Recommended online outlet for industrial chemicals in California, US - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: matthuszagh
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2020, 07:16:01 am
content: Can anyone recommend an online source for common industrial chemicals? I'm just looking for flux solvents at the moment: methylated spirits, ethyl acetate, etc. Amazon is of course an option, but I'm not sure if I trust the quality... I normally use McMaster Carr for this sort of thing, since I feel the quality is generally high, but they won't ship to me as I'm in California and I guess we have strict regulations on VOCs here.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2020, 07:40:54 am
content: Doesn't California cause cancer? I'm waiting to see a label on an orange or something from there.Must wear safety goggles before eating grapefruit, etc.

author: Non-Abelian
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2020, 05:18:43 pm
content: Try SigmaAldrich chemicals. They have just about any chemical you could want in whatever grade you want. Also, why "methylated spirits?" I'd get either pure ethanol or pure methanol, not ethanol that's been mixed with methanol for the sole purpose of rendering it poisonous. I'd use ethanol, since methanol is absorbed through the skin. If you go with pure ethanol, you can just buy a bottle of everclear, which is 95% ethanol. Then you don't have to order it.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2020, 05:23:19 pm
content: For small amounts, hardware stores will have common solvents like denatured alcohol, xylene, acetone and mineral spirits.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2020, 07:30:51 pm
content: Years ago I used a chemical house in Santa Monica. I don't know if they are still in business. I checked with Google and didn't find it.

author: rhodges
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2020, 01:11:53 am
content: QuoteThose chemical companies have impossible prices. I buy sodium hydroxide, probably the most common chemical, for making soap. My best price used to be $23 per 50 pound bag. Now it is double that. One dollar a pound sucks! Now look at the fancy, specialty chemical store and look at their prices. NO! NO! GO TO F'N HELL!

author: Non-Abelian
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2020, 02:19:27 am
content: Quote from: rhodges on December 08, 2020, 01:11:53 amIf you're making soap, buy lye, but even then, I don't know where you would get 50lbs for even twice $23.00. I just checked the price on Amazon and Walmart and it looks like 16.99 for only 2lbs (or $8.50/lb) is as cheap as it gets. If you really ever bought it for less than $1.00/lb, there's no telling what you were buying along with some NaOH. Reagent grade chemicals are naturally going to be even more expensive than what you need to make soap.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2020, 04:39:12 pm
content: Quote from: Non-Abelian on December 08, 2020, 02:19:27 amYes, but those prices represent dividing and repackaging in small quantities for consumers. 95% of the price is packaging, distribution and retail markup. Almost none of the price is associated with the contents of the package.

author: rhodges
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2020, 11:06:23 pm
content: QuoteIt was about four years ago that I bought ten bags from Brichem through a trucking company. As I wrote, it was $23 per 50 pound bag.Last year, I made calls to the companies that supply the drilling industry, and I got quotes around $45 to $48 per bag.And the chemical is pure. Last bags were Pels, and there was no problem or issues with the reactions.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2020, 03:10:03 am
content: Quote from: rhodges on December 08, 2020, 11:06:23 pmSodium hydroxide is made from brine (sodium chloride), so there will be some residual chloride remaining, and depending on the source of the brine there may be some potassium in there, and some other anions or cations. None of these will have any impact on soap making, so there should be no concerns for this usage.As for price, it apparently costs about $500/ton in bulk, so about 50¢/kg or 25¢/lb. Ten years ago I think it was much less, about $125/ton. Any difference between these bulk prices and the cost for small amounts is going to be down to packaging and distribution costs and various mark-ups in the supply chain. But the price does seem to have gone up in recent years.

author: matthuszagh
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2020, 02:24:06 pm
content: Quote from: Non-Abelian on December 07, 2020, 05:18:43 pmYes, fair point. I didn't think I'd be able to get pure ethanol at a reasonable price. For everclear, do I need to worry about what's in the other 5%?

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2020, 05:49:07 pm
content: My background: Chemist(retired)I used Sigma, Aldrich, and many other suppliers over the years. Now, Sigma-Aldrich is one, and it plays the "discount game." That is, its prices to a consumer are grossly exaggerated, but other buyers, such as universities, get steep discounts.Surprisingly, there are cottage industry suppliers on eBay. I have had good luck buying from those that are USA based or have a US shipping location. One recent purchase was from a company in India that shipped from a US location. The product was extremely well packed (I even saved the packing) and was as good as any other chemical I have bought from US suppliers.Another surprise is Google. There are supplies there with remarkably reasonable prices, given the current paucity of sellers.These comments apply particularly to solvents such as MEK, Cellosolves, and Diacetone alcohol and inorganics. Don't know about shipping to California. Now, if you want marijuana, that's a different story.One other source for solvents is a commercial (not homeowner) Sherwin-Williams store. They may not be listed in a local phone directory, but a local dealer can tell you where the nearest commercial store is.