I just now did a bit of searching was able to find all of these chemicals for sale on-line in the U.S. It looks like thiourea is the most expensive, running around $28 for 50g. I don't know what availability is like in other countries ...
For the hot-plate route, I must confess that I am using a very low-tech approach -- I have an aluminum plate, around 9" x 12" x 1/4" thick, sitting on top of a portable electric burner. It takes some work to find the right heat setting.
I would think that an electric skillet would be much better. I tried to find one at various thrift stores, but apparently they sell very quickly in this area. "Someday" I may try to set up what I now have with a thermocouple and controller to control the heat more precisely. Of course, "someday" may be several years from now ... :)
For the brush, I just use a small "flux brush," of which I picked up a package of 25 for a few bucks at Harbor Freight.
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Alessio Sangalli <alesan@...> wrote:
>
> On 07/21/2010 10:25 AM, Stefan Trethan wrote:
> > Why not buy a chinese scale?
> >
> > 0.01g resolution 300g max:
> > <http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35758>
>
> ahahah iphone shaped, who cares :)
>
> It seems a very nice device. Now, if I only could find those chemicals...
>
> bye
> as
>