Looking for suppliers

Khannie

I'm looking for (preferably cheap) suppliers of chemicals and lab equipment...

In particular I'm looking for:

• Methanol (not ethanol or anything similar...just methanol)
• NaOH / Lye / Caustic Soda
• Quality scales
• Digital PH measuring device
• Hydrometer
• Various other bits and bobs (flasks, petri dishes, etc.)

Anyone got any recommendations?

Creature

You could try SigmaAldrich . I don't know about their prices though.

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.lennox.ie/ too

depending on the purity and amounts you could look at other places too
caustic soda is used as dain cleaner and can be got in hardware stores,
http://biofuelsystems.com/process.htm an interesting use of both chemicals for BioDiesel

D-Generate

Looks like he is making Biodiesel. If so tell us how you got on please.

On the other hand he might be skimming the glycerin off of the biodiesel and using it to either make Soap (Ponce) or Nitroglycerin (Mad Thing ). Tell us how you got on in that too.

breadmonkey

I hope he's makin nitro!

Is that stuff really so unstable that it blows up if you drop it?*





*yes, i did see that in a movie!

Khannie

D-Generate wrote:

Looks like he is making Biodiesel. If so tell us how you got on please.

I am Will do.

It's for personal use though I don't want to go ruining any cars so I want to be able to verify the quality of it before I use it.

Thanks to Capt'n and Creature for those links. I found some methanol suppliers online, but haven't checked them for prices yet.

Are there any walk in shops for lab equipment? (a chemistry equivalent of maplin).

Edit: The glycerin runoff from methyl esters isn't very pure AFAIK. Especially one made from recovered veg. oil. I reckon I'll just be letting it biodegrade (though I may look into recovering the excess methanol when I'm a bit more experienced).

GuanYin

Lennox, Fannin Healthcare, VWR, Medical-lab supply co, biosciences, sarstedt and sigma are the major lab supply companies. (google for contact details).

In most cases you will need to open an account.

In addition, you will most likely need an institutional permit to buy certain reagents (methanol being one I imagine).

In the case of

Khannie

Nice one. Thanks all.

Wouldn't have thought methanol would be controlled. Hope not.

GinjaNinja

Your some messer khannie,
you'll have to fill me in on the stunt your pulling

Khannie

Hehe....this endeavour is a bit like you crispy....a bit arthur daly (except it's only for me (and you if you want some))....you're gonna love it

You know your engines, right? How are you on diesels? I'm still learning, though I know petrol engines relatively well. Don't think they're overly different except for the combustion methodology and fuel delivery systems (to the piston). Gonna trade in mine and get a diesel car in the next few weeks for this.

Anyway, this is totally OT. Apologies mods.

tony 2 tone

Use all of the companies mentioned for various chemicals and equipment. Lennox stock alot of the VWR chemicals, and various glass ware.there is also AGB in Finglas, they do a lot of Fisher brand, glass ware and other bits.
Lennox are pretty good for getting stuff off. they are in JFK drive. VWR is in Ashbourne.

NaOH can be bought as drain cleaner/unblocker from hard ware shops.

Khannie

tony 2 tone wrote:

NaOH can be bought as drain cleaner/unblocker from hard ware shops.

Just got some the other day.

Was a little concerned about the purity of it, but I'm sure it's fine.

Dying to get started on the test batches

Just trying to source the methanol today. Been given various negative answers. I'll give lennox a ring now.

Khannie

Just went to the vwr website (ie.vwr.com). Methanol works out at 3 euro per litre when purchased in bulk.

Edit: Got in touch with Lennox. They're around 3 euro per litre ex/vat for large quantities also

That's upsetting. At a requirement of approximately 150ml of methanol per litre of biodiesel, that's 45c methanol cost! More than the cost of the oil for gods sake!!!!

:mad:

tony 2 tone

Khannie wrote:

Just got some the other day.

Was a little concerned about the purity of it, but I'm sure it's fine.

Dunno about the NaOH, if there is any difference. Should be grand.
As for the methanol, I'll see where we get it from and how much it is. We get most of our chemicals from a company called Metlab. They are based in England though. Their catalog is the same as AGB, prices are pretty similar too.

Khannie

tony 2 tone wrote:

As for the methanol, I'll see where we get it from and how much it is.

Nice one. Thanks. I'm checking petroleum suppliers too. I'll report back on that.

GuanYin

Most academic and industry institutes will have discounts with major suppliers so the difference in price may not apply to you khannie.

I'd also ask people not to suggest anything illegal in the forum.

Victor

psi wrote:

Fannin Healthcare,

I'm not sure in Fannin are still Fannin. The pharmacy has been rebranded and the medical goods sections seems closed.

bug

Arent Fannin Analytica now?

Anyhow as stated above you generally have to be a reputable company to buy certain chemicals. Meths and the PH Meter, you might get no problems.

Arent VWR cheap for glassware but not chemicals?

Khannie

psi wrote:

Most academic and industry institutes will have discounts with major suppliers so the difference in price may not apply to you khannie.

