inclined to be leanient, but if we managed to get a proper legal system going, then the government would probably be more inclined to help us, hopefully. The problem, will, enevitibly, be funds.

Edited by KNO3, 06 October 2005 - 07:43 AM.