According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and, more
optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of bemusement
from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that the old fashioned
Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now Pharamacies selling drugs, cold
cures and the like but not household chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents, meths,
paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

Egremont

Paraffin I've managed to get from (some) garages, not chemists though.
No idea about other agents... Isn't most nail varnish remover ammonia,
though, or is that too dilute (or expensive) a solution for cleaning?

Jon

Nail varnish remover is acetone I think.

"Egremont" wrote in message
...
According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and, more
optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of
bemusement
from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that the old fashioned
Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now Pharamacies selling drugs,
cold
cures and the like but not household chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths,
paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.


Have you tried buying citric acid for descaling recently - you get a right
dirty look because apparently it's used for cutting drugs...

PC Paul wrote:
"Egremont" wrote in message
...

According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and, more
optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of
bemusement
from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that the old fashioned
Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now Pharamacies selling drugs,
cold
cures and the like but not household chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths,
paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.



Have you tried buying citric acid for descaling recently - you get a right
dirty look because apparently it's used for cutting drugs...



It's also used to make kiddies bath bombs (whatever they are) so no need
to look sheepish.

Egremont wrote:
According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and,
more optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of
bemusement from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that the
old fashioned Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now
Pharamacies selling drugs, cold cures and the like but not household
chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

Egremont

everything is available online and if you have a proper reason you can buy
anything that isn't illegal. people tend to forget that in a parliamentary (faux)
democracy if it's isn't specifically illegal, you can do it

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:19:14 GMT, "Egremont"
wrote:

According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and, more
optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of bemusement
from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that the old fashioned
Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now Pharamacies selling drugs, cold
cures and the like but not household chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents, meths,
paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I don't have any bother getting isopropyl alcohol, but from a real
pharmacy rather than an in-supermaket one.

You can readily buy meths from outdoor accessory/camping shops.

--
Frank Erskine

Frank Erskine wrote:
On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:19:14 GMT, "Egremont"
wrote:

According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and,
more optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look
of bemusement from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that
the old fashioned Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now
Pharamacies selling drugs, cold cures and the like but not household
chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning
agents, meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I don't have any bother getting isopropyl alcohol, but from a real
pharmacy rather than an in-supermaket one.

I bought a litre of IPA from maplins 3 weeks ago.

Egremont wrote:
According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.


Probably from supermarkets even. Combinations of branded household goods
can be pretty lethal IIRC.
Pointless looking for evil Egyptian chemists when it appears any bloody
fool can make a bomb. Detonating it might be more difficult and possibly
the London bombers didn't get that bit right. Why carry ID unless you
envisage walking away from the scene?
Interesting that caustic soda cannot be sold over the counter by my
local plumbers merchant, so I was forced to go to Focus and get it off
the shelf.

I don't think my local Chemist ever did sell meths or paraffin - that was
the hardware shop.

If I tried buying Citric acid from my Chemist (Pharmacist) I wouldn't get a
dirty look, just a look of 'why do you think we'd sell that - we sell cough
mixture!". Specific examples elude me but now and again you see a suggestion
to use some chemical for some cleaning or DIY job and whenever I've tried a
Chemist I've drawn a blank.

It just made me want to ask - do Chemists/Pharmacists (e.g. Boots) really
sell chemicals as suggested on the news?.

Egremont

"Egremont" wrote in message
...
I don't think my local Chemist ever did sell meths or paraffin - that was
the hardware shop.

If I tried buying Citric acid from my Chemist (Pharmacist) I wouldn't get
a
dirty look, just a look of 'why do you think we'd sell that - we sell
cough
mixture!". Specific examples elude me but now and again you see a
suggestion
to use some chemical for some cleaning or DIY job and whenever I've tried
a
Chemist I've drawn a blank.

It just made me want to ask - do Chemists/Pharmacists (e.g. Boots) really
sell chemicals as suggested on the news?.


rec.woodworking people are always suggesting using 'mineral oil' for
finishing food related items such as chopping boards, salad bowls etc. and
getting it from a pharmacy.

Nobody over here (UK) has any idea what it is...