Yeah, I'd figured as much. Still, the prices quoted (even discounted) are outrageous methinks. Or rather, they put the cost of biodiesel way way way above the cost of petrodiesel.

I wanted to use biodiesel to be environmentally conscious, but one has to consider the cost aspect too. I might be just better using petrodiesel and donating the difference to a charity for rainforest purchase (for example).

psi wrote:

I'd also ask people not to suggest anything illegal in the forum.

Have you removed the illegal suggestion? Or have I missed something?

GuanYin

Khannie wrote:

Have you removed the illegal suggestion? Or have I missed something?

I was pre-empting someone trying to sell you methanol from work

Khannie

Hahahahahaha. You're a suspicious one.

"I can get you 200L that fell off the back of a lorry"

tony 2 tone

psi wrote:

Most academic and industry institutes will have discounts with major suppliers so the difference in price may not apply to you khannie.

I'd also ask people not to suggest anything illegal in the forum.

WTF? I was just going to see if other places would be cheaper for him. And they aren't. 40 odd for a 5L bottle of Baker brand methanol. Ultra pure grade I think, don't use it myself.

GuanYin

tony 2 tone wrote:

WTF? I was just going to see if other places would be cheaper for him. And they aren't. 40 odd for a 5L bottle of Baker brand methanol. Ultra pure grade I think, don't use it myself.

I wasn't accusing you of anything. I was pre-empting anyone coming along.

Khannie

tony 2 tone wrote:

40 odd for a 5L bottle of Baker brand methanol. Ultra pure grade I think, don't use it myself.

*tears*

The dream is dead.

Capt'n Midnight

on top gear some people were using white spirit as the additive to diesel. The revenue in the UK have ruled that illegal even if it's turpentine instead of petroleum spirit.

http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/introduction.html

If you were to use biodiesel in a car :eek: instead of a backup generator it might be possible (in theory) to contact the revenue and just pay the excise.
This could be an option where you get the fuel free like waste chipper oil. If you had to buy it then not really worth it - pity because it would be a great incentive for recycling.

BTW: ADLI are doing white spirit for about €1.50 litre and some according to the link above some have used up to 20% petrol in the mixture, what are the chances of that knocking ?

GuanYin

Methanol - Labscan 01 2952684 - 25 litre €81 (includes VAT & €30 delivery )

Try this.

Khannie

psi wrote:

Methanol - Labscan 01 2952684 - 25 litre €81 (includes VAT & €30 delivery )

Try this.

NOW we're getting somewhere. Thanks psi.

Delivery at 30 euro makes the per litre price €2. Not too shabby if you were to buy in bulk (thus spreading the cost of delivery) or pick up yourself. Still more than I would have expected but a lot better. I'll give them a ring next week. Tired now. Home time.

pockets23

Hi, I was searching for methanol on the net and came accross this forum. I want to try some small scale biodiesel production but when I looked up methanol it gave me back loads of results. What are all the different types and what's good for biodiesel???

wavin

Khannie wrote:

NOW we're getting somewhere. Thanks psi.

Delivery at 30 euro makes the per litre price €2. Not too shabby if you were to buy in bulk (thus spreading the cost of delivery) or pick up yourself. Still more than I would have expected but a lot better. I'll give them a ring next week. Tired now. Home time.

hey Khannie, you have any joy gettin your hands on that methanol?
biodiesel looks like an interesting thing to have a go off.

Khannie

No joy. It's been a right pain in the hole TBH. I tried registering with vwr and they refused to allow me because I'm not a company :rolleyes:

You also need to have an account with lennox. :rolleyes: and they wont let you pick up from the premisis. They have to deliver to you.

Will have to try a few other places (labscan are next). In the process of buying a diesel car ATM.

diddler

try here

It's a common fuel for miniature unmanned vehicles

Ethyl-ester biodiesel is trickier but doable (and ethanol is homebrewable)

Obviously you mustn't distil it....of course. :rolleyes:

snappieT

School uses this supplier: http://www.shawscientific.com/

diddler

Scientific suppliers are overkill for MeOH for this purpose. You don't need that *guaranteed* level of purity and dryness that makes it so expensive. Any of the suppliers in the link that stock will have pure enough and fairly cheap.

Khannie

Nice linkage. On the phone to marks models there. Said they'd ring me back with quotes for various grades (but that they do stock it).

Most of the literature that I've read says you need 99% pure methanol. I'm sure there's more water in waste veg oil than that, but it's easier to remove it from oil yourself.

edit: Got a call back 20% methanol mix. "Nitromethane" was what they have. Pity.

diddler

Khannie, tell them to pull their finger out and order it for you. Better yet ask for the owner (not just any old staffer who probably knows little about the subject other than what they sell and how much it costs) Tell him that it's for biodiesel and you might need alot of it (the cash till will be going off in his head right about now ). See if that gets you any further.
People like to play around with the mixes so I'm surprised they don't already have neat. I used to mess around with model planes (and almost lost a finger or two getting them started) and I'd be willing to bet the mixture they told you about was 80% methanol, about right for a pre-mixed fuel.

pockets23

Hi, I don't know much about methanol grades but you lot seem to so for god's sake can ya make up your mind and just name one that will do!!!
Tell me which one from which supplier is suitable (preferably cheapest suitable) and I'll go get some of the stuff.
Or just tell me what I should be asking the suppliers for.
Thanks!

