I think I need some Oxalic acid for some wood work (Not on my Merlins). I can find lots of people on the internet, but is there a shop I can actually pop in tommorrow and but 500g of the stuff?

1. sory for the double post
2. but = buy

19 hits for oxalic acid on ebay ......  as of Friday evening

But to pop in and get tomorrow try a pharmacy but don't look as if you are desperate as it is a poison

hi al, the last lot I bought from a large boots store,  was a while ago though, still it might be worth a try

You can buy oxalic acid from companies who supply wood products as it is used for bleaching wood (which is probably what you want it for).  It costs around £7 for about a kilo.  There is a company in Southampton that does it mail order and when I get home, I will post the contact details up here.

A second thought as you want it quickly, do you know any beekeepers local to you?  If so, you will find that they use oxalic acid to treat their bees to remove varoa mite in December/January - they might be willing to sell/give you some.

To date, I have tried a loacl Boots and local Pharmacy, both gave bemused looks. Bee-keepers next! I can order on line, but then I can't make progress for a few days.

The people you need are J Penny in Southampton http://www.jpennyltd.co.uk/.

When I last got some, it came next day.

Rhubarb contains oxalic acid - try googling rhubarb oxalic acid -also present in urine but not sure where to get that from !!!

Are you taking the piss?

Try a childrens chemistry set!

Pharmacy is quickest, just tell the chemist what it's for.

It seems that they are indeed pharmacies now-a-day, not chemists. So no luck for me. I'll just have to slow down stripping the varnish and wait for the delivery.

You could try your sons chemistry teacher (If there is one left!) we misused lots of school stuff that we couldn't get from the more usual sources.

I got some from a chandlery - Force 4 I think

Got mine delivered from an e-bay seller. Fast and efficient. Ordered Monday, arrived Tuesday.

thats a shame ,..never seen a boat with wee stained decks before.....

Really - some of us have, but I had just narrowly missed the Isle of Wight Ferry at the time.............

When I tried to buy a kilo of this from the local Co-op Pharmacy I was questioned as to where I lived, why I wanted it, had I identity etc. I refused to answer because to the style of questioning then found that all the pharmacists reacted in the same way.  I found one with whom I had done business a few years ago who told me that in these PC days with the amount I wanted I was regarded as a potential mass murderer. I am unaware that this was, is or will be the case!

But they'd sell you enough to murder merely one person? Thats fine then.

There was a time when you could buy all sorts of toxic chemicals from your local pharmacist, but those days are long gone.  E-bay seems to be the best place to get things like that now, have not tried with oxalic acid but recently got some isopropyl alcohol cheaply and easily (stylus cleaner for the turntable) & photographic chemicals are the same.

Regarding chemicals that are difficult to obtain.... has anyone tried to source small quantities of chloroform? If you mix up shavings of Perspex with chloroform you can make a useful adhesive for repairing Perspex transom flaps since it has the same refractive index and polishes up quite well. I was very lucky that my pharmacist  happened to be aware of this application... this info may be useful for someone needing a Perspex repair.... not a solution to be sniffed at!

Regarding chemicals that are difficult to obtain.... has anyone tried to source small quantities of chloroform? If you mix up shavings of Perspex with chloroform you can make a useful adhesive for repairing Perspex transom flaps since it has the same refractive index and polishes up quite well. I was very lucky that my pharmacist  happened to be aware of this application... this info may be useful for someone needing a Perspex repair.... not a solution to be sniffed at!

'Tensol' is an adhesive specifically for perspex from memory - and requests for it may be regarded with less suspicion!

try beekeeping suppliers they use it to control varoa mite