Egremont wrote:

According to the news, the bombs used in London were constructed from
chemicals obtainable from high street Chemists.

Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning

smelling salts, or use caustic, or try a wood finishing place.

and, more
optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of bemusement
from behind the counter.

brick acid, fernox, tesco bog cleaner

I came to the conclusion that the old fashioned
Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now Pharamacies selling drugs, cold
cures and the like but not household chemicals.

Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents, meths,

rubbing alcohol, surgical spirit, rectified etc, tape head cleaner, all
similar but not same. Try a paint shop for real meths


paraffin,

sold at gararges. aka lamp oil

ammonia and the like thesedays?.

just a case of knowing whats what. Its not labelled as obviously as it
used to be, and most products are now proprietary mixes rather than
single chems, and one tends to have to get this here, that there etc.
Theres not the demand for those kind of things there once was. Guess
bom making just isnt as fashionable now. It used to be a popular sport
among teenagers.


NT

PC Paul wrote:

rec.woodworking people are always suggesting using 'mineral oil' for
finishing food related items such as chopping boards, salad bowls etc. and
getting it from a pharmacy.

Nobody over here (UK) has any idea what it is...

Isn't it liquid parafin?

In article , "S Viemeister"
says...
PC Paul wrote:

rec.woodworking people are always suggesting using 'mineral oil' for
finishing food related items such as chopping boards, salad bowls etc. and
getting it from a pharmacy.

Nobody over here (UK) has any idea what it is...

Isn't it liquid parafin?

Yes.

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:31:50 UTC, "PC Paul" wrote:

Have you tried buying citric acid for descaling recently - you get a right
dirty look because apparently it's used for cutting drugs...

No problem round here. One place refused to sell me more than two
packets at once, mind, and got very huffy.

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 13:19:56 UTC, Frank Erskine
wrote:

I don't have any bother getting isopropyl alcohol, but from a real
pharmacy rather than an in-supermaket one.

I get IPA from CPC.

You can readily buy meths from outdoor accessory/camping shops.

Old fashioned ironmongers (not that easy to find, but...). Same for
ammonia.

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 13:32:45 UTC, "Egremont" wrote:

If I tried buying Citric acid from my Chemist (Pharmacist) I wouldn't get a
dirty look, just a look of 'why do you think we'd sell that - we sell cough
mixture!".

All our local chemists sell it - apart from Boots, who are always
bemused anyway. They keep it in the pharmacy.

On 15 Jul 2005 14:09:15 GMT,it is alleged that "Bob Eager"
spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:31:50 UTC, "PC Paul" wrote:

Have you tried buying citric acid for descaling recently - you get a right
dirty look because apparently it's used for cutting drugs...

No problem round here. One place refused to sell me more than two
packets at once, mind, and got very huffy.

Wow, the things you miss by not being a druggie. g
I use citric acid and/or HCl for descaling regularly.

BTW, places that deal with swimming pools should be able to source
hydrochloric acid fairly cheaply. Better deal than 'patio cleaner'
(It'll need dilution before use for that purpose though).

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on
*no* account be allowed to do the job."
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4 full.

--
*The beatings will continue until morale improves *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Stuart Noble wrote:
Detonating it might be more difficult and possibly
the London bombers didn't get that bit right. Why carry ID unless you
envisage walking away from the scene?

Because they were proud to be known to die for their cause?
Seems impossible to any normal person, but these suicide bombers are brain
washed.

--
*I pretend to work. - they pretend to pay me.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
"Egremont" writes:
Well, of late I've tried to get stuff like ammonia for cleaning and, more
optomistically, dilute HCL for de-scaling and just got a look of bemusement
from behind the counter. I came to the conclusion that the old fashioned
Chemist doesn't exist any more -they are now Pharamacies selling drugs, cold
cures and the like but not household chemicals.

As a teenager, I used to buy chemicals from our local chemist.
They were rarely in stock, but they had two deliveries a day
as needed to get the more obscure prescription in drugs anyway,
and could order chemicals in the same way. I've still got a
bottle of ferric chloride from back then (used for etching
circuit boards). I remember ordering all sorts of things for
doing chemistry experimentation at the time.

