35 replies to this topic

[ph30nix]

Hello,

i want to make a simple smoke generator from things i can use around the home.

I know about the potassium nitrate (6parts) and sugar (4parts) melted together, but is there any other possibilties that would be easy to get.

Thanks,
Ph30nIX

[alany]

It really doesn't get much easier to source than Potassium Nitrate and Sugar.

[adamw]

Please note the *melting* part of the procedure is quite hazardous. If the mixture starts to turn darker in colour, remove the heat. If you see any smoke, get away fast!

[ph30nix]

Hello

Please note the *melting* part of the procedure is quite hazardous. If the mixture starts to turn darker in colour, remove the heat. If you see any smoke, get away fast!

I've heard a story about this, some guy got his whole house filled with smoke

Im quite young, so its not really that easy to get the things i need, i've heard about extracting Potassium nitrate from soil, is this a possibility?

[Andrew]

i've heard about extracting Potassium nitrate from soil, is this a possibility?

Someone has been reading the "JRC" haven't they!!!

To answer your question; No. Just about the only thing you can extract fron soil is dirt .

[RegimentalPyro]

Not quite true.

KNO3 is formed by the actions of certain soil bearing bacteria on Ammonia and ammonia salts. This led in historical times to KNO3 extraction processes essentially revolving around the towns ordure [cess] pits.

I believe one recipe for making KNO3 began "Take the urine of a dead drunk man".

Anybody got any other information about how KNO3 was sourced in days gone by?

[pritch]

I know that guy fawkes use to go round collecting s**t to make his potassium nitrate for the gunpowder plot. I cant remember if it was horse s**t, human s**t or theres a possibility that it was more like manure. Or both can be used. I'm sure both are high in nitrogen.

I think basically anything that is rotten has high levels of nitrogen.

Edited by pritch, 10 July 2005 - 11:35 PM.

[Richard H]

Not quite true, it is believed he bought the gunpowder from the decendants of Pains Firework Company of Salisbury.

http://www.painsfire...uk/company3.htm

[seymour]

Last night...no the night before I saw on BBC's "Rough Science" someone making a recrystalised KNSU "flare". He got the sugar from boiling sugarcane in a pot of water and the Potassium nitrate from the same process with bat droppings. It all was posible but how he got good quality potassium nitrate and made a succesful rocket after multiple tests in three days was a little far feched, as was the briliant purple of his touch paper. But I can garentee that you can buy Potassium nitrate, regardless of your age. ......www.gardendirect.co.uk......hint....hint.....

[Richard H]

Bat droppings would probably yield guanidine nitrate, not potassium nitrate.

[pritch]

Well I watched a program with Tony Robinson where they were going round collecting crap saying this is how he did it....

[lord_dranack]

For making salpeter, check out:
http://docsouth.unc....lt/leconte.html

Although it can be easily bought, its a project I'm quite interested in trying- too bad my parents won't let me put a nitre bed in their garden!

[adamw]

If you are really desperate, go into your cellar / basement etc. There may be KNO3 forming on the walls if they are damp. This was my first source back in my early days!