Old chemicals, things you used to use and such.

[wantedabiggergarage]

I still have some containers that were my grandfathers and such (example a huge filter I have no idea what it went to).  And if I had more of the old oil spouts, I might turn them into a coat rack.

However I saw something the other day that I haven't seen in a long time........
Does anyone still use windshield washer tablets anymore?

[bonneyman]

Nope. Never even heard of them.

I make my own washer fluid. One pint bottle of rubbing alcohol and 1/4 cup of ammonia in a gallon jug topped off with distilled water. A drop or two of blue food coloring and I'm set. Though if I find any of the old stuff with methanol in it I snag it!   

[Crispycritter]

Not exactly old. But i havent been able to find a reliable local source for loc tite sticks in red.

[fatfillup]

Have vague memories of of seeing the windshield tabs but never used them

[nelstomlinson]

It's mineral, not chemical, but grandpa used to keep a bucket of asbestos in the shed, for mixing plaster.

[wantedabiggergarage]

It's mineral, not chemical, but grandpa used to keep a bucket of asbestos in the shed, for mixing plaster.

lol

I was in my 20's when I found out the "treasure map" I used to play with, was a roll of asbestos furnace pipe wrap.

[Der Bugmeister]

Used to be cool watching the mercury from a broken thermometer "evaporate" as it rolled around in the palm of my hand 

I won't mention the small pieces of sheet lead that were so pleasantly pliable.  The hell with silly putty!

[slip knot]

I remember dusting our clothes with DDT before we went out in the pastures to keep the ticks off us. EPA did away with the DDT and the imported fire ants did away with the ticks. Seldom see ticks anymore.

[Crispycritter]

How about that red stuff in the bottle my grandpa used to insist on dabbing on every cut much to my displeasure..

[bonneyman]

Henley's Book of Formulas is an interesting read, with lots of ideas for DIY chemicals. From around 1900, I wouldn't trust the medical advice - some of those "remedies" sound downright scary. But alot of the other advice is noteworthy. Used copies are quite cheap on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Henleys-Formulas-Workshop-Gardner-Hiscox/dp/0517293072

And just about any edition of "The Chemical Formulary" is chock full of cool chemical concoctions. Though quite expensive in book form, many issues are found free on-line.

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000837889

[stokester]

How about that red stuff in the bottle my grandpa used to insist on dabbing on every cut much to my displeasure..

[geneg]

In the Summers, the city trash trucks drove thru the alleys fogging for mosquitoes.  We rode bikes behind them at breakneck speed to stay in the cloud of smoke.

Our high school chemistry teacher gave us mercury to play with on the lab tables. 

[Crispycritter]

How about that red stuff in the bottle my grandpa used to insist on dabbing on every cut much to my displeasure..

i think thats it did it ating ? I remember it stinging

In the Summers, the city trash trucks drove thru the alleys fogging for mosquitoes.  We rode bikes behind them at breakneck speed to stay in the cloud of smoke.

Our high school chemistry teacher gave us mercury to play with on the lab tables. 

[J.A.F.E.]

As a kid I remember mercurochrome and merthiolate both contain mercury. And I remember Iodine as well. Not sure if they're still made haven't seen them in a long time. I suppose it worked but I like the modern Neosporin and it's analogs better although if it's bad I'll still apply a liberal amount of Hydrogen peroxide first.

 I, too, played with mercury blobs in school.

[jabberwoki]

I, too, played with mercury blobs in school.


This explains a lot.