Blacking: No I won't sell you any nitrate?

[graffian]

I wondered if anyone knows where to buy potassium nitrate off the shelf?
I called in at my local farm supplies, who I used to get ammonium nitrate from and they
basically don't sell any thing you can make explosions from now!
The blacking recipes I have seen all need ammonium/potassium/sodium nitrate.

 

[rtbcomp]

You have to get written permission from the Home Office if you are an individual, but if you're a business you only need an official purchase order.

 

[Rig Pig]

I had exactly the same problem when I wanted some hydrochloric acid.

 

[brewdexta]

I've still got 4 gallon of HCL I got via the bay no questions asked. Free to a good home, pick up only

 

[Rig Pig]

I've still got 4 gallon of HCL I got via the bay no questions asked. Free to a good home, pick up only

If only you weren't so far away I'd snap your hand off!

 

[mike os]

Plenty on ebay last time I looked

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

You can buy in small quantities from diy meat curing / sausage making outlets online.

 

[graffian]

I am just waiting for a price on chemical blacking salts. may well be no more expensive than over priced saltpetre; well I can hope.

I could do with a 1/2 litre of hydrochloric acid, I am almost out of the copper etching crystals, hydrochloric acid and peroxide
is said to be better?

 

[rtbcomp]

I had exactly the same problem when I wanted some hydrochloric acid.

I didn't realise that was on the list, nitric acid certainly is and I think peroxide is too. Basically if you can use it in a bomb you can't get it so easily these days.

 

[roofman]

I didn't realise that was on the list, nitric acid certainly is and I think peroxide is too. Basically if you can use it in a bomb you can't get it so easily these days.

thankgod

 

[awemawson]

I use very small quantities for curing hams and bacon - bought the last couple of kg off ebay and it's still listed

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I am just waiting for a price on chemical blacking salts. may well be no more expensive than over priced saltpetre; well I can hope.

I could do with a 1/2 litre of hydrochloric acid, I am almost out of the copper etching crystals, hydrochloric acid and peroxide
is said to be better?

The last PCB I did I used liquid Ferric Chloride from Maplins at £12.99 for 250ml .
When that runs out I am going to try the brick acid and Hydrogen Peroxide solution.

 

[eSCHEn]

Ferric Chloride from Maplins at £12.99 for 250ml

Yoinks! No crystals available?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Yoinks! No crystals available?

Not any longer!

 

[eSCHEn]

Not any longer!

Nervously I ran to check Farnell and all is still cool there, phew! http://cpc.farnell.com/pcb-chemicals-ferric-chloride
Hang on, that doesn't look like normal crystals?

 

[PTvor]

It never did look like crystals, at least not the stuff I bought, it was yellow globules.

I found that hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide worked better and was cheaper - oh hang on aren't these both controlled substances these days?

When potassium nitrate really was important for making gunpowder it, was made from urine and wood ash in a sort of composting process.

IIRC phosphorus was also first made from evaporated and then distilled urine.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

It never did look like crystals, at least not the stuff I bought, it was yellow globules.

I found that hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide worked better and was cheaper - oh hang on aren't these both controlled substances these days?

When potassium nitrate really was important for making gunpowder it, was made from urine and wood ash in a sort of composting process.

IIRC phosphorus was also first made from evaporated and then distilled urine.

You can still buy Hydrochloric acid 15% as brick acid from builders merchants and hairdressing wholesellers stock Hydrogen Peroxide. I think both are available from swimming pool maintenance companies as well.

 

[eSCHEn]

Hairdressing supplies won't do large bottles of peroxide to "non-trade" any more

 

[PTvor]

I have the distinct impression that we are being treated like children by a bureaucracy which doesn't actually have much of a clue.

 

[zzr1200]

I have the distinct impression that we are being treated like children by a bureaucracy which doesn't actually have much of a clue.

Nothing has changed then.....they still don't have a clue...