Where can I find affordable and efficient online chemical suppliers?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding affordable and efficient online chemical suppliers for various laboratory chemicals needed for experiments. Participants share their experiences and recommendations regarding suppliers, pricing, and shipping considerations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about reliable online chemical suppliers for specific chemicals including Aniline, THF, and HCl.
  • Another suggests sargentwelch.com as a source but notes that hazmat shipping can be costly, recommending local pickup if possible.
  • A participant mentions eBay as a surprisingly good source for chemistry supplies.
  • Another agrees with the eBay suggestion and highlights CHEMSAVERS as a reputable seller, also mentioning that many chemicals can be found over-the-counter (OTC).
  • One participant warns about price discrepancies on eBay, sharing an experience of finding a rare chemical at a high price compared to a much cheaper import option from Shanghai.
  • A participant recommends VWR and Fisher as reliable suppliers in the US, noting their fast shipping but also the potential issue of having to purchase larger quantities than needed, particularly for more expensive chemicals like THF and Pyridine.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the best sources for chemical supplies, with no consensus on a single best option. Discussions highlight varying experiences with pricing and shipping considerations.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concerns about hazmat shipping costs and minimum order quantities, which may affect overall affordability. Specific pricing and availability of chemicals can vary significantly based on location and supplier.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students, researchers, or hobbyists looking for cost-effective sources for laboratory chemicals and those interested in the logistics of chemical supply procurement.

BiggerStronger
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What's a good online chemical supply co? (cheap, fast, reliable)

I'm looking for the following to do a experiment:
Aniline
4A Molecular Sieves
Dry Methanol
Tetrahydrofuran (THF)
HCL
NaCl
NaOH
CH2Cl2
Pyridine
Propionyl Chloride
Acetone
 
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sargentwelch.com will carry most of those... but if you're looking for cheap sources its best to find a chemical supplier you can pick the stuff up from, because most of those require hazmat shipping services, which are very expensive.
 
one of the best places to get chemistry supplies is suprizingly e-bay
 
I agree, ebay is the best place to go for pretty much anything. CHEMSAVERS is a good ebay seller which deals with chemicals (for cheap!).

Most of those products can be found OTC.

http://www.hyperdeath.co.uk/

Use this to find where you can find them.
 
E-bay is generally good, but watch out and check your prices.

I was looking for a certain rare but OTC chemical, and it was selling for over $700 for 500g with many bids and lots of time left. I later imported the same quantity from a supplier in Shanghai for $40 including shipping and customs fees.
 
I'm not sure where you are located, but I routinely use VWR and Fisher (in the US). They also ship to most of Europe and some of Asia.

http://www.vwrsp.com/

https://www1.fishersci.com/index.jsp

I can vouch for fast and reliable...but I'm sure there are places that would be cheaper. The problem you will likely face, as far as pricing is concerned, is having to buy more than you need. Acetone, HCl, NaOH and Methanol are cheap, but THF and Pyridine are not, and the minimum volume sold is often 1L or even 4L (4L of THF can set you back $300).
 
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