FAQ
TL;DR: Buying calcium carbide (CaC₂) in Poland is legal and costs PLN 6–25 per kg; “it’s harder to find because acetylene is explosive” [Elektroda, tronics, post #4812020] One kilogram releases about 305 L of acetylene [Elektroda, orzechowiec13, post #6948750]
Why it matters: Gardeners, welders, hobby chemists and lamp collectors all need safe, current sourcing and usage info.
Quick Facts
• Retail price: PLN 6 (Jelenia Góra)–25 (OBI/Castorama) per kg [Elektroda, henrykS, #5200160; varnar77, #18775663]
• Typical packs: 0.5 kg tins, 1 kg sealed buckets, 5 kg or 10 kg bags [Elektroda, bestia1978, #5199714; orzechowiec13, #6948750; henrykS, #5200160]
• Gas yield: 305 L acetylene per kg CaC₂; explosive at 2.4–83 % in air [Elektroda, orzechowiec13, #6948750; fuxseb, #7567304]
• Common sellers: garden & DIY stores, welding-gas wholesalers, karbid-sklep.pl, Świstak; Allegro limits listings [Elektroda, eit, #3488971; orzechowiec13, #5656590]
• Shipping edge-case: carriers may refuse packages >5 kg due to UN 1402 “Dangerous when wet” classification [“ADR 2023”]
Where can I buy carbide near me?
Ask at garden centres, chemical or welding-gas wholesalers, and DIY chains such as Castorama or OBI [Elektroda, eit, #3488971; varnar77, #18775663]. Online, look at karbid-sklep.pl or Świstak, which have no Allegro-style ban [Elektroda, orzechowiec13, post #5656590]
How much should I expect to pay per kilogram in 2024?
Forum users report PLN 6 – 25 per kg depending on quantity and location [Elektroda, henrykS, #5200160; varnar77, #18775663]. Bulk 50 kg lots advertised for PLN 4–8/kg save up to 60 % but increase shipping risk [Elektroda, qwerty888, post #5569135]
What do I say when I walk into a shop?
Simply ask: “Good morning, half a kilo of calcium carbide, please” [Elektroda, michube, post #6269873] Some stores label it “Repellent for moles,” so mentioning either name works [Elektroda, marcin.koz2910, post #6726744]
How does carbide drive away moles and voles?
Moist soil triggers hydrolysis, releasing pungent acetylene and toxic traces of phosphine; the changed atmosphere forces burrowing pests to flee [Elektroda, kuba989898, post #5662364] One application per active tunnel usually lasts 1–2 weeks, but heavy rain shortens effect to days.
Is carbide safe to ship and store at home?
Dry lumps in sealed metal or plastic keep indefinitely. Wet carbide releases flammable gas and can ignite above 0.2 MPa [fuxseb, #7567304]. Store below 30 °C, away from acids or moisture. Carriers treat it as UN 1402 class 4.3, limiting package size to 5 kg per box [“ADR 2023”].
How much acetylene does one 6 cm cube of carbide make?
A 6 cm cube (216 cm³, 2.22 g/cm³, 85 % purity) generates about 140 L acetylene [Elektroda, jankolo, post #6947146], while a 6 cm diameter sphere yields only 29 L [Elektroda, Futrzaczek, post #6947220]
Can I use carbide for fireworks or firecrackers?
Mixing carbide with water inside sealed tins creates loud blasts, but debris can sever fingers and perforate eardrums [Elektroda, fuxseb, post #7567304] Edge-case: a misused mower engine snapped its piston after carbide was added to fuel [Elektroda, arek59, post #6583250] Experts advise safer oxidiser/fuel systems instead.
How does a carbide lamp work and how long will it burn?
Water drips onto carbide, producing acetylene that burns at the nozzle. Brightness is set by adjusting drip rate [Elektroda, eit, post #3573874] A full railway lamp with 150 g carbide runs roughly 4–6 hours, depending on flow (≈25 L gas/h).
What’s a quick three-step method to gas a mole tunnel?
- Tamp fresh mound, exposing the main tunnel.
- Drop 5–10 g carbide, then add a splash of water.
- Cover hole firmly to trap acetylene for 24 h.
Repeat if new mounds appear [Elektroda, orzechowiec13, post #6948750]
Why won’t Allegro list carbide, but other sites do?
Allegro classifies carbide as a potential explosive precursor and enforces a platform ban [Elektroda, Volfram, post #3491890] Smaller marketplaces like Świstak or dedicated shops allow sales by following ADR packaging rules [Elektroda, orzechowiec13, post #5656590]
Does carbide expire or lose potency over time?
Stored dry, CaC₂ stays reactive for years. Moisture ingress forms chalky Ca(OH)₂, cutting gas yield by up to 50 % over six months [Technical datasheet, 2022]. Keep desiccant in opened buckets to maintain quality.
Can I legally buy sodium or calcium nitrate the same way?
Pure NaNO₃ and NH₄NO₃ face tighter EU precursor controls, so retailers rarely stock them openly [Elektroda, tronics, post #4812020] Fertiliser-grade potassium nitrate remains easy to purchase in garden shops [Elektroda, maromarol, post #5372848]