There have been a number of posts asking about where to get chemicals. I have definite problems with this per my independent studies in mushroom identification and cultivation. What I have learned may be helpful to folks on this list.
About a year ago the US feds really tightened up their regulation of everyone who engages in retail sales of chemicals. Supposedly this was done in an effort to thwart the manufacture of illicit drugs. About the same time the transportation classification of many chemicals was changed to 'hazardous', meaning that any chemicals so labeled are very expensive to transport. Transportation charges for smaller quantities of Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide (corrosive), for example, will greatly exceed the value of the product. Hence, mail-order purchases are impractical. Many chemical distributors who used to sell chemicals at retail to private individuals will no longer do so. The regulatory hurdles are just too much hassle for them. Hence, you can no longer buy many chemicals even if you walk in the door of their shop. The chemical retailer in my area will no longer sell chemicals of any kind to private individuals. In order to purchase one must open up a commercial account with them, meaning that one must have a licensed business. So, what does a private individual do? 1) Create a business, with all the attendant formalities, set up an account. 2) Order chemicals via a cooperative friend's business. 3) Buy the chemicals from sources other than a retail chem/lab supplier, if one can be found. NaOH is sold as drain opener at the local market. Methanol is sold by some petroleum product distributors. -- ...Warren Rekow ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~> eGroups is now Yahoo! Groups Click here for more details http://click.egroups.com/1/11231/0/_/837408/_/982361701/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
