Putt, potassium nitrate is one of the few pyro chems that is still
being sold on eBay, and at rather minimal prices. (Although I can't
speak to the quality, but it's probably good enough for rockets, black
powder and other pyro projects that aren't very demanding. I believe
that the last listing of KNO3 that I saw on eBay was $0.99/lb, plus
what seemed to me at the time to be reasonable shipping cost. IIRC, the
same seller was offering 5 and 10 lb quantities as well, plus had in my
mind a reasonably good feedback record.
Then too, here in the Northeast, a reasonably pure for of KNO3 is being
sold at many garden and hydronics (if that's the correct term)
retailers. Generally in a brand called K-Power. Although I don't need
any, I asked the guys at Agway (our local farm and garden supplier) and
although they don't carry it in stock, since I am a regular customer
they would be glad to order it for me (5 40-lb bag minimum at $16.50 a
bag) either in granular or prell form. I decline the offer telling them
that my lawn and garden were green enough from my copious use of Scotts
and Miracle Grow! (LOL)
Putt, for what purpose do you need the KNO3? If you are making black
powder or rockets, I'm sure that the pure fertilizer grade would work
out perfectly well for you, based upon the past experience of user who
have posted on this newsgroup. If you need only a few pound, check out
the seller on eBay, but be sure to look at their feedback which gives
you an indication of how reliable, honest, and credible they are.
On the other hand, if you want to use it to make stars and similar
item, the fertilizer grade may not measure up to your expectations,
since the impurity content may significantly affect their color. At any
rate, potassium nitrate arguately remains one of the most easily
obtained pyro reagents available here in the US, and is useful for many
purposes from black powder and simple flash mixtures to stars and even
garden fertilizer. Just as with a hog, nothing goes to waste! :-)
Kindest regards, Harry C.
Put, last year
Post by Putt.....Still available "over-the-counter" here in the states?? I know Sodium
Nitrate is available in our local garden store, but not Potassium..
I would like to try and make some sugar/Potassium Nitrate/sulfur small
rockets just to see how they come out... First "roll your own"
Pyro project for me...
Putt...