Takeshi_Kovacs

pockets23 wrote:

Hi, I don't know much about methanol grades but you lot seem to so for god's sake can ya make up your mind and just name one that will do!!!
Tell me which one from which supplier is suitable (preferably cheapest suitable) and I'll go get some of the stuff.
Or just tell me what I should be asking the suppliers for.
Thanks!

you need at least 95% purity, and if possible, go for 99%+.. anything less than 95% will have too much water, and you will end up with soap instead of biodiesel...
as for decent source of methanol.. i still haven't found one...

diddler

I've just sent an email off to a chem supplier. If anyone here is interested in methanol let me know via PM, and perhaps I can arrange something through ebay so no-one gets ripped off.
Still can't quite believe how hard it's been to track down decent quantities of this stuff.
You would hardly think methanol powered laptops and mp3 players were just about to hit the market;)

nesf

Don't use this forum to encourage people to buy things off you through eBay.

Cheers.

Delphi91

snappieT wrote:

School uses this supplier: http://www.shawscientific.com/

If the standard of the equipment they produce is anything to go by, I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole!!!

diddler

nesf:With which do you object, ebay or just commerce in general?

RedMaxPower

Hello snappieT

Here is new Irish site that should help with your lab supplies, balances and whatever. http://www.carlstuart.com

Order online at this site and they will deliver for free

SOL

I definitely think you are barking up the wrong tree looking for Methanol from scientific companies, it has to pass all sorts of irelevant quality controls, try a search for fuel suppliers... who supply other fuels.

Also, on an aside, do this somewhere well ventilated, we don't want you going blind,

mawk

RedMaxPower wrote: »

Hello snappieT

Here is new Irish site that should help with your lab supplies, balances and whatever. http://www.carlstuart.com

Order online at this site and they will deliver for free

smells like advertising.



in other news~~~


BRAIIINS!!! (zombie thread.)

Capt'n Midnight

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol

you could make it from Natural Gas and water, both piped into your average kitchen. Not sure if you can get a steam-methane reformer on eBay but you should if there is any justice.
CH4 + H2O → CO + 3 H2

or you could make it from electricity and CO2
electricity is also in your kitchen, teh CO2 you can get from the car or your gas boiler or an old sodastream
CO2 + 3 H2 → CH3OH + H2O

In 2006 astronomers using the MERLIN array of radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank Observatory discovered a large cloud of methanol in space, 300 billion miles across.

RedMaxPower

mawk wrote: »

smells like advertising.



in other news~~~


BRAIIINS!!! (zombie thread.)

How can answering somebodies query be an advertisement, I went out of my way to provide deep links as the site in question is a bit on the boig side.

mawk

RedMaxPower wrote: »

How can answering somebodies query be an advertisement, I went out of my way to provide deep links as the site in question is a bit on the boig side.

(you resurrected a 3 year old thread to push a new and brilliant supplier. which would seem to be fine, maybe you did JUST join the site and feel these guys are a good crowd. but 2 out of two posts pushing the same new company? especially since you really had to dig to find an old thread where the links fit)=(advertising)



http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055401100

pushing your own businesses is not kosher hereabouts

RedMaxPower

Hello mawk,

Ok I will put my hands up here a bit and say for the record that I do have an interest in www.carlstuart.com. However the purpose of posting on this site was not to advertise rather than to inform and see if any interest was forthcoming.

My first intention was to provide the links to some resources that are hosted on the site, there was no mention of products or services or buying or selling in my post, just references to white papers and tools that I thought may be of use to this community. Articles about ph, reagents and so on.

I am not sure how I came across the thread "looking for suppliers" but I did think that I was providing a worthwhile response to a legitimate question.

Anyway if I have caused offence then appologies to all. If there is any merit in the resources mentioned then something good has been achieved.

Red

mawk wrote: »

(you resurrected a 3 year old thread to push a new and brilliant supplier. which would seem to be fine, maybe you did JUST join the site and feel these guys are a good crowd. but 2 out of two posts pushing the same new company? especially since you really had to dig to find an old thread where the links fit)=(advertising)



http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055401100

pushing your own businesses is not kosher hereabouts

mawk

kind of you to be forthcoming, and should you develop a glut of business from boards, the bargain alert forum (business/consumer/bargain alerts) are happy to take discounts for boards users in return for a little leeway on company pushing.



~~~~~~~
time for the lock
~~~~~~~

RedMaxPower

Thanks for the tip.

SOL

So much of my powers of observation, didn't notice how old this thread was...

Locked.