Ok, so where can I buy some of that potassium permanganate and glycerin stuff he used to start a fire?

Pyro Michael

Good episode!
If he had been able to stay in one place, I bet he could have made a 5 room mansion out of that hot air balloon.

Bummer, I missed it due to some unexpected company last night...

For anyone interested, the Discovery Channel is replaying the episode tonight at 11:00 PM EST.

Better question: how can I fit one of those hot air balloon flamethrowers into my survival kit?

Potassium permanganate is used in the production of meth and cocaine, so it's not as widely available as it used to be.

One person to ask is a pharmacist who knows you. Another place is one that supplies chemicals for swimming pools.

From Wikipedia: "KMnO4 is often included in survival kits along with either glycerine or a glucose tablet for the purposes of making fire. The glucose tablet can be ground up, mixed with the potassium permanganate and caused to combust by applying friction. It can also be mixed with anti-freeze from a vehicle (a source of glycols) to produce flame, although this can be dangerous and should be done in a controlled manner, such as dipping some paper into the anti-freeze and then adding a small amount of potassium permanganate. The ability to sterilise water and wounds is another reason for inclusion in a survival kit."

Sue

Check rural feed stores. KMnO4 is sometimes sold in them to treat water wells.
Note: you'll probably need to buy a five pound bag.

Glycerin can be found just about anywhere with a pharmacy or bath/lotins department.

You might want to pick up some Burn Jel before messing with the stuff though...

-Blast

Yeah, no kidding. My eyes just about fell out when I saw Les doing this- this combo spooks me a little, to be perfectly honest.

Got Koi? KMnO4 is sold to defeat fungal infections in fish.

I truly thing that I can find at least 3 other was to make fire that are far safer than two chemicals that may break open in my kit and send it to heaven as a smoke cloud.

In the UK pharmacists or chemists sell it in bottles of 25g, if you ask (it's not usually on the shelves). 25g is plenty. A little goes a long way. 5 pounds would be over 2000g, a slightly scary amount to have.

As a fire-starter I've found it to be a bit temperamental. Also it's not particularly convenient to carry glycerine because it needs a small, water-tight container (you really don't want it to leak) which takes up a lot of room for what it is.

Interestingly, potassium permanganate and ethylene glycol (anti freeze) are used by the U.S. Forest Service to start fires in remote areas. Plastic spheres about like ping pong balls are filled with potassium permanganate and sealed. The spheres are fed through a machine that injects them with ethylene glycol as they are ejected from an aircraft. After about 20 seconds, the spheres ignite. This provides a cheap and fast way to create long fire lines over difficult terrain.

Works just as well for fungal infections in humans...
Like athlete's foot...

They are even trying to restrict the sell of SULFUR without a permit!!!

You can still get it from United Nuclear Scientific Supplies, LLC.
<edit> Well, it is not there now... You might try calling them...
I was sure I got mine there...
I have done quite a bit of business with them and they are a good suppler of hard to get items. Want some thermite for those times when you just cannot seem to get that wet wood to ignite? They have it, along with ignition mixture. Some of the people in one of the outdoor forums uses that to start big campfires FAST.
They also have Europium UltraGlow® Phosphorescent power that you can use to make your own glow in the dark paint or other items. It glows for up to 12 hours, and is great to paint onto items that you MUST find in the dark.
Just a warning, the company is owned by Bob Lazar(yes THAT Bob Lazar), but I have never gotten anything but great service from them.

I just bought 1oz. off of e-bay for under 5 bucks. Nice for cleaning up water

You can also buy Potassium Permaganate at Sears. Go over to where they sell their water softners. They have in in roughly 1/4 pound jars....