1235 replies to this topic

[alany]

KNO3 is good for tomatos, while NH4NO3 is more used for palms - as far as back-yard scale gardening goes... However most people just buy mixed stuff from the hardware store or nursury now days.

[littlejohny]

When I was purchasing my KNO3 I had prepared what I was going to say if they asked for what I was using it for. It took me a surprisingly long time to find out what plants it's used on, 1gram per litre of water to be used on peaches, apples, plums, etc.

[Andrew]

That?s good advice littlejohny, but being honest is also a good avenue to follow. If GD one day turn round and start asking questions, firstly I'll be shocked, and secondly they?ll loose that millionth of a percent of custom if they decide not to sell for pyro uses.

There are plenty of suppliers around that are far cheaper than GD, and there are also a few dedicated Pyro suppliers who accept what it will be used for. If your honest it really won?t draw that much attention, if you lie and the supplier is suspicious you would probably get more attention than was necessary.

[littlejohny]

That?s good advice littlejohny, but being honest is also a good avenue to follow. If GD one day turn round and start asking questions, firstly I'll be shocked, and secondly they?ll loose that millionth of a percent of custom if they decide not to sell for pyro uses.

There are plenty of suppliers around that are far cheaper than GD, and there are also a few dedicated Pyro suppliers who accept what it will be used for. If your honest it really won?t draw that much attention, if you lie and the supplier is suspicious you would probably get more attention than was necessary.

I personally used to think that but I learned the hard way, there is too much prejudice towards pyrotechnics nowadays and people think you?re a bad person for making fireworks, and jump to the conclusion that you?re a terrorist. So I think it?s just easier to make excuses and lie then tell the truth. I don?t like it that way but what can I do.

[Andrew]

I know, it's a sad old world we live in, the biggest problem is the things people do not understand, scare them. Another problem is that there are a lot of goody two shoes around, I remember once when SO-13 came to my house at 5am because some tw*t of a pharmacist though he'd be cleaver and report me to the anonymous anti-terrorist hotline because of the way my email address was spelt. There really are some prized di*ks around. It all worked out fine though.

But that?s why there are specialist pyro suppliers around, some are also cheaper than GD and the other shops alike.

Also with the BPS gaining momentum perhaps a little education may start to be accessible in the near future.

[pyrotrev]

Although one has to be a bit circumspect about the way you buy stuff, if you look at the bigger picture it can seem a bit daft. For example, I've had to put a lot of money and effort into having proper legal secure storage facilities for my stuff, but some of the local farmers have tonnes of NH4NO3 in their barns in late spring, in full view of any TD&H that walks/drives past. Funny old world.

[Andrew]

Although one has to be a bit circumspect about the way you buy stuff, if you look at the bigger picture it can seem a bit daft. For example, I've had to put a lot of money and effort into having proper legal secure storage facilities for my stuff, but some of the local farmers have tonnes of NH4NO3 in their barns in late spring, in full view of any TD&H that walks/drives past. Funny old world.

Yeah I know, they just have 16+ tonnes in 500kg sacks unsecure, absolutely mad!!

[redcone]

Hi,

Just wanted to thank boris_73 for his supplier information as my 100ft of Visco fuse arrived safely yesterday from www.pyroplanet.co.uk (Cost ?25 including delivery, arrived in 6 days from U.S.A.)

I assume it is OK to send fuse internationally

Regards,
Simon.

[Andrew]

Depends,

Visco falls into hazard class 1.4S (when packaged correctly)

Which in short means, if the explosive were to <insert your own word for go off>, the container would completely contain the blast/debris/hot gaseous products.

Goods in this class are generally considered alongside non-hazardous products. However, many couriers and certainly most postal services will not take them due to outright bans on hazardous goods for insurance reasons.

Technically even HE could be in class 1.4S if it were transported in a super thick steel box which could hold several hundred thousand bar of pressure. But science-improbable aside, there are not many things that a cardboard box and a bit of plastic can hold. Visco would burn its way through plastic and cardboard. To transport Visco in class 1.4S you would require a very thick thermosetting plastic bag or a metal container including a heat sink. You would have to trial the packaging yourself and document the tests to prove the packaging is suitable, or find existing approved containers.

Unless the Visco was packaged to exceptional standards, it should not be shipped in class 1.4S. Should it be shipped under another class 1, IATA rules do not permit it to be transported (generally, there are a few exceptions though). As your fuse was sent by air mail, and not by sea freight, It should be in class 1.4S, it should be packaged correctly and be labelled correctly.

Packaging as discussed before and a UN hazard class label including the UN number for Visco on the outside of the box. This label needs to be by, law at least 10cm x 10cm; your Visco should have come in a pretty big box. If the box did not have a yellow (or black if there is a limited quantity for Visco) diamond shape label on the outside, it was certainly shipped illegally. Also if the Visco came in a thin plastic bag, it was certainly shipped illegally.

If it did come in a big box with a big label on the outside and the Visco was in pretty substantial packaging, it was probably shipped completely legally.

I hope that answers your question!

[EnigmaticBiker]

Seriously detailed answer Andrew, has set me thinking of packaging designs to contain visco and othe 1.4S.

Havent done any packaging technology in ages, I wonder if anyone might be interested commercially?

[boris_73]

Hi,

Just wanted to thank boris_73 for his supplier information as my 100ft of Visco fuse arrived safely yesterday from www.pyroplanet.co.uk (Cost ?25 including delivery, arrived in 6 days from U.S.A.)

I assume it is OK to send fuse internationally

Regards,
Simon.

Your welcome.

[pyrotrev]

I'm not sure that Visco in any reasonable amount should ordinarily be classed as 1.4S, unless it has been specially packaged. Some of my suppliers have it as 1.4G, others 1.3G (but that is perc. based stuff), try lighting a 100m coil of it and you may admit that they have a point! Problem with visco (unlike Bickford or shell delay fuse) is that it's liable to side ignition, hence if you light a coil, after a while you get multiple strands burning and quite a lot of fire . I believe there are moves afoot to remove the 1.4S category from a lot of pyrotechnic articles too.

[Andrew]

True, once the heat builds up in the box you have something more like quick match than Visco.

If visco is made to a high standard there should be little change of side ignition. As I said, to justify it you have to preform real tests and document to an engineering standard the results of those tests. Once you can prove it can be held by the packaging you intend to use, you are free to use it. You basically have to make sure your packaging meets to set standards. There are various standards around that manufacturers make their products to, (so they can sell them for more money), and others can use it without performing their own tests.

[BigBang]

Regarding GD........i have it from the top man himself, that you can all buy as much KNO3/S or anything else you want without any problems. He is aware what a lot of the KNO3/S is used for, and he doesnt mind, coz its not illegal....!!

I go there regularly to buy various items, and we've dicussed this, and he's fine with it. So you can all buy whatever you want, and as much as you want without worrying, and thats official


Andy

[r.burgy]

i have a chemistry question. at passfire,he talks about the nitrate not being a very big deal on the quality. is fertilizer nitrogen the same thing.for instance 46-0-0 lawn fert.please keep any answers as simple as possible as i am still learning.
thanks all who can help