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Chempac sulphur


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#1 wju92

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 08:26 PM

is chempac sulphur from Gardens direct the correct sulphur to use

#2 wjames

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 08:53 PM

Correct sulphur for what use ????? your garden YES

Pyro....NO

you'd be better off with something you know the quality of......don't garden direct do powdered sulphur?????


And, whatever you do, dont order an oxidiser, and sulphur at the same time from the same company.....you'd be as well asking for a bag or charcoal too !

#3 spanner

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 09:42 PM

The percentage of sulfur should be on the bag. IMHO, if its at least 90% there should be no problem using it for black powder, lift, etc.

90% sulfur will make BP that has only 1% clay or other non-sulfur ingredients in it if you use the standard 75/15/10 ratio.

#4 portfire

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 10:47 PM

I would bet that Garden Direct sulphur is 'Flowers of sulphur', which is fine (ish) for BP but, you want to find a low acidic sulphur and your best bet is 'Rhombic Sulphur'
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#5 wju92

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 10:51 PM

The percentage of sulfur should be on the bag. IMHO, if its at least 90% there should be no problem using it for black powder, lift, etc.

90% sulfur will make BP that has only 1% clay or other non-sulfur ingredients in it if you use the standard 75/15/10 ratio.


thanks i made some black powder with GD pottasium nitrate BBQ charcoal and the Chempac sulphur it had a really slow burn. about a half inch round, centimetre high mound burnt in, 2-3 seconds with a weired hard brown residue any ideas? i think i should be using willow charcoal. the box doesn't say anthing on percentage.

Edited by wju92, 31 October 2008 - 10:55 PM.


#6 wju92

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 10:57 PM

I would bet that Garden Direct sulphur is 'Flowers of sulphur', which is fine (ish) for BP but, you want to find a low acidic sulphur and your best bet is 'Rhombic Sulphur'


the sulphur is bright yellow 2-3 mm discs no information on packet about its acidity.

#7 wjames

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 11:16 PM

how fine where the chemicals ??? how did you grind the sulphur, how did you mix it.....and was it lumpwood charcoal, or compressed stuff.


im my experience, bbq style charcoal is pants....other people have had good results though.

#8 wju92

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 11:42 PM

how fine where the chemicals ??? how did you grind the sulphur, how did you mix it.....and was it lumpwood charcoal, or compressed stuff.


im my experience, bbq style charcoal is pants....other people have had good results though.


it was lumpwood, i used a wooden pestle and mortar. the powder wasn't like flour but i couldn't get it any better

Edited by wju92, 31 October 2008 - 11:43 PM.


#9 wjames

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 12:12 AM

how long did you grind it for ??

and did you do it seperatly, or as BP....how much did you grind at a time ????

#10 pyromaniac303

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 12:17 AM

I use chempak sulfur, I buy it from a garden centre in doncaster who also sell potassium nitrate. It seems to be good quality to me, and I use it in my fast 24 hour milled willow BP. I think from the way it is in solid pellets, it is roll sulfur, rather than the acidic flowers of sulfur. Flowers of sulfur can only be found in powdered form as far as I can remember, due to the way it is produced.

I think you should probably start looking into the charcoal and processing more than anything, also try extremely small batches of meal powder in your mortar and pestle, such as only one gram. The time to grind doesnt seem proportional to the amount of material in the mortar and pestle, for instance:
1g might take 5 minutes to reach the same burn rate/mesh size, whereas 5g might take over an hour!

To improve the quality further, you might want to look into the CIA method, although I have no experience of this. Better still use a ball mill.
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#11 wju92

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 12:23 AM

I use chempak sulfur, I buy it from a garden centre in doncaster who also sell potassium nitrate. It seems to be good quality to me, and I use it in my fast 24 hour milled willow BP. I think from the way it is in solid pellets, it is roll sulfur, rather than the acidic flowers of sulfur. Flowers of sulfur can only be found in powdered form as far as I can remember, due to the way it is produced.

I think you should probably start looking into the charcoal and processing more than anything, also try extremely small batches of meal powder in your mortar and pestle, such as only one gram. The time to grind doesnt seem proportional to the amount of material in the mortar and pestle, for instance:
1g might take 5 minutes to reach the same burn rate/mesh size, whereas 5g might take over an hour!

To improve the quality further, you might want to look into the CIA method, although I have no experience of this. Better still use a ball mill.


does it need to be really fine like flour to burn quikly. and i will get willow charcoal tomorrow

#12 spanner

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 02:23 AM

I think you should probably start looking into the charcoal and processing more than anything...

I would agree to this wholeheartedly- willow charcoal should make a big difference. Get airfloat if possible. IMHO, it's worth the extra if you don't yet have a ball mill.

does it need to be really fine ...

You can't get it too fine- the finer the better. If you try using the CIA method it might not be quite as critical.

Edited by spanner, 01 November 2008 - 02:25 AM.


#13 Night Owl

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 08:11 AM

While we are on the subject I buy my sulphur from B&Q, its called a sulphur candle and it has marked on it "98% sulphur":) makes great bp, I do have to use a ball mill though.

#14 wju92

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 03:45 PM

Thanks everyone for your help.




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