Where to get things for cheap

[SpiffyVision]

I've been making this list of the cheapest places to get certain things, alot of them are from freinds. Mumbles gets credit for the zinc powder and the sodium benzoate. Anyways here it is, hope you all like it, you can add more links of places to get things if you'd like:

Brass ball media, tungsten carbide media, basically all ball mill media except lead: E-sphere's eBay Store (http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=89099201&ssPageName=L2) He's not auctining off anything right now, just e-mail him for what you want and he'll tell you how much it'll cost. 300 brass balls for $25 plus $10 in shipping, thats still cheap considering that brass will last longer then steel.

Zinc powder, sulfur powder, and carbon/graphite powder (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2583153875&category=29402) : This guy's ebay store sells 10 lbs. powdered (625 mesh) zinc for $23, 7 lbs. of sulfur for $10, and 2 lbs. of carbon powder for $10. Theres probably a better place to get sulfur powder, I havent looked around as much though.


EDIT: I removed the others simply because there are people who are better off not knowing where to get them, thanks for the advice Frank, that never came to my mind.


Any other links will be appreciated :D

[HexenLord]

As far as online shopping goes, theres a pyro store online that sells a lot of chemicals which can be used in pyrotechnics and explosives. They sell KNO3, NH4 NO3, H3BO3, CaCO3, and Aluminum, Zinc, and Sulfur powders. Many oxidizers can be found here too. I'm not sure on the supply of the chemicals but I've been buying from them for some time and they never seemed to be out of stock. Go to http://www.pyrohobby.com/cart/ for a list of chemicals and prices.

[zaibatsu]

Moving to Chemicals, apparatus and equipment

[Hang-Man]

http://www.expeditedchemicals.com - they sell on ebay from time to time...bad prices, but just look at what they sell.

[Bert]

.

[SpiffyVision]

Originally posted by Bert
.


Its ok Bert, you can talk too.

[flashpoint]

Spiffy: I do believe I found all the Ebay links and gave them to you :) As in the sulfur and Zinc, and I mentioned the stuff about carbon :-D

[SpiffyVision]

Nope, another freind of mine found some zinc powder a long time ago and he showed me that link so I looked at his ebay store :D

[Hang-Man]

yes, I have been looking at them aswell, but they charge allot to ship to Canada.

[Timmmm]

Its OK if you're living in america. You've got pyrohobby.com, and that other site (something-blast, pyro-something, blast-something... I forget). Anyway, does anyone know of sites that will sell interesting chemicals to lowly people in the UK?

[Voyager]

You might also want to check out:

http://www.tannerite.com/
http://www.firefox-fx.com/
http://www.skylighter.com/
http://www.evhill.com/

(Note: I am not affiliated with any of these vendors)

[Timmmm]

In addition to my last post, I'm looking to make some BP... Haven't made any before. Anyway, need some potasium nitrate...

The only place I've found so far is here: http://www.silverprint.co.uk/

is £1.40 ($2.56) per 25g sounds expensive... is it?

Oh yeah... and sulpher.... Hmmm.... is there perhaps a database of chemicals, and common suppliers somewhere?

[Jacks Complete]

Perhaps we should have a UK OTC survey? Like the Oz. one?

I haven't bought any chemicals in a long time, as I haven't really done any "home chemistry" for a while, and I can buy some interesting things legally. Plus I still have a lot of stuff in a box somewhere (probably eating slowly out).

Having said that, I have just run out of aluminium powder, but I have a blender (use the search) and making rust isn't exactly rocket science!

[Dave Angel]

I've been meaning to get on with a survey of sorts but haven't had the time recently. I agree with Jack that a UK OTC survey would be a good idea, I believe some UK stores have already been surveyed in the main OTC survey thread. B&Q, Boots, Wilkinsons are the first that spring to mind.

There are also a lot of garden and pet stores which, whilst not being nationwide chains, tend to stock similar things from what I've seen. I wonder if it would be worth including local shops in the survey? At the very least it might show that the chemicals previously thought to be unobtainable OTC can be bought with cash in the UK.

[blindreeper]

If you want to do a pdf like mine I can give you the template as a word doc, and the site where I get the physical information. Drop me a line.

[Jacks Complete]

blindreeper, thanks for the offer. I just sent you an email for you to send the doc back too.

What I might do is code a database to cope with it as well, so that there doesn't need to be one person in charge, and it would let you search any way you wanted. What do you all think?

Perhaps it could be hosted on the main site, as that would be really cool. I could just send Megalomania the code, then we could all populate it. Currently, the OTC thread and this one, and others, all hold tiny bits of info, and you can't do a search like "Which shops sell KNO3 and sulphur?" which would be ideal.

Access could be restricted by post count and username, somewhat like the ftp, but automatic. This would stop problems like the OP had, as it wouldn't be immediately obvious to newbies and lurkers.

[wrench352]

Im constantly searching for sources. Regardless of how you feel about the subject matter, a good source of information, is to check out websites frequented by bees. Ive avoided these places for some time because I have very little interest in drug manufacture. However,when you consider the motivations(we blow up our products,they sell theirs for a profit) and the fact we run in the same circles, with careful searching some gems can be found. Great care should be taken as a good source could turn sour very quickly. The major sites now forbid the posting of sources,as I believe we should as well (when my source of PE was reveiled here, I cringed), so one might have to travel off the beaten path some. Use much caution as this could put you plainly on radar.

