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  #1  
Old 31st July 2009, 12:41 PM
Pete O Pete O is offline
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Default Source of Powdered Selenium

I've found a formula for mixing my own selenium toner. Does anybody know a source of selenium powder in the U.K. preferably, or in Europe if I have to. Don't get upset, it's the cost of overseas postage that I'm trying to avoid.
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Pete O
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Old 31st July 2009, 08:55 PM
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Trevor Crone Trevor Crone is offline
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Pete, I think you might be hard pushed to find a UK supplier these days because of the hazards attached to selenium. The last time I bought some was from East Anglia chemicals but sadly they are no longer trading. I feel you will have to shop abroad for it.
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Old 1st August 2009, 08:40 AM
Pete O Pete O is offline
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Thanks Trevor,
Bostic & Sullivan list the stuff but it's a bit expensive. Add the postage to the price and I'll have to think about it.
Best wishes,
Pete.
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Old 1st August 2009, 08:52 AM
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Peter Hogan Peter Hogan is offline
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There is a chemical company here called Aldrich that sells it. However, you have to open an account to buy from them and I doubt they would allow you. Try asking Martin Reed of Silverprint if he can get it for you.
Incidentally, I mix almost all my own chemicals; the only two I don't mix is selenium toner and gold toner, and the only reason is that it is far cheaper to buy it ready mixed and there is no benefit to be gained by mixing your own.
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Old 1st August 2009, 03:01 PM
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Trevor Crone Trevor Crone is offline
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Pete, I would certainly endorse what Peter has just said, that you will have little to save by mixing your own, unless you have some exotic formula you wish to experiment with

I used to make my own selenium toner from Kodak's T-55 formula before Kodak's Rapid Selenium toner became readily available in the UK. It is quite hazardous stuff to mix but as I was a working laboratory technician at the time I had access to fume cupboards.

Good luck,

Trev.
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Old 2nd August 2009, 06:42 AM
Pete O Pete O is offline
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Thanks for all your help. It doesn't look like a very exotic formula so I reckon that I'll stick to buying the "ready mixed".
Best wishes,
Pete.
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Old 3rd August 2009, 09:59 AM
Martin Reed Martin Reed is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Hogan View Post
....Try asking Martin Reed of Silverprint if he can get it for you.....
We do have selenium powder in stock, but would never list it for general sale, because as Peter & Trevor say, the hazards of mixing tend to outweigh the benefits, especially when there are good commercial alternatives. But if you need the raw chemical no problem, preferably collection only!
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Old 16th August 2009, 06:54 PM
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Selenium powder need to be dissolved on a hotplate in a fume cabinet.

It's not particularly dangerous unless you inhale it as a salt, which can happen with droplets formed in the steam as you boil a solution to dissolve it.

Many people suffer from Selenium deficiencies & take supplement tabletc.

Selenium powder is used in Photocopier toner as very fine light particles, it's safer to buy Sodium Selenite.

Mac
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Old 16th August 2009, 08:21 PM
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Selenium is also very good for your prostate (if you still have it). A lot of people rely on brazil nuts as a source; but they need to be taking tablets.

Apologies for this not very photographical follow-up.
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