Canada Balsam - no longer available?

[Steven Tribe]

It is a few years since I last bought Canada Balsam for recementing achromats. I still have enough for a few years, but it seems now to be unavailable. I have bought small bottles through hobby shops (Microscopy supliers ) and ebay before.

There are a few results for searches which show "reconsituted" canada balsam in zylene in North America, but none appear to offer postage. I have to believe this is due to the zylene content which has come under suspect as a carcinogen or for being an inflammable solvent.

I think the "real" Canada balsam is without the zylene thinner, but this seems no longer available.

Microscopy suppliers seem to gone over to an aqueous based product these days instead of the centuries old balsam product. However, this could be an easier product to work with lenses?

Anyone with special insight? I will not go over to short lifed Norland UV synthetics.

[Jim Michael]

This claims to be the pure product but only ships ground http://www.arttreehouse.com/store/content/canada-balsam

[Steven Tribe]

Interesting site. Looks like my idea of a complete ban on liquid in bottle transport by air, even though it is only 2" tall, has hit Canada Balsam!

[DMS206]

you can still get it from the surplus shed, in solid form, so you have to dissolve it yourself.

[EdSawyer]

What's wrong with the modern UV-curing lens adhesives used by all current lens manufacturers?

[Steven Tribe]

I have given my reasons a couple of times before.

High cost.
Short freezer life - even if you get from a new manufactured batch. The UV cement you bought for the last job will be past "last date" when you have a new one to do.
Far more difficult to "undo" for a new attempt.
More difficult than balsam to loosen up for the next DIY person.
I don't do modern lenses, just reestablish the original cement layer for vintage lenses, which was canada balsum.
Balsam has an attractive smell!

[desertrat]

Kremer Pigmente in Germany sells Canada Balsam as an art product. It may be the raw resin which must be dried over low heat and redissolved in xylene to use as a lens cement.

However the product listing states the product is only for sale to "professional" buyers. Do you know somebody who qualifies as a Professional?

My interest in Canada Balsam comes from one of my other hobbies making permanent microscope slides.

[Steven Tribe]

Kremer Pigmente in Germany sells Canada Balsam as an art product. It may be the raw resin which must be dried over low heat and redissolved in xylene to use as a lens cement.

However the product listing states the product is only for sale to "professional" buyers. Do you know somebody who qualifies as a Professional?

My interest in Canada Balsam comes from one of my other hobbies making permanent microscope slides.

Making slides was a wonderful Victorian Gentlemen's hobby and I'm sure 95% of sales nowadays is to their "descendants". I have a B.Sc in Chemistry before I did Social Psychology at Cambridge and Imperial College - so perhaps I qualify as a Professional!

[David Schaller]

Have you checked Artcraft Chemicals? I seem to remember seeing it listed on their website.

[Eric Woodbury]

I don't pretend to know Jack here, but have you been to this website?

https://www.optical-cement.com/cements/products.html

Looks as though they have a selection although no CB.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Have you checked Artcraft Chemicals? I seem to remember seeing it listed on their website.

http://www.artcraftchemicals.com/products/products-page/general-chemistry/a-m/canadian-balsam-fir-part-1656/

[brad martin]

100g on Amazon for $89.00 or synthetic for $12.95.

[George Richards]

Hmm, at that price I should harvest some. After all I live in Canada and there is a Christmas tree farm just down the road, and they might have a few Balsum Firs. How hard can it be?

[Jim Jones]

Surplus Shed http://www.surplusshed.com/ still has Canada balsam (item no. B1077A) available at 1/4 pound for $25.00. As I recall, it was cheaper several years ago.

[Steven Tribe]

100g on Amazon for $89.00 or synthetic for $12.95.

The 100ml is out of stock and the 25ml doesn't ship to Europe. Thanks anyway!

[brad martin]

Well good luck. It looks like you're doing the Lord's work.

[Sean Mac]

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/c1795?lang=en&region=IE

The link is my local branch of this company. It seems expensive.

Perhaps they have a branch in Denmark?

Hope this helps. :)

[Steven Tribe]

It is big companies who lead the way with no air postage policies with liquids!

Actually, I am researching for a non-Denmark based person and a private person has suggested his help. Will report back on actual product (basic liquid balsam, without xylene). I fear that the dried balsam will have lost some important important natural solvents.

[jack_hui]

try this

https://www.naturalpigments.com/canada-balsam.html