Years ago, I used to buy stump remover to use the potassium nitrate in flares and black powder - never had any problems. Recently the need for a potassium nitrate flare has arisen again, so I bought more stump remover. After trying to use it, though, I'm not sure it's the same stuff.

It looks and feels like the same white poder. Water soluble, as it should be. It didn't seem quite right, though. It smelled differently after being added to the caramelized sugar. It didn't seem to mix as easily. After it had set and cooled I tried to burn some, but it would only blacken and smoulder a bit over the heat of a lighter. As it smoulders, it seems to "grow" a bit the way those lame snake fireworks do. I tried making it a second time, but got the same results. I'm wondering if maybe the manufacturers of this stump remover have switched to a different oxidizer? Or is there any other theory that could possibly explain how I fucked up a simple potassium nitrate flare?

If anyone is interested, I've included a short video of some of the failed batch smouldering. I used a blow torch because it makes the stuff "grow" faster. http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=16CE1OEHR0ERH1F7H7CELEDPQQ

It is possible that the KNO3 was wet as it can absorb moisture from the air. Placing the KNO3 on a plate and putting it in a warm NOT HOT oven just enough warmth to drive off any moisture should fix the problem. If that do'nt work, im "stumped" get it?.



[This message has been edited by hell fire (edited 03-13-2006).]

I doubt it, but it could possibly be bonide. However it also could just be wet.

Hell Fire, you are thinking about NH4NO3. KNO3 doesn't absorb moisture from the air. It sounds like you got the wrong brand, or your ratios are wrong. What brand is it? O, and we call it Smoke Mix or SM, here.

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Originally posted by smokeymcpot420:
Hell Fire, you are thinking about NH4NO3. KNO3 doesn't absorb moisture from the air. It sounds like you got the wrong brand, or your ratios are wrong. What brand is it? O, and we call it Smoke Mix or SM, here.

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Actually, the brand is Bonide. Apparently that's what TheAlmightyVineMan suspected. So what does that mean?

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Originally posted by TheMightyGoat:
Actually, the brand is Bonide. Apparently that's what TheAlmightyVineMan suspected. So what does that mean?

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Bonide is not KNO3 (last time I checked at least).

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Originally posted by smokeymcpot420:
Hell Fire, you are thinking about NH4NO3. KNO3 doesn't absorb moisture from the air.

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KNO3 is hygroscopic too.

EDIT: Found this, it supports my diagnosis. http://66.117.45.201/ep/projectsdevicesdir/kno3.html

[This message has been edited by TheAlmightyVineMan (edited 03-13-2006).]

Ballsack.

Thanks for the help.

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Originally posted by TheAlmightyVineMan:
KNO3 is hygroscopic too.

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Really? I dident know that... Yep, bonide is crap. Get grants or greenlight.

KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) MSDS.
http://www.skylighter.com/msds/POTASSIUM%20NITRATE%20MSDS.htm

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Originally posted by hell fire:
KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) MSDS.
[URL=http: //www.skyl ighter.com /msds/POTA SSIUM%20NI TRATE%20MS DS.htm]htt p://www.sk ylighter.com/msds/POTASSIUM%20NITRATE%20MSDS.htm[/URL]

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KNO3 is the same thing as Nitric Acid?

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Originally posted by TheMightyGoat:
KNO3 is the same thing as Nitric Acid?

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Nitric acid is HNO3.

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Originally posted by TheAlmightyVineMan:
Nitric acid is HNO3.

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That's what I thought. But why is it listed as a synonym for Potassium Nitrate on Hell Fire's link?

It's listed as "nitric acid, potassium salt". It's a salt of the acid.

http://tinyurl.com/etnly

↑ damn, what a ripoff

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Originally posted by smokeymcpot420:
Hell Fire, you are thinking about NH4NO3. KNO3 doesn't absorb moisture from the air. It sounds like you got the wrong brand, or your ratios are wrong. What brand is it? O, and we call it Smoke Mix or SM, here.

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KNO3 is moderatly hydroscopic...

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Originally posted by Mokothar:
↑ damn, what a ripoff

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are you kidding me. those prices are the best ive seen anywhere. how much do you get it for then?

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Originally posted by SHIMSTAR:
are you kidding me. those prices are the best ive seen anywhere. how much do you get it for then?

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Yes you can get it cheaper.
Lol over here in the UK we can get 25kg for �40 hehe and cheaper for some.

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Originally posted by SHIMSTAR:
are you kidding me. those prices are the best ive seen anywhere. how much do you get it for then?

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half that (two Euros and change per kilo), and a train ticket.

snort it and if you get high it isnt kno3

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Originally posted by hell fire:
Yes you can get it cheaper.
Lol over here in the UK we can get 25kg for �40 hehe and cheaper for some.

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Where do you buy yoyrs from for �40 per 25k! i pay �2.79 per lbs!

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Originally posted by fuckbiscuit:
Where do you buy yoyrs from for �40 per 25k! i pay �2.79 per lbs!

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If you've got MSN i'll tell you. hellfire_808@hotmail.com

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Originally posted by hell fire:
If you've got MSN i'll tell you. hellfire_808@hotmail.com

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i'll add you.