Silver Nitrate in Australia?

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Feb 21, 2009

I can't get it shipped from Photographer's Formulary as it's a hazardous material, and I was informed by Vanbar in Melbourne that they can no longer source it, though they filled the rest of my photochem order without a problem...does anyone have any advice where I could find Silver Nitrate in Australia? I don't need more than 20 grams at this stage.

trotkiller · Feb 21, 2009

Lomb scientific (Fronine branded stuff) is my supplier at work.... They are NSW based...

Not sure if they would sell it to anybody off the street, but Vanbar should be able to get you some from them.. or from any of the other scientific suppliers in our part of the world

blokeman · Feb 23, 2009

I have had communication with a chemical company located IN Adelaide... a couple of years ago, if you google 'chemsupply' they have an online catalogue. Might be quite simple for you if you live there... if you do make contact & pay them a visit, please let me know the address as I'm often in S.A. Maybe you look them up in the phone book & speak directly, I find that the best way with my chem companies contact in the past. They have Silver Nitrate listed... and if they have more than one 'grade' listed, I think the simple 'lab-grade' will do. If they have a minimum quantity only then I may be interested in going shares with you. Chemical companies used to be quite forthcoming back in the early 90's but it seems they've gotten less friendly these days (and suspicious!!) Thats why I think direct contact is good, telling them you're an artist etc etc and you may luck on a sympathetic person!

Mick Fagan · Feb 23, 2009

Hazardous chemical, my mother as a Mother Craft Nurse, used to apply it to babies eyes IIRC for infections in the late forties and well into the very late fifties.

How the world has changed.

Mick.

blokeman · Feb 23, 2009

Mick, are you sure? I thought it was capable of blinding you if it got into the eyes? Well, that's what I've been led to believe.

Ian David · Feb 23, 2009

Kills the infection though!

Mick Fagan · Feb 23, 2009

After WWII my mother (and her younger sister) were Mothercraft Nurses, they specialised in pre-natal and post-natal mother and baby care.

Living in the outback after her marriage to my father, she was apparently confronted with some very disparaging eye problems in newborn babies, something she had not encountered in the city environment where she had grown up and studied in.

Turning to an elderly rural eye specialist she was advised in certain cases to use Silver, presumably heavily diluted, I believe it was extremely successful.

I also know that my grandfather and great grandfather put silverware in the water tanks to keep the water clean, something I found enormously interesting as a young fella.

Mick.

Photo Engineer · Feb 23, 2009

Silver Nitrate is used in very dilute solution as an antisceptic and was once applied to the eyes of babies at birth. In more concentrated solution, it can blind a person as it is acidic and also reacts with tissue to turn it brown.

Silver metal colloid is now used as an antisceptic for burns.

PE

Galah · Feb 23, 2009

Silver Nitrate

Pure silver nitrate is caustic in the sense that it will "burn" and destroy soft tissue, such as mucous membrane and "kill' warts. It will stain skin in contact with it (e.g. fingers). It should be kept well away from children.

Doubtless, it could scar the cornea in solid form.

An "older" medical GP used it (on me) very successfully to cauterize small (but painful) mouth ulcers. I have not seen this treatment before or since, however the results were instantaneous and highly successful, needing only a single aplication. (He used bamboo skewer-like aplicators impregnated with the silver nitrate (at the tips) and lightly appply them briefly to the ulcer. Goodness only knows where he got them from as, after he had retired, and when I needed some more of the same, none of the younger doctors had even heard of the technique and the pharmacist was unable to source the aplicators.

Craig Griffiths · Feb 25, 2009

Science Essentials in Brisbane have some stock they are clearing out. I should have a price list and quantities available in the next day or so. They have silver nitrate also available in solution (ampoules ata specific concentration), once again I will have the details either tonihgt or tomorrow morning and will let you know.

noofy · Apr 22, 2009

I can supply silver nitrate for alternative photographic purposes as required. I use it myself in vandyke brown printing and constantly supply it to friends for their alternative processes.
Just drop me an email.

Wyno · Apr 22, 2009

A friend of mine who has just done a Salt printing workshop at Gold Street Studios told me yesterday that Ellie ( who runs it) can get silver nitrate and will sell it to you.
Hope this helps
Mike

Galah · Apr 22, 2009

blokeman said:
I have had communication with a chemical company located IN Adelaide... a couple of years ago, if you google 'chemsupply' they have an online catalogue. Might be quite simple for you if you live there... if you do make contact & pay them a visit, please let me know the address as I'm often in S.A. Maybe you look them up in the phone book & speak directly, I find that the best way with my chem companies contact in the past. They have Silver Nitrate listed... and if they have more than one 'grade' listed, I think the simple 'lab-grade' will do. If they have a minimum quantity only then I may be interested in going shares with you. Chemical companies used to be quite forthcoming back in the early 90's but it seems they've gotten less friendly these days (and suspicious!!) Thats why I think direct contact is good, telling them you're an artist etc etc and you may luck on a sympathetic person!

From the Adelaide Yellow Pages:

Chem-Supply Pty Ltd, 38-50 Bedford St, Gillman SA, 5013.
Phone: (08) 8440 2000.
sales@chemsupply.com.au
www.chemsupply.com.au

Also:

Consolidated Chemicals Co
14 George St, Green Fields SA, 5107.
Phone: (08) 8285 6822

adelaide@conchem.com.au

jford · May 19, 2009

Trevor Foon at Foon Photographic in Wonthaggi, Victoria, has silver nitrate. I'm half guessing that 'Noofy' might have something to do with him. He is cheap and quick. Recommended.

J.

Silver Nitrate in Australia?

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