[Wild Catmage]

Maybe we could divide the task up, with each person doing a chain store.

Timmmm - £1.40 per 25g is expensive, check out
http://www.gardenchemicals.co.uk/products.htm
It's still expensive, but is cheaper than silverprint. The one thing that I'm not too sure about is why the site only sells Potassium Nitrate, Sulphur Powder, Sodium Nitrate and Ammonium Nitrate.

Sodium nitrate is easier to find and works ok, but you'll need to change the ratio slightly.

[metafractal]

Be careful of that store. It looks like it might be a Honeypot. These are fronts set up by the authorities to seem "to good to be true" for chemists that are doing things that the government dissaproves of. After ordering your products and being amazed at how unsuspecting and cooperative the staff were the authorities now have your name, address, other personal information aswell as a reason to suspect you. They can now keep an eye on you in order to send you to prison the moment you step out of line. Notice that the site only sold chemicals usefull in pyrotechnics and high explosives. None of the products were sold under commercial names to make it completely clear exactly what they were selling. There was very little other information or anything at all on the website. However it is strange that their products are still expensive like Wild Catmage said they were . These sites usually operate by having irresistably cheap prices.

Such honeypots have always been common for drug manafacturers ("Sale: Buy 10kg iodine crystals and red phosphorus for $15 so that uh... you too can make tinctures for all your friends and burn things!"), but now with the "age of terror" it is not unlikely that there are a few of these for pyros or 'terrorists'. Of course, on the other hand, it could just be a gardener who is selling chemicals that have been made very hard to get in other places. But the whowle situation seems a bit strange to me...

[zaibatsu]

No, that isn't a sting, many people have ordered large quantities from it without trouble

[infernal]

If you were to do a chemical database it might be worth organizing it by region. I know of a few places in canada that reglarly stock pharmacutical (or as close as your going to get) grade chemicals but you have to know where to look.

[kryss]

That uk website I think is just expensive.There is a UK based lab supplier with a website selling to individuals, but a 50 quid miminium order

[CommonScientist]

E-bay has a lot of good deals on stuff once and a while, but with shipping, it comes back to bite you in the ass. Some suppliers on there make you pay hazmat charges. Then there is the weight, dont buy chemicals in huge quantities like 100lbs of pyro grade, pure KNO3, the shipping charges are through the roof. But if there is free shipping(which is rare) go for it!

UPS seems to be a little rough on items, so make sure that they put a fragile/glass sticker on the box, even then they throw the stuff around like a ragdoll. If the ship it FedEx, your 100lbs of pure, pyro grade KNO3 will end up on some iland in the pacific with a demented guy and his ball "wilson".

Rhodium's drug database is good for some chemisrty stuff, its at the bottom of the page. There is also some downloads, but you need DJvu.

[mikey]

http://www.hyperdeath.co.uk

Try this web site. They have alot of good links to alot of very interesting sites. Some of the photo shops seem to stock awide range of chemicals a bit expensive though and the pool and hydrophonics sites stock hydrogen peroxide, hydrocloric and even nitric acid. finally the art/pottery shops do aluminium and loads of differnt metal compounds. ow and timmm you said you wanted kno3 the photo supply shop does it for about 2.50 per hundred grams.

[HopeIDontBlowUp]

I can't find anything in Canada besides bleeding arts industries and all they sell is smoke and black powder. I have a dude who will give me legal and totally legit chemicals but he takes forever and i don't wanna get him in trouble. Is there ANY store that sells real chemicals??????

[tmp]

I haven't compared this stores chemical prices but the visco fuze
price is the best I've seen. Go to: http://www.fireworksupply.net

They will be shipping more of the American visco the second week
of February 2004. However, they have Chinese green in stock if
you need it immediately.

SpiffyVision, your right about that seller on eBay with the zinc powder.
I'm waiting on my 2nd order from them.

[phone]

You can buy potassium nitrate in food stores. It´s used to conserve meat e.tc. Try to look for sulphur at an hobby-store, you use it to burn steel into stone and diffrent styles of painting. (ok, I am a tired swedish guy who can´t spell right now, ´cause I´m too tired, but don´t bust my ass for it)

[cactus3178]

If you need cheap, high purity Mg in the USA:

http://www.magnesiumsales.com/index.html

is a good place to go. They typically ship the same day, and the prices are hard to beat anywhere. It comes in blocks, so you'll have to drill it down to shaving, then mill it....But for the price, it's worth it.

[tmp]

:D

Cactus3178, that price is cheap on the higher quantities, and I won't mind
ball milling. I do that with aluminum anyway. Now where the hell did I put
that new credit card ? Time to to break it in ! :D :D :D

[cactus3178]

If you email to questions@magnesiumsales.com , they're always more than happy to work special orders, and typically get back to you pretty fast as well. They can go down to .5 lb increments (maybe less), so pretty much any amount you need is easy to get from them.

