Collodion Group buy - UPDATED 9 September

[LewisM]

I intend purchasing a First Contact "collodian" cleaning kit (the red version) for cleaning my optics. The minimum international kit price is $290 US (which is fine) - it comes with 10 refills. Ships Fedex 3 day.

Anyone interested in going halves or thirds? (5 refills each, or 3 refills each).

This is the stuff NASA, JPL, Keck etc use to clean their precious mirrors and lenses.

Let me know via email. If more are interested, perhaps we could order more kits simultaneously.

EDIT: there is a LOT of interest, some wanting 5 bottles, some 3 etc. So, anyone definite, email me how many you want, and I will arrange a large purchase from them directly.

This just in from First Contact:

Thank you for your inquiry.


First the shipping: The price on our web store does not include shipping. I've calculated shipping costs (based on other orders we've had from universities in Australia) to approximately $85.00 US for International Priority and $67.00 US for International Economy (Priority being approx 3 business days delivery and Economy being 5 to 7 days). This cost may increase or decrease depending on your location but not by much. Also, there may be customs fees as well but I am unaware of the costs.


May I ask your intended use? There may be other products you'll need if sharing with others, or if you encounter water spots on the surfaces you intend to clean. Also, we want to insure you have sufficient polymer to clean all the surfaces you're considering.


So, based on this, if we all want it in a hurry, we will be looking at $375 US total, which if we split 5 ways is $75 US each. If we go slower, it's almost $72 each, which is negligible.

So, may I ask for everyone that wants it, to EMAIL ME with quantity required etc,and we can nail it down. At this point, I was considering going one kit only, divided up 5 ways. 1 bottle is good for a couple large mirrors, or many refractor objectives.

[coldlegs (Stephen)]

PM sent

[LewisM]

Didn't get a PM or email Stephen.

[coldlegs (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Didn't get a PM or email Stephen.

Must have pressed the wrong button. Anyway I'm happy to go halves or thirds . Your choice. Give it a day or so as others might be interested.
Cheers
Stephen

[LewisM]

Right. One in, let's maybe go for 3 then go for it.

That's $145 each for 50/50 or $96.70 for 33/33/33 - US dollars. I figure 5 bottles should last a 5 years, 3 bottles 3 years - once a year.

I have a fluorite doublet that needs it

[MrB (Simon)]

I could be interested in one bottle if there is enough interest and you decide to split into singles (or multiples of) at ~$29US per bottle. One refill will supposedly cover 754cm2, or a 100mm objective 9 times, plenty enough for me.

There is one problem though..... there is only one 15ml applicator bottle in the kit.

[LewisM]

You can pour it straight on - you don't NEED the applicator bottle per se. Most times in the video's etc, it's just poured on with little finesse

So, I have maybe 4 in now. Could all interested please PM me, and arrange to transfer funds - I will use my visa card (they don't do Paypal)

I have also asked the Chinese distributor - perhaps they can do it a bit cheaper. Will report back. If no answer by Friday, I will order direct USA.

[Baza (Barry)]

use a syringe from your friendly chemist.

[Ihsahakat (Tak Girl)]

Not sure a syringe would be a good idea unless it was glass considering the active constituents in the product. It may just melt the plastic in the syringe, or worse still, eject contaminated plastic onto the optical surface. I would use glass only if it were me - considering getting some myself actually.

[LewisM]

Another update: we will order direct ex-Manufacturer. They are checking with FedEx.

The Chinese dealer sent me a quote, and they work out almost double the US price, WITHOUT shipping!!!

[LewisM]

Still no word direct from the USA, which is a shame.

I found a local supplier of similar, so ordered 2 trial bottles. Will report back.

[coldlegs (Stephen)]

Any news yet Lewis?

Originally Posted by LewisM

Still no word direct from the USA, which is a shame.

I found a local supplier of similar, so ordered 2 trial bottles. Will report back.