G'day Tilly,
The caustic I am using is NaOH and it is branded "Mechanix Caustic Soda". It is distributed by Pascoe's of Welshpool in Western Australia but I note it is made in China.
The Methanol was purchased in in a 200 litre drum from an agent of Coogee Chemicals who informed me all the methanol in Australia comes from a manufacturing facility in Melbourne (could have been Sydney) I have since tried another batch and had similar problems with the caustic dissolving and I have come to the conclusion there is something wrong with it.
I would be interested in your opinion.
Thanks.
Drover.