[Mumble]

Even if you choose not to mill, magnalium is a nice choice as well. Well, that is if you're making pyrotechnics. If using it as a redcing reagent, I'd imagine just drilling to get the turnings would work. Maybe crush them up a bit.

[tmp]

http://www.atlantishydroponics.com

KNO3 - 50 LBS - $19.95 + UPS shipping($22.99 UPS ground to my area)

Total $42.94 or about 86 cents a pound shipped. I'm sure there are
cheaper sources but it's less expensive than making it myself.

[tmp]

http://www.worldwideracingfuels.com

Nitromethane, 100%(they claim), 30.00 USD gallon plus shipping.

May or may not be cheap depending on your budget, but beats the
hell out of trying to separate it from the mixes containing methanol
and castor oil !


http://www.crscientific.com

Glass retorts, 250ml @ 39.95 USD each, 500ml @ 49.95 USD each.
Better than some of retort prices I've seen on eBay !

[shrek]

The one thing to watch out for when ordering from Worldwide Racing Fuels is the shipping. When 1 ordered 1 gal. of nitromethane it cost me more to have it shipped to CA than the item itself did (Shipping was $30.29, Item was $30.00). But the price still is not too bad, $60.29 / gal. It goes a long ways when making ANNM, especially if you use the ANNM as a booster for ANFO.

[tmp]

Shrek, your costs were probably high because of shipping from VA to CA.
In my case it's from VA to MD, a neighboring state, so my costs should
be a somewhat lower. How did your shipping costs breakdown ? I know
there will be a hazmat fee(Class 3 Flammable Liquid). Did you use UPS
ground ? Their hazmat fee for ground shipping is 20 USD.

[shrek]

It was shipped via UPS ground, but there was not much of a breakdown of the costs... just the $30.00 for the nitromethane and the $30.29 for shipping. From what you said, UPS ground $20.00 hazmat fee, shipping was not that bad then. I guess I'll have to order in larger quantities to make up for that hazmat fee, although I don't know if the feds would like me ordering up that 53 gallon drum of it :) . I guess shipping would be almost as bad for you, because the actual shipping cost minus hazmat was only ~ $10 to CA.

[tmp]

Yeah, I might save a dollar or 2. I used UPS's website and calculated
$29.10 for 12 LBS at 12" x 12" x 12" package. That is $9.10 for ground
shipping and a $20 hazmat fee. This is actually reasonable because I
would spend at least $25 in gas to drive there and pick it up(350 mile
round trip) ! Sounds like you got a pretty good deal to get it to CA !
I'll go with this for now until I find a cheaper or closer source.

Besides, some people here are paying about $15 for a litre of the shit
from the hobby stores that is only 35% nitromethane. The rest is castor
oil and methanol. I calculated it would take 11 litres at 35% to get
1 pure gallon. The cost including MD sales tax would be $173.25 and
of course there would be the aggravation of extraction.

[John13]

You might also want to check out:

http://www.tannerite.com/
http://www.firefox-fx.com/
http://www.skylighter.com/
http://www.evhill.com/

(Note: I am not affiliated with any of these vendors)

You may also want to check this place out good prices.
http://www.discountpyro.com/index.htm

[tmp]

Shrek, got my nitromethane today. I did save a couple of dollars. The total
was $56.44 but like you said there was no breakdown of actual shipping
costs. Still not bad considering the alternatives ! I just wish UPS wasn't so
fucking greedy about their hazmat fee for that relatively short distance !
Hell, for me it was 175 miles, for you it's at least 2500 !

BTW, got my Mg - it's time to drill, grind, and ball mill !

[tjh]

I'm surprised to hear that people in California are paying so much for pure Nitromethane. I get it from a local gasoline distributor who is happy to sell it in five gallon cans at about $30 per gallon, no charge for shipping or transportation, and you get to keep the can, too. Only a year ago I was paying $21 per gallonfor 99.9 % pure. I know that this seems like a lot to pay for NM, but it certainly lasts a long time. Perhaps some of your buddies can split costs. Of course, you are going to use if for racing, right? Just like a typical motorhead? Here in CA there are several drag strips which use it, people who mix it for fuel in their race boats, go-carts, sand rails, motorcycles, and just about anything else that goes fast. It isn't all that unusual that distributors get calls for it from motor freaks. VP Racing Fuels has an office/warehouse somewhere near Lake Elsinore, south of Riverside, CA. Call them up and ask to whom they distribute. Or, hook up with people who like to race, and you will soon find plenty of NM at a good price. :D

[boysbe]

Hmm, if your looking for cheap fireworks supply, I suggest to look for 3rd world countries which has a different perspective when it comes to fireworks and the iilegal.

Here in the Philippines for example a certain place here called Bulacan has a number of fireworks shops which are open all year long. This said shops even manufacture high calibre explosives and are used by certain terrorist groups troughout the world.

Ever heard about the different mall bombings?

They brought their hardware here in the Phil. A couple of fireworks mixture here, a certain mixture there and there you go, a high powered explosive.

++++++++

There's a thing called paragraphs that we like to see used in posts here. NBK