Vanbar and raw chemistry - No Longer

[Stephen Frizza]

Why not but the chemicals from the places like Bacto? in australia? http://www.bacto.com.au/main.htm

Without the repackaging and branding I always found it cheaper than vanbar anyway.

[timk]

Consolidated chemicals can supply in 25kg quantities. However it's a bit much for most of the chemicals, if anyone is interested in group purchasing some common chemicals then I'd be happy to arrange an order and split the quantities.

http://www.consolidatedchem.com/index.html

[jford]

You can get silver nitrate from Trevor Foon in Wonthaggi. Look up Foon Photographics there.

[Ross Chambers]

Why not but the chemicals from the places like Bacto? in australia? http://www.bacto.com.au/main.htm

Without the repackaging and branding I always found it cheaper than vanbar anyway.

Thanks for the tip Stephen. Their online catalogue looks encouraging. I see that they are in the wilds of the south west (I don't have a car)--should be an interesting trip. Freight to the Blue Mountains is often exorbitant.

Regards - Ross

[largeformat pat]

Ross,
Catch a train

[Ross Chambers]

Why not but the chemicals from the places like Bacto? in australia? http://www.bacto.com.au/main.htm

Without the repackaging and branding I always found it cheaper than vanbar anyway.

So I ordered from Bacto, after taking a very deep breath at the price:

2kg Sodium Thiosulphate about $144 plus freight.

Vanbar's price for the same was about $32.

Any further ideas folks? Not forgetting that this chemical is used in fairly large proportions, hence freight is a factor?

Regards - Ross

[largeformat pat]

Ross,
Check the grade of chemicals quoted, It may lab grade or better. I'm trying to think of the people in Newcastle. They quoted me $180.00 for 25 Kg's.
Pat

[Stephen Frizza]

So I ordered from Bacto, after taking a very deep breath at the price:

2kg Sodium Thiosulphate about $144 plus freight.

Vanbar's price for the same was about $32.

Any further ideas folks? Not forgetting that this chemical is used in fairly large proportions, hence freight is a factor?

Regards - Ross

eeekkk that sounds not right ross want me to send you some?

[Poisson Du Jour]

What's that stuff used for?
Bomb making??

[Photo Engineer]

Hypo is just metabisulphite or sulphite in water (usually the latter, sometimes both).


If you cant get thiosulphate, and want it for something other than a fixer (so cheap thiosulphate fixer is no go) then you can heat sodium sulphite + sulphur in water to make it.

Wrong!

Sorry. Don't try to fix film or paper with the former!

The latter synthesis is correct, but rather messy. You can get colloidal sulfur.

PE