I often wonder if kids still do any practical work in chemistry
lessons nowadays. I'm pretty certain they wouldn't be allowed
to do a number of the things we did.

--
Andrew Gabriel

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 15:46:35 +0100,it is alleged that "Dave Plowman
(News)" spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4 full.

I'd have given him the third degree back, as to what the hell he was
doing in business as a chemist if he doesn't want to sell chemicals.

Maplin electronics, 9.99 for a litre.

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on
*no* account be allowed to do the job."
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

In message .com, Jon
writes
Paraffin I've managed to get from (some) garages, not chemists though.
No idea about other agents... Isn't most nail varnish remover ammonia,

acetone

though, or is that too dilute (or expensive) a solution for cleaning?

Jon


--
geoff

In article t,
Chip wrote:
No problem round here. One place refused to sell me more than two
packets at once, mind, and got very huffy.

Wow, the things you miss by not being a druggie. g

Don't think they're used by a druggie, but by a dealer to 'cut' the drug
into larger but weaker portions to increase profits. A bit like watering
beer. ;-)

--
*Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" made things up in message
...
In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes
and got the third degree from my
local chemist.

I'm not surprise. I wouldn't let you near matches.

"Chip" wrote in message
n.net...
On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 15:46:35 +0100,it is alleged that "Dave Plowman
(News)" spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4 full.

I'd have given him the third degree back, as to what the hell he was
doing in business as a chemist if he doesn't want to sell chemicals.

Maplin electronics, 9.99 for a litre.

You have to put yourslef in the Chemists place. If dribbling, babbling
scruffy sod walked in, you would have to ask questions. No doubt he gave
him half and watched him go out the door, just in case he drank it.

Something else I've never been able to get is Plaster of Paris, as
recommended by Jackson / Day to fix a broken ceiling. Perhaps it's now
branded as "Arm Fixer" in Chemists or "Fast Setting Ceiling Fixer" in B&Q,
or maybe I need to find an outlet that supplies my local A&E unit...

RE my original post, I was starting to think Al Quaeda must be making bombs
out of Aspirin or something - I can't even get something to clean up a brass
letterbox from my local Chemists. But maybe I just need to find a better
one.

Egremont.

"Dave Plowman (News)" writes:

In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4 full.

Did you try your nearest Greene King pub .....


Peter

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist.

Did you ask him why ?

Next time, ask me, and I'll get you a litre on my next CPC order


--
geoff

In message t, Chip
writes
On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 15:46:35 +0100,it is alleged that "Dave Plowman
(News)" spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4 full.

I'd have given him the third degree back, as to what the hell he was
doing in business as a chemist if he doesn't want to sell chemicals.

Maplin electronics, 9.99 for a litre.

About 6 quid from cpc IIRC

--
geoff

In article ws.net,
Doctor Evil wrote:
I'd have given him the third degree back, as to what the hell he was
doing in business as a chemist if he doesn't want to sell chemicals.

Maplin electronics, 9.99 for a litre.

You have to put yourslef in the Chemists place. If dribbling, babbling
scruffy sod walked in, you would have to ask questions.

And what was your answer? Of course he wouldn't have understood it.

--
*Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
raden wrote:
I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist.

Did you ask him why ?

I expect it's because you may be able to drink it. And it's not a shop
I've been in before.

Next time, ask me, and I'll get you a litre on my next CPC order

It was one of those things I wanted there and then, but thanks for the
offer.

--
*Honk if you love peace and quiet.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Peter Riocreux wrote:
I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from
my local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4
full.

Did you try your nearest Greene King pub ....

Wonder which does more harm to your guts? ;-)

--
*Too many clicks spoil the browse *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

PC Paul wrote:

Have you tried buying citric acid for descaling recently - you get a right
dirty look because apparently it's used for cutting drugs...



