Do any of you know of a source for bulk phographic chemicals in Canada, preferably Ontario?
Photographic chemicals in Canada
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- Thread starter Doc W
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I'm only aware of this supplier, but they are in Alberta.
flicfilm.ca
Bulk Chemicals and Accessories | Flic Film
flicfilm.ca
ArgentixCa
Advertiser
Andrew O'Neill
Moderator
I order from Argentix.ca. Jacques is a great guy to deal with!
I'm not in Canada, so take this with a grain of NaCl...
I actually get much of my chemistry from, well, wherever. Stuff like sodium carbonate I get from the supermarket, vitamin C (for developers) from drugstores/health food stores, sodium sulfite and bisulfite from brewer's supplies stores or retailers of spices and seasonings. Stronger stuff like hydroxides and mineral acids from stores that retail cleaning products. Muriatic acid and dilute acetic acid (8%) are commonly retailed for cleaning purposes by e.g. hardware stores. Then there's retailers of products for the heritage sector/museums/restoration that also carry useful items. It's really only the photography-specific chemistry I get from specialized retailers.
My strategy has always been to just search around a little bit and when finding a useful source, go through their product list and order anything that looks useful if I'm ordering a particular item anyway.
I actually get much of my chemistry from, well, wherever. Stuff like sodium carbonate I get from the supermarket, vitamin C (for developers) from drugstores/health food stores, sodium sulfite and bisulfite from brewer's supplies stores or retailers of spices and seasonings. Stronger stuff like hydroxides and mineral acids from stores that retail cleaning products. Muriatic acid and dilute acetic acid (8%) are commonly retailed for cleaning purposes by e.g. hardware stores. Then there's retailers of products for the heritage sector/museums/restoration that also carry useful items. It's really only the photography-specific chemistry I get from specialized retailers.
My strategy has always been to just search around a little bit and when finding a useful source, go through their product list and order anything that looks useful if I'm ordering a particular item anyway.
This is what I am more or less required to do because Ireland is small and was always supplied by the British suppliers but there is a substantial customs barrier in the way now, thanks to Brexit. I can order from the continent but it takes forever. So places like aromatherapy shops, vape shops, health food stores, the pharmacy, ebay, and suppliers of industrial cleaning products have become sources for me for photographic chemicals.
If you have dedicated suppliers, I suggest to support them by buying that way when possible. I buy stuff from Suvatlar, for example. But if you need it fast, as Koraks says, there are other choices.
Another vote for Argentix - fast and friendly service.
Andrew O'Neill
Moderator
Like koraks, I also pick up some chems from grocery store (Borax, used to easily get Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, but haven't seen it on the shelves of any of the grocers here...supply issue?), or wine brewing shops (Citric Acid, Tannic Acid). Years ago, I bought a bunch of containers of Sodium Carbonate from a pool supply section in Canadian Tire.
Pool supply will also usually have sodium thiosulfate crystals (used for reducing chlorine), which can be used to make fixer. Sometimes sodium sulfite is used for this, too, so you may be able to find both at larger pool supply outlets. You might also find soda ash (sodium carbonate) with fertilizer; it's used for de-acidifying soil (for instance, under a conifer tree).
MurrayMinchin
Membership Council
Another 
for Jacques and Argentix.
for Jacques and Argentix.
MattKing
Moderator
This Flic Film website list of products available for retailer wholesale purchase is interesting: https://flicfilm.ca/bulk-chemicals-and-accessories/
Andrew O'Neill
Moderator
You have to give them your personal info before you can see their price list... and they want $500 minimum per order.
MattKing
Moderator
That's because they are mainly a wholesaler. Beau Photo is one of their retail dealers, so I'm sure you can order through them.
Andrew O'Neill
Moderator
I'm quite happy with Argentix... they have a more extensive list of chemicals.
MattKing
Moderator
They are also a dealer for Flic Film. If you place an order for something from them in the future, it may come in a Flic Film bottle!
OP
OP
Thanks guys. This should keep my habit supplied for some time!
Ordered from Argentix many times, #1 on my list.
It's not Canada, but Mike Jacobson at Artcraft Chemicals in upstate NY is a trusted and economic supplier of photographic chemicals. I spoke with Mike yesterday about shipments overseas, and he said he ships worldwide, and has a number of clients in Canada.
Mike's advice is to phone the order in to him directly (he's a one-man shop so he answers when you call) to arrange shipment, because his online ecommerce form adds onerous shipping fees for international orders. Mike says that his actual shipping expenses are a lot lower and that he can ship economically to Canada if you call in the order. I have a friend in Buenos Aires who swears by Artcraft because he finds it more reliable and less expensive than his local options in Latin America.
Their pricing is quite good. Artcraft charges (US dollars) $39 a gram for platinum, as opposed to $57/gram from Bostick & Sullivan. Another example: Artcraft charges $108 for 100g of silver nitrate, while B&S's price is $202 for the same amount.
Mike's advice is to phone the order in to him directly (he's a one-man shop so he answers when you call) to arrange shipment, because his online ecommerce form adds onerous shipping fees for international orders. Mike says that his actual shipping expenses are a lot lower and that he can ship economically to Canada if you call in the order. I have a friend in Buenos Aires who swears by Artcraft because he finds it more reliable and less expensive than his local options in Latin America.
Their pricing is quite good. Artcraft charges (US dollars) $39 a gram for platinum, as opposed to $57/gram from Bostick & Sullivan. Another example: Artcraft charges $108 for 100g of silver nitrate, while B&S's price is $202 for the same amount.
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