Where can I get raw B/W chemicals?

[Johnmcd]

I would like to try mixing up my own B/W chemicals, if for no other reason to have an emergency stash if my commercial products run out.

I have the 'The Darkroom Cookbook' for my 'recipes' and was thinking of a simple D-76 formula.

Any suggestions on the best place to buy the raw materials? Australian (Sydney, NSW) specific info would be great.

Cheers - John

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The only place I know of is Photographers Formulary in the USA, but I don't know what would be involved in shipping chemicals to Australia as far as your country's laws go. If they can ship to you, they're an excellent source for both raw chemicals and prepackaged kits and they sell some very obscure stuff no one else sells.

 

[sevo]

Fototechnik Suvatlar in Hamburg, Germany, fotosuvatlar@live.de

 

[Dayrell bishop]

Silverprint in London

 

[RattyMouse]

That's a lot of work for rare emergencies. Just buy a few packets of D-76 and throw them into a cabinet for when you have a developer emergency. That or a bottle of HC-110 will last years.

 

[Ong]

Hey John, pm me a list of the chemicals you were after and I'll ask around with a few friends at university to see if their suppliers carry what you're after.

 

[Denton]

Sigma Aldrich

Sigma Aldrich

Try sigma Aldrich, but you will have to have the chemical names. I believe they ship out of Malaysia.
Denton

 

[fireblade]

John, I'm with Ong here, PM me the names of the chemicals, my brother owns a chemical manufacturing plant here in Adelaide.....if its legal i can get it. Cheers.

 

[lynnb]

Just wondering John, have you considered Caffenol? Easy to source ingredients..

I haven't tried it, but it's on my to-do list. Ezzie has had great results with it.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Vanbar in Melbourne have a lot of raw ingredients and they ship. I'm surprised you haven't heard of them.

 

[Johnmcd]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll put together a list for Ong and Fireblade and see what we can find. Much appreciated.

I use Vanbar in Sydney for all my commercial chemicals so I will check them also for the raw materials and keep you posted.

Thanks again for the help.

Cheers -John

 

[Pherdinand]

you can get inspired here maybe:
http://wildangle.net/?page_id=2636
few friends of mine (incl a chemistry PhD, though molecular motors and synthetic organic chemistry is not really what BW chemistry is about, lol)
the guys had plenty of fun and also give hints on what to use instead of some hard to get chemicals.

 

[Fotohuis]

Indeed: Vanbar in Melbourne should be the right place for you.

For some chemicals you can use alternative places. (Soda, Sodabicarbonate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid).

Greetz,

Robert