Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Spectracide Stump Remover Discontinued

FloridaAlchemist - 5-3-2025 at 12:41

FYI
Spectracide stump remover brand potassium nitrate discontinued by manufacturer according to lowes and home depot.
It was replaced with another brand that contains sodium metabisulfite .


Deathunter88 - 5-3-2025 at 12:58

A bit of a shame, but not a big deal since potassium nitrate is widely available online in the US. Sodium metabisulfite might actually be a more useful chemical for the amateur anyways.

chempyre235 - 5-3-2025 at 13:46

There are also other stores that still carry other brands of this product in abundance. It isn't hard to find here. Tractor Supply carries it, for sure.

I'm with @Deathunter88. Sodium metabisulfite is useful as a reducing agent, IIRC. I'll have to keep this in mind as an OTC source of this.

violet sin - 5-3-2025 at 16:18

I got some stump remover prob a decade ago, spectracide, that was SMB for sure. California , So that's possibly regional. Discontinuing the nitrate may be new though. Possibly trade tariffs with China, etc , etc, on nitrate ferts?? I don't stay up on all that though

imidazole - 6-3-2025 at 05:17

Sadly I've noticed that in my area too.

I've also noticed TSP cleaner (trisodium phosphate) is being phased out for TSP-PF (mixed sodium silicate and carbonate)
in that case it's not as useful, but it's worth noting.

moviez - 12-3-2025 at 20:33

I think you can still buy potassium and sodium nitrates from fertilizer and pyrochemical shops. But it’s indeed unfortunate that obtaining common chemicals ingredients is increasingly more difficult for home scientists. I still can’t find a reliable source to get ammonium nitrate. I might need to just prepare some on my own (small quantities, of course).

Dr.Bob - 13-3-2025 at 16:38

I have some smaller amounts of several nitrates if people are looking for them.

Deathunter88 - 13-3-2025 at 17:52

Quote: Originally posted by moviez  
I think you can still buy potassium and sodium nitrates from fertilizer and pyrochemical shops. But it’s indeed unfortunate that obtaining common chemicals ingredients is increasingly more difficult for home scientists. I still can’t find a reliable source to get ammonium nitrate. I might need to just prepare some on my own (small quantities, of course).


What? If you're located in the USA then you can get five pounds of ammonium nitrate from ammoniumnitrateforsale.com for 25 bucks. Also commonly sold under brand names Tannerite, Sure Shot, and Sonic Boom online and in sporting good stores.

Sir_Gawain - 13-3-2025 at 20:11

And potassium nitrate can be bought from Seed Ranch for much cheaper than the stump remover.

chloric1 - 14-3-2025 at 15:10

Quote: Originally posted by moviez  
I still can’t find a reliable source to get ammonium nitrate.


Do you really want to buy ammonium nitrate from a reputable supplier? You probably would need a photo ID and state purpose of purchase. Your info would be available to the feds. Better to buy calcium nitrate and you have access to any nitrate from a soluble carbonate, sulfate, or hydroxide. These are the days to stay under the radar.

moviez - 15-3-2025 at 11:02

Quote: Originally posted by Deathunter88  
Quote: Originally posted by moviez  
I think you can still buy potassium and sodium nitrates from fertilizer and pyrochemical shops. But it’s indeed unfortunate that obtaining common chemicals ingredients is increasingly more difficult for home scientists. I still can’t find a reliable source to get ammonium nitrate. I might need to just prepare some on my own (small quantities, of course).


What? If you're located in the USA then you can get five pounds of ammonium nitrate from ammoniumnitrateforsale.com for 25 bucks. Also commonly sold under brand names Tannerite, Sure Shot, and Sonic Boom online and in sporting good stores.



That’s good to know, thank you for the info. I never looked at rifle/hunting stores before.

Cathoderay - 15-3-2025 at 11:28

However Tannerite may contain other things like ammonium perchlorate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannerite