Ray Mears talks about making fire by mixing potassium permangenate and anti freeze. Does anyone know where you would get potassium permangenate?
chemical fire
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Just ask in your local pharmacy. People are getting a bit leery about selling it since it is used in the manufacture of some of the less amusing recreational chemicals and various IEDs
Red
Red
I got mine in Boots a few years back, very fine powder, which is apprently out of date! It's not as if it is for consumption, so what could have possibly gone wrong with it? Surely it will still do the same things it is supposed to do such as making my feet go purple if I use it to get rid of athletes foot.
I got some strange looks when I have asked for it in chemists, pretty sure my reg was taken when I returned to the car!
Try http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/details.asp?productid=POP25 this is where I got it from (I think) IIRC I had to phone to order though.Postage was about three quid.
Try http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/details.asp?productid=POP25 this is where I got it from (I think) IIRC I had to phone to order though.Postage was about three quid.
Chemicals can alter over time, due to exposure to other chemicals in the air, and the like. So just about everything is dated these days - it's to remove liability. And Potassium Permanganate IS used to purify water and clean wounds... so one must be cautious. If you're just planning on using it for chemical fire, then it shouldn't be much of an issue though. Either it will make fire or it won't
EdS
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
got mine from a lab. 1kg of analytical grade.
A dilute solution is very good for treating athletes foot.
A dilute solution is very good for treating athletes foot.
I've found that combining a modest heap of potassium permanganate with a couple of drops of glycerin (readily available from the pharmacy; often used in icing cakes) with gentle heat (sunlight on a good day or the warmth of your hand with the chemicals on some aluminium foil) produces a good flame - certainly enough to get a fire going. The only trouble is there's no really accurate way of predicting when the reaction will kick off. you just have to be ready!
I've also heard tell of folk who have got similar results from pot. perm. and Kendal Mint cake. Does anyone know how or is this just a rumour?
I've also heard tell of folk who have got similar results from pot. perm. and Kendal Mint cake. Does anyone know how or is this just a rumour?
Very similar to the old "Co-op mix" of sugar and weedkiller (further information withheld!) - it does burn energetically, with a sweet smelling smoke (suprise suprise). Though I'm not sure about its ignition - whether it has to be ignited by a flame, spark or mere percussion.
Ogri the trog
The way I was taught to do it, you mix an equal quantities of P.P. with glycerol (also available from the chemists, but present in anti-freeze hence its use). Mix a small quantity (less than a teaspoon of each) in a paper wrap - dont worry if the quantities are small enough it shouldnt go up immediately- leave on the ground or log round for around 5-10 seconds and it should start to smoke then combust into flame - good 'party trick' to show to scouts etc. Dont be afraid of going into your local pharmacy to ask for P.P. - just tell them you need it to treat athletes foot- although I dont like to lie to people I doubt that they would understand your real reasons, however honest and justifiable.
When I was a young nare do well I got it from the local chemists.
Thinking back on it they used to sell all manner of dodgy stuff to me with no serious questioning, doubt I would manage to buy that kind of stuff nowadays.
Between them and the local paint shop, camping shop, garden centre and Tescos you could make quite a bit.
Thinking back its surprising I have all my fingers and toes.
Thinking back on it they used to sell all manner of dodgy stuff to me with no serious questioning, doubt I would manage to buy that kind of stuff nowadays.
Between them and the local paint shop, camping shop, garden centre and Tescos you could make quite a bit.
Thinking back its surprising I have all my fingers and toes.
EDITED
Harsh but needed words of warning tourist, i always forget that people can be so dumb/ill educated, and the above method is only meant to be used for survival conditions and NEVER ready mixed, when all else fails use it but only when all else fails.
Harsh but needed words of warning tourist, i always forget that people can be so dumb/ill educated, and the above method is only meant to be used for survival conditions and NEVER ready mixed, when all else fails use it but only when all else fails.
i went to my local ASDA pharmacy, and was quoted £14.95 for a tiny box of pot perm tablets
the link earlier in this thread no longer sell it - does anyone know of anywhere to get this at a reasonable price, as i just want to try it without taking out a second mortgage!!!
the link earlier in this thread no longer sell it - does anyone know of anywhere to get this at a reasonable price, as i just want to try it without taking out a second mortgage!!!
You dont even need the fire steel, mix the pp with sugar then grind, the friction is enough to get the pp fire party started
I have a little professional experience of such things:
First I will warn against messing with chemical combustion - ok, so I know you'll play anyway so keep your batches small and keep your main mix well away from what you are igniting and do not use percussion or friction with mixes - again best not to bother at all IT IS DANGEROUS.
Secondly a warning by way of a short TRUE story - IF YOU ARE SQUEMISH DO NOT READ. My team, all two of us, were called to examine an incident for the police. Someone had terminally blown himself up, including destroying his garden shed and peppering the surrounding area with shrapnel. Shreds of flesh were spread over a large area including some large body parts - one arm, shoulder and head were still in one piece. After investigation and interviews with his friends and family it turned out he had been playing with one of the mixes mentioned above. In an attempt to create a big bang he had rammed the stuff into a threaded pipe and was screwing the end on. We concluded that he had caught some grains of his 'mix' in the threads of the pipe and that the friction of threading the cap caused the combustion which set off what was in the pipe-bomb and this in turn caused the secondary ignition of a plastic carrier bag full - it burns at about 1500, so a tad like standing right next to a rocket engine when it is ignited.
Thirdly. And probably the most boring, some of the mixes mentioned are covered by anti- terrorism legislation. So, whilst having a tinsy winsy bit for bushcraft may be accepetable, if not kosher, having a half kilo for whompo in the woods and then getting caught will end up with you having a deep meaningful with a chap from a specialist police department in London.
Fourth. Like I said I did it for a living. I would not have any of the above 'mixes' in my house or car or anywhere near my family - I know how dangerous they are.
I apologise for being boring on this.
Right i think this tread is going a bit far, i only wanted to try the chemical fire as discribed by RM. I have no intention of making any mixes as described by the last post i made no mention of pipe bombs, i was talking about fire not explosion believe me i have as much if not more experience of explosions in my line of work and im sure that noone on this ite would even contemplate anything remotely related to Terrorisim!!! I think the link should be closed to prevent any further stories of the previous kind. I for one have saw my fair share of carrnage and dont feel the need to read about it here!!!
Right i think this tread is going a bit far, i only wanted to try the chemical fire as discribed by RM. I have no intention of making any mixes as described by the last post i made no mention of pipe bombs, i was talking about fire not explosion believe me i have as much if not more experience of explosions in my line of work and im sure that noone on this ite would even contemplate anything remotely related to Terrorisim!!! I think the link should be closed to prevent any further stories of the previous kind. I for one have saw my fair share of carrnage and dont feel the need to read about it here!!!
I did not start the thread and neither did I mention the compositions or make up of combustible mixes, others did that. In my opinion mentioning such 'recipes' on a forum which is read by younger people was a tad inadvisable at the outset and the thread should have been closed then.
I made my observations because in my opinion once mention is made of chemical possibilities there are those who would venture to try their hand, oft the younger less experienced ones and oft with dire consequences. You as a Police Officer would surely have to agree with that. So whilst people were happy to mention 'recipes' it is more than advisible to provide a warning especially as has been mentioned to me, by the Mods, young people read the forum.
Now then, I am saddened that a Police Officer did not read the words of my post. I merely illustrated with an example the causative effects of the use of one of the above mentioned mixes, I did not mention anyone advocating, constructing or using pipe bombs.
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