Western Canada Chemical Source?

[MurrayMinchin]

Hi there,

I'm about to order chemicals for my developer and fixer from JD Photochem in Quebec and the shipping is more than the price of the chemicals. The dry stuff isn't so bad, but it's the 60% solution Ammonium Thiosulfate (for TF-3) that bumps up shipping costs.

Anybody know of a Western Canadian source?

Thanks,

Murray

 

[Nick Zentena]

All I can suggest is look for a local place selling C-41 fixer. Get yourself a big jug and that will save money.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Hi Nick,

Calgary and Vancouver are both a 1000 mile drive from where I live...so there's no such thing as "a local place". I like TF-3 because I can go Dev, water stop, TF-3, water rinse, TF-3, and then straight into the selenium toner...finished prints in about 9 minutes

Murray

 

[Nick Zentena]

Murray does nobody locally have a minilab? With some luck some one might be willing to add a jug of fixer to thier chemical order. Go to the Kodak or Fuji websites and pull the MSDS for the colour fixers.

 

[Craig]

As a thought, try these guys: http://www.univarcanada.com/index.htm

 

[MattKing]

Murray:

Have you tried a laboratory/general purpose chemistry supplier - someone like this, who has a branch in Richmond, BC:

Chemical supplier ?

If they don't have it, they may know who does?

Matt

 

[MattKing]

Murray:

Another thought - does Alcan have a chemistry supplier that ships regularly to Kitimat?

Matt

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Thanks guy's...emails have been sent.

Good thought about Alcan, Matt. They used to have a darkroom for the plant newspaper, but I don't know anyone working there or know who does their ordering. Can't hurt to ask around.

There just has to be somebody west of JD Photochem in Quebec and NYMOC in Toronto selling photochemicals in Canada...don't you think?!!?

Murray

 

[Nick Zentena]

http://www.vistek.ca/details/details.aspx?WebCode=121101&CategoryID=ProPhotoDarkroom

I don't know if you'll save on shipping from Calgary. If it was me I'd ask if they had a bigger bottle. Usually the bigger the cheaper.

http://kauai.hawaii.edu/msds/files/cld/cldml.html

pH of the concentrate is 6.2.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

http://kauai.hawaii.edu/msds/files/cld/cldml.html

pH of the concentrate is 6.2.

Thanks Nick, for spending the time to dig that out for me...your hero badge is "in the mail"

I'm no chemistry guru by a looooong shot, so I did a bit of googling and found out that SandyKing over at Dead Link Removed said the ph of working solution TF-3 is about 9.0. Digital Truth talks about an alkaline fix "at about 7.7" So, I don't know if a ph of 6.2 (of the concentrate) will cause mottling of even valued areas of the print in the selenium toner.

I really like my TF-3 and being able to stay alkaline throughout the whole process, because selenium toning has such a HUGE impact on the final prints look...with this method it's no problem for me to even selenium tone test strips.

Thanks again for questing the web for me!

Murray

 

[Craig]

http://www.vistek.ca/details/details.aspx?WebCode=121101&CategoryID=ProPhotoDarkroom

I don't know if you'll save on shipping from Calgary.

Vistek has virtually nothing in their darkroom section in Calgary, the store is mainly digital. If you're going to order from Calgary, you'd be looking at either www.thecamerastore.com or www.treckhall.com, at least they will have the stuff.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Thanks Craig, but both those sites don't seem to sell bulk or raw chemicals, which is what I'm after...

Murray

 

[Craig]

Nope, they don't, but if you're looking for Kodak or Ilford chemistry it's a good place to go. Each has lots more than is shown on the web.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Thanks Craig,

I just sent off an email to The Camera Store...you never know...

Murray

 

[MurrayMinchin]

And another email off to Treck Hall...again, you never know...

Thanks Craig,

Murray

 

[lal350]

Hi Murray;
I am looking for the same thing (bulk chemicals), I am in Abbotsford and so far have come up empty for suppliers in the west. Please let us westerners know if you come up with a supplier.
Thanks...Larry

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Hi Larry, welcome aboard APUG

Keep your ears open as there's a few APUG'ers in the lower mainland and in the Victoria area, and from what I can tell (not really too sure I must say, if you know what I mean ) they seem to be a nice bunch.

Murray

(added later) I just noticed you've made only one post since joining in 2005...the strong silent types are pretty rare around here!

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Update.

The Camera Store and Treck Hall both got back to me...nope, they don't.

Murray