Inexpensive chemicals for B&W - where to buy?

[Tony B]

I'm just about to start some B&W film processing and need to buy the necessary chemicals (dev, stop, fix).

In searching through the archives of the forum some days ago, I found a place recommended that sells ID11 for a very low price - £1.39 approx as I recall. Problem: I've lost the reference! Can anyone help me please? I checked at my local branch of Jacobs and they sell ID11 for £6.99 - WOW!

Thank you in anticipation.

[Neil Barnes]

Rayco in Barnsley were always good both for mixed standard formulas and raw chemicals - but it's been some years since I used them.

Looks like their website has been parked, but you never know, the phone may still work.

Rayco
199 King St
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S74 9LJ
England

tel:- 01226744594
web address:- www.rayco-chemicals.co.uk
e-mail:- info@rayco-chemicals.co.uk

Neil

[TimH]

Hi Tony - just as an aside - I guess you've already modified the Orbital - putting the epoxy dots on the floor and poss. removing the 'FINS' ?? before you start running up the chemistry bill


regards Tim............

PS if not - heres a good start :-
http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.u ... .php?t=119
or
http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photosch ... bital.html

Looking forward to seeing some results

[IanG]

Rayco closed about 5 years ago, someone nr Birmingham bought the business but never started re-trading. I approached them with the possibility of taking it over to find it had just been sold off, essentially the Pharmacy who owned Rayco wanted the space and had no interest in it continuing. There's was nothing really to sell except the customer list.

Ian

Rayco in Barnsley were always good both for mixed standard formulas and raw chemicals - but it's been some years since I used them.

Looks like their website has been parked, but you never know, the phone may still work.

Rayco
199 King St
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S74 9LJ
England

tel:- 01226744594
web address:- http://www.rayco-chemicals.co.uk
e-mail:- info@rayco-chemicals.co.uk

Neil

[IanG]

Matt at Ag Photographic has D76 for £1.43 a litre, it's near enough the same as ID-11, neither are the published formulae these days just slightly different buffering.

Ian

[Tony B]

Thank you Tim for the reminder. I had read those links. This forum holds a wealth of information.

And IanG, thank you. I did eventually locate that source. However, they don't sell concertina bottles for holding liquids and excluding air. Anyone know where I can find these?

[IanG]

And IanG, thank you. I did eventually locate that source. However, they don't sell concertina bottles for holding liquids and excluding air. Anyone know where I can find these?

Fairly sure I have some Concertina bottles, I had them advertised for sale on APUG last year but postage to the US wasn't worthwhile.How many do you want, I'd need to find them and check the size, I don't want much for them. I could also mix you some ID-11/D76 in powder form.

Ian

[Neil Barnes]

See, I move away to somewhere that didn't have space to do chemistry, and twenty years later the place collapses. Oh the embarrassment!

I probably still have some of their chemicals in my attic.

Neil

[Robert J Fallis]

coffee and washing soda is about the cheapest developer you can get

http://www.caffenol.org/

not sure about fixer.

bob

[IanG]

See, I move away to somewhere that didn't have space to do chemistry, and twenty years later the place collapses. Oh the embarrassment!

I probably still have some of their chemicals in my attic.

Neil

In that time I bought all Hogg Laboratory Supplies specialist photo chemicals, and still have most

IAn

[Neil Barnes]

Y'know, for a bloke that used to grow his own chemistry and do mad stuff like cyanotypes and gum arabic prints... how the hell did I ever miss coffee development? That one I just *have* to try!

Hmm... Caffeine appears to be the active ingredient, with the washing soda as a buffer and the vitamin C as an acidifier... I wonder if it would work with diet coke?

Neil

[Robert J Fallis]

neil
you need to get a good instant coffee ,Nescafe, I used some own brand cheapo stuff and it didn't work/

bob

[Peter B]

Just buy a few bottles of Rodinal. If you're developing in an Orbital you've got to use more than the minimum quantity just to be able to measure the Rodinal properly, even with a syringe! Oh, and the Rodinal will last for a very,very long time, even when it has been opened.

[Tony B]

I just love this forum! Coffee, indeed...

Thanks to all for your posts.

Tony

[Joanna Carter]

I just love this forum! Coffee, indeed...

Well we do have a Tearoom Appreciation Sub-commitee