Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Glassware supplier recommendations

MikeS - 1-9-2009 at 22:34

I am planning to purchase glassware and supplies. I need recommendations on glassware brands and distributors/suppliers/companies. I'm not aware of current pricing either. I plan on purchasing the following:

Filtering flask
filter papers
Buchner filter
Thermometer w/clamp
Erlenmeyer flasks
Graduated cyclinders
Hot plate
Clamps
Vertical support rod
Vacuum pump
Stirring rod

psychokinetic - 1-9-2009 at 22:51

When I started, about a month ago - I just searched google for glassware suppliers in my area.
Another good idea would be to say where you are, then you might get some recommendations; have you read other glassware threads? Bound to be some good general info in there.

:)
[edit] Yellowpages are good, too.

[Edited on 2-9-2009 by psychokinetic]

MikeS - 1-9-2009 at 22:59

Thank you for your reply. Yes I have searched the forum but did not come up with anything helpful. I also searched on yahoo and google and came up with some suppliers but the problem is I do not know current pricing and good quality brands. I am located in the Northwest U.S.

Lambda-Eyde - 2-9-2009 at 00:54

United Glass Tech and Wilmad Labglass are good places to start. Don't forget to check out eBay for some really good deals on (mostly used) labware.

MikeS - 2-9-2009 at 04:20

Quote: Originally posted by Lambda-Eyde  
United Glass Tech and Wilmad Labglass are good places to start. Don't forget to check out eBay for some really good deals on (mostly used) labware.


Thank you.

JohnWW - 2-9-2009 at 06:14

You also need 2- and 3-necked round-bottom flasks, a thermometer with a ground-glass joint to fit a side-neck, a muffle heater for use with the round-bottom flasks, condensers, glass-joint adaptors, a vacuum bell-jar, petri dishes, evaporating dishes, various crucibles, rubber tubing, test tubes with rubber bungs, a good number of beakers of various sizes, measuring cylinders from 25 ml to 1 liter capacity (either glass or plastic), a separating funnel, and a drying oven (use a pie-warmer). This is to be able to do a comprehensive range of syntheses and separations.

[Edited on 2-9-09 by JohnWW]

DJF90 - 2-9-2009 at 07:09

What he needs depends on what he intends to do. How can you say he needs a muffle heater? I never even considered one of these necessary; same with the vacuum bell jar. Alot of syntheses can be conducted in a single neck rbf, the additional necks become useful when doing more complicated reactions.

EDIT: John edited his post so now mine makes less sense. What's wrong with an electromantle or oilbath for heating a rbf John??

[Edited on 2-9-2009 by DJF90]

crazyboy - 2-9-2009 at 11:14

Cynmar, United Glass Tech an eBay.

basstabone - 2-9-2009 at 11:24

Kantu is another good one on ebay

1281371269 - 2-9-2009 at 11:42

Ebay is definitely worth checking, I won this joblot which I'm delighted with for about $50 with postage:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160...

A good ebay seller is Canadian based
'theglassblowingshoppe'

Do you need things to be new and free of impurities?
unitednuclear.com are good, the site is fun to browse. However I'm not sure how good the pricing is relative to other companies
There's also a lab auction site:
www.labx.com which looks good and will be the place for joblots or more expensive equipment

Hope this is helpful.

[Edited on 2-9-2009 by Mossydie]

MikeS - 2-9-2009 at 16:27

Thank you for everyones replies.

psychokinetic - 2-9-2009 at 19:10

Hmm, never considered a muffle heater either. Best I get the flasks first, anyway - need clearance for the multinecked ones.

felis - 2-9-2009 at 19:45

Quote: Originally posted by basstabone  
Kantu is another good one on ebay


Kantu's flasks are very low quality, with air bubbles inside walls.

Labmiser.com and expediglass.com is interesting. New glass prices are not bad and quality is excellent, esp. expediglass.

psychokinetic - 3-9-2009 at 12:52

If you see LBY around, they seem quite good. I received some recently. I dropped a 150ml erlenmeyer and it just rolled.

*wipes forehead and changes underpants*

Seem to be good at dealing with the heat, too. I haven't had them very long so I can't give a better description, though.

EmmisonJ - 22-9-2009 at 11:15

Quote: Originally posted by felis  
Quote: Originally posted by basstabone  
Kantu is another good one on ebay


Kantu's flasks are very low quality, with air bubbles inside walls.

Labmiser.com and expediglass.com is interesting. New glass prices are not bad and quality is excellent, esp. expediglass.


I too have had bad luck with Kantu's glass. In less than a year every single piece of glass I got from Kantu is broken except for the sep funnel. Only one of them was dropped, the rest just developed cracks over not much use at all. My other glass from other places is doing perfectly fine but the Kantu glass is all biting the dust. I'll never order glass from there again.

anotheronebitesthedust - 12-11-2009 at 18:23

This is the cheapest thermolyne hotplate stirrer I've found.
http://store.labbargians.com/sp131635q.html

For labware/glassware I found Lab Depot has very good deals.
http://www.labdepotinc.com/

Saerynide - 12-11-2009 at 21:43

I'm a loyal fan of ebay. I get all my glass from there and its always soo cheap. I usually dont have to do much cleaning, except soaking them in lab detergent.

I also got a stirrer hotplate for less than 100 :D

crazyboy - 12-11-2009 at 21:52

Quote: Originally posted by anotheronebitesthedust  

For labware/glassware I found Lab Depot has very good deals.
http://www.labdepotinc.com/


Have you ever actually purchased from them? I looked at their chemicals the first page lists methamphetamine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine. :o:o:o

aonomus - 12-11-2009 at 22:12

The glassblowing shoppe on ebay (Canadian based) appears to be a small outfit, but I did speak with someone on the phone and they seemed legit, if the only weird thing being they used a odd checkout system which combines shipping...

As for UGT, I ordered a medium sized 24/40 distillation set from them, the glass seems good, but upon comparison with Labglass, everything is thicker, heavier, sturdier.

meme - 25-11-2009 at 00:48

Kantu sucks!

Every single thing I have bought broke as soon as I posted feedback. I am so burned I won't even order things like keck clamps from kantu.

Labdepotinc, united glass tech., expediglass all great sources for equipment. Expediglass and UGT esp.; labdepotinc is good for stands and clamps etc at least although I would probably never source anything else from them.

chochu3 - 25-11-2009 at 18:50

dp glass shop on ebay is a good source. He has a whole 19/22 kit for under or about a hundred US dollars.