Try a homebrew shop for citric acid (small-ish quantities anyway)

--
Spamtrap in use
To email replace 127.0.0.1 with blueyonder dot co dot uk

Egremont wrote:
Something else I've never been able to get is Plaster of Paris, as
recommended by Jackson / Day to fix a broken ceiling. Perhaps it's now
branded as "Arm Fixer" in Chemists or "Fast Setting Ceiling Fixer" in B&Q,
or maybe I need to find an outlet that supplies my local A&E unit...

RE my original post, I was starting to think Al Quaeda must be making bombs
out of Aspirin or something - I can't even get something to clean up a brass
letterbox from my local Chemists. But maybe I just need to find a better
one.

Egremont.


The chemists makret is more drugs than what we think of as 'chemicals.'
You can probably get more 'chemicals' from the cleaning section at
tesco.


NT

In message , Egremont
writes
Something else I've never been able to get is Plaster of Paris, as
recommended by Jackson / Day to fix a broken ceiling. Perhaps it's now
branded as "Arm Fixer" in Chemists or "Fast Setting Ceiling Fixer" in B&Q,
or maybe I need to find an outlet that supplies my local A&E unit...

Casting plaster

You can buy it in normal plaster size bags

I bought one last year

--
geoff

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 15:52:07 GMT, Chip
wrote:

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 15:46:35 +0100,it is alleged that "Dave Plowman
(News)" spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

In article ,
Egremont wrote:
Does some Chemists actually still sell old-fashioned cleaning agents,
meths, paraffin, ammonia and the like thesedays?.

I wanted some IPA for cleaning purposes and got the third degree from my
local chemist. Eventually he sold me a 1/2 litre bottle about 1/4 full.

I'd have given him the third degree back, as to what the hell he was
doing in business as a chemist if he doesn't want to sell chemicals.

I spoke to a pharmacist pal of mine a while ago, and he reckons that
"chemists" are no longer allowed to "make up" medicines, apart from
very simple mixtures.

Their pharmacoepia (sp?) (a pharmacy reference book) used to have
various formulae - alas no more. It simply describes drugs from
various manufacturers.

Virtually all medicines have to be proprietary, so any odd "chemicals"
they may have will be simply used alone, so there's no need for them
to stock saltpetre, flowers of sulphur, etc.

--
Frank Erskine

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
| In article t,
| Chip wrote:
| No problem round here. One place refused to sell me more than two
| packets at once, mind, and got very huffy.
|
| Wow, the things you miss by not being a druggie. g
|
| Don't think they're used by a druggie, but by a dealer to 'cut' the drug
| into larger but weaker portions to increase profits. A bit like watering
| beer. ;-)
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Possibly, but according to
http://saferinjecting.org/citric/cit...c_briefing.pdf
"In order to inject brown heroin or crack cocaine an acid must be added to
make the drug dissolve.
Anxieties amongst pharmacists and shopkeepers have led to severe
restrictions in the supply of citric acid in some areas. The consequence
of this has been an increase in the use of lemon juice and vinegar as
acidifiers, despite the additional risks that are associated with the use
of these substances."

The anxiety to pharmacists stemmed from the threat that the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society might take action against them if they were selling
the stuff and it got used for this purpose, so many just stopped - it was
simpler. Users found it easier to buy it from home wine-making outlets.


Ian

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 16:45:29 GMT, raden wrote:

Did you ask him why ?

War On Drugs (rather than terrorism). Isopropanol has been difficult
to buy from a chemist for some years now, and not _entirely_ without
justification. OTOH, go round the corner to the industrial supplier
(greasemonkey, not lab coat) and you'll get it no problem because they
don't even know what else it can be used for.

I expect acetone to become harder to get hold of, following last week's
bombs.

In message , Andy Dingley
writes
On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 16:45:29 GMT, raden wrote:

Did you ask him why ?

War On Drugs (rather than terrorism). Isopropanol has been difficult
to buy from a chemist for some years now, and not _entirely_ without
justification. OTOH, go round the corner to the industrial supplier
(greasemonkey, not lab coat) and you'll get it no problem because they
don't even know what else it can be used for.

I expect acetone to become harder to get hold of, following last week's
bombs.

Bugger, that's my nails gonna be a mess

--
geoff