Haven't heard of this method of stump removal

[IslandTractor]

I thought that was amonium nitrate, as in fertilizer.

Maybe both. Google Potassium nitrate and you'll see.

 

[Mike120]

A small amount of amonium nitrate and det cord will always take a stump out.

 

[RonMar]

Amonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil otherwise known as "ANFO" ,plus detcord or primercap of course...

"There is no problem that cannot be overcome thru the suitable application of high explosives".

 

[SimS]

I get my "salt peter" on ebay. Hey you can get anything on ebay, right? I drilled the holes, filled them with KNO3 several times over 6 months and then added the diesel. It does burn to the roots. But it still takes time to "oxidize" the stump and roots. I guess blasting is the only quick way to remove a stump if you don't have a track hoe.

Good Luck;
SimS

 

[scott_vt]

Scotty,

Sounds like you are making gun powder?

mark

Afternoon Mark,
Yeah kind of, we had some sugar mixed in there and some charcoal and I ignited it in my little mortar and pestle grinding it

Redrocker, your absolutely right, I doubt they will ever forget that incident !

 

[MarkV]

Amonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil otherwise known as "ANFO" ,plus detcord or primercap of course...

"There is no problem that cannot be overcome thru the suitable application of high explosives".

May want to add a good pair of track shoes to that mix.

MarkV

 

[RHughes]

One drug store in my area carries Potassium Nitrate in small (4 - 6 oz) jars. I imagine the easiest way would just be to buy a container of "Stump Remover" in the Lawn & Garden dept of WalMart or you favorite farm/garden store.
I'm pretty sure the stuff sold as stump remover now is almost 100% KNO3.

An interesting side note on stump removal. My dad gave me an old book on farming practices published by the Ag Extension Service back in the 30's or 40's. It had a chapter on stump removal that covered several methods including the preferred method of blasting. Quite a common pratice back then when you could buy dynamite, caps, and fuse at the local hardware store and never get a second glance. It was suggested for rough ditching as well.

 

[scott_vt]

An interesting side note on stump removal. My dad gave me an old book on farming practices published by the Ag Extension Service back in the 30's or 40's. It had a chapter on stump removal that covered several methods including the preferred method of blasting. Quite a common pratice back then when you could buy dynamite, caps, and fuse at the local hardware store and never get a second glance. It was suggested for rough ditching as well.

Afternoon Ralph,
I guess the world has changed a bit since then !

 

[OKnewguy]

You sure have peaked my intrest! Does this method go down as deep as the holes you drill or much further? Does it get alot of the roots as well? I have about 20 stumps that probably average 10" or so. I dread renting a stump grinder, those things beat the heck out of you! Last time I rented one and ran it most of the day, I was sore for 2 days after. Can you do this on fresh stumps? and how long after you treat them can you light them. Is this dangerous to me, or possibly my natural gas line. How far would a stump need to be away from the gas line to be safe? Sorry for all of the questions, but this sounds pretty cool! One more question, does it make alot of smoke ( I am trying to figure out if I would need to get a burn permit).
Thanks a bunch for the cool idea!
Dave

 

[MarkV]

A similar method I have heard of involves drilling the holes and pouring diesel into the holes over a period of time as it is absorbed. After a week or two you take a bag of charcoal and light it up on top of the stump. I suspect it would work best with stumps that have been cut for a while and I have never burned diesel that didn’t smoke a lot.

MarkV