Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Chinese glassware and current events

Chinese glassware and current events

Funkerman23 - 24-4-2025 at 16:57

Before I go any further, this is not meant to be a political conversation (or peeing match). I am in the US and this is intended to focus on supply issues and technical troubles.

OK, Disclaimer aside, I and a number of us could be in a bit of a jam.As of this posting, the US and China are in a tariff war and a large number of us use Chinese glass. Brands like Laboy,Synthware,CTech glass, Deschem... they have been a blessing to us amateurs when the Big brands were not willing to sell. But, with the current geopolitics, those of us in the US may be in deep crap. The last time I looked, the tariff for bringing in Chinese lab wares was 245% of the value , and the de minimus exception is dead as of May 2.
I don't know if Indian makers could step in, or what brands of Indian made glass are up to par but this situation is horrible.

What made me want to post was I have about (6) 50mm immersion 10/18 thermometers and about (4) 76mm 10/18 thermometers, and I don't have a spare 3 way adapter/still head made for 50mm therms. 10/30 thermometers have always been a pain to source, and I've found blue filling to be easier to read than Hg or red filling, by far. I see ProGlass sells an adapter that would be great for the 50mm therms but while it costs about 20 USD, the shipping fee is 150 USD. I know I can use 10/18 thermometers in a 10/30 joint still head but the immersion depth is another issue.

A 50mm immersion thermometer might fit in a head designed for 76mm thermometers but I have no clue how to accommodate/compensate for the bulb position difference& accuracy shifts.

I don't know what the future holds but my thermometer troubles aside, this is NOT good for us at all.

DraconicAcid - 24-4-2025 at 18:49

Have it shipped to a friend in Canada or Mexico, and smuggle it home after visiting them?

Actually, that's really bad advice. Trying to cross the border with scientific glassware will convince the border patrol that you're a hobby pharmacist, and you'll end up on a tour of El Salvador.

[Edited on 25-4-2025 by DraconicAcid]

Radiums Lab - 24-4-2025 at 23:07

@Funkerman23 I'm going to answer the question about the Indian glassware only. You could try top notch companies like supertek(their glassware is good), glasco, borosil(this is most famous here) and many labelled and unlabelled companies.

I personally use supertek because they have very high quality glassware and are little cheaper than borosil. Tarrif rates are cheaper to India than china. I recomend you to check them out.

If you face any problem with ordering or choosing, feel free to U2U me.

Rainwater - 24-4-2025 at 23:44

You can also buy american made products from local artisans and small companies
The tariffs are supposed to encourage this type of commerce.
Georgia tech, UGA. The two big local universities here both have glass shops. The rules for each are different, so you will have to talk to people and not just click on impulse.

[Edited on 25-4-2025 by Rainwater]

dettoo456 - 25-4-2025 at 05:59

American glass is fine, but in all honesty, it isn’t a whole lot greater than lots of the Chinese glassware. The Chinese use (for the most part) the same machines for standard beakers and flasks, and generally the same Boro & wall thicknesses. The only advantage to using a US-based source is the ability to communicate clearly if you have something like a custom order.

The main issue just comes down to cost - US scientific companies have gotten comfortable raising prices way up since they know universities can bear whatever cost they set. This obviously leaves anyone without massive pockets of cash, out in the rain looking for cheaper options. I’d rather pay $15ea and just temper all my deschem glassware than $60 for a basic RBF from pretty much any US supplier. I’ll still go to my local glassblower for adjustments as needed, but I’d never buy basic stuff from them.

Funkerman23 - 25-4-2025 at 08:23

Quote: Originally posted by dettoo456

American glass is fine, but in all honesty, it isn’t a whole lot greater than lots of the Chinese glassware. The Chinese use (for the most part) the same machines for standard beakers and flasks, and generally the same Boro & wall thicknesses. The only advantage to using a US-based source is the ability to communicate clearly if you have something like a custom order.

The main issue just comes down to cost - US scientific companies have gotten comfortable raising prices way up since they know universities can bear whatever cost they set. This obviously leaves anyone without massive pockets of cash, out in the rain looking for cheaper options. I’d rather pay $15ea and just temper all my deschem glassware than $60 for a basic RBF from pretty much any US supplier. I’ll still go to my local glassblower for adjustments as needed, but I’d never buy basic stuff from them.

The Proglass 3 way still head adapter with the top 10/18 joint is about 20 USD and is the correct depth and joint size. Wilmad charges 98 USD, Chemglass charges 120 USD and custom made at a glassblower is almost certainly higher BUT would have the correct depth and joint size.
Ga Tech Lillie is not well according to his son, who I met at his Marietta glass shop( it was like Christmas day in there!)

Cost is a HUGE issue. Compatibility with parts I/we already have is also HUGE.
This is to say nothing about the closed off nature of the scientific supply world.
My intention was to use my personal snafu as an example of the MUCH bigger problem we face with de-globalization and our work.

Side note: is tempering glass from Deschem needed? So far I've not have any issues but I don't have a polarimeter/polarizer at the moment.

[Edited on 25-4-2025 by Funkerman23]

BromicAcid - 25-4-2025 at 14:50

How much glassware are you going through? I remember I bought one set of glassware and it lasted me the 5 years I did chemistry in my back yard. Seems like a one-off purchase. This was before cheap Chinese glassware was considered safe enough to use so my kit was second-hand from eBay. Seems like there would be plenty of second-hand stuff available for a long time to come.

Funkerman23 - 25-4-2025 at 17:30

Quote: Originally posted by BromicAcid

How much glassware are you going through? I remember I bought one set of glassware and it lasted me the 5 years I did chemistry in my back yard. Seems like a one-off purchase. This was before cheap Chinese glassware was considered safe enough to use so my kit was second-hand from eBay. Seems like there would be plenty of second-hand stuff available for a long time to come.

While the larger supply chain troubles are still more important...

Truth be told I just don't have a spare 24/40 still head that is sized for the 50mm immersion 10/18 thermometers I have. I do have 76mm immersion thermometers but those will work with the common 10/30 topped still heads.

Sulaiman - 25-4-2025 at 18:36

Although it does not help with the current tariff conditions,
when searching for a particular part, if I do not find one then I search for the alternative,
eg if I can't find an adapter with ISO 24/29 and 10/19 joints
then I look for an adapter with ASTM 24/40 and 10/18 joints

Radiums Lab - 25-4-2025 at 20:30

@Sulaiman we get 24/29 very easily here in India but 24/40 is not easy and difficult to come by, but you can always visit ur local scientific glassmaker for alterations.

[Edited on 26-4-2025 by Radiums Lab]

Dr.Bob - 26-4-2025 at 09:13

I still have a few 3 way dist adapters with 10/30 joints on top, they should work fine with a 50 or 76 mm 10/18 therm. I think there is more variation in the qualities of each therm, than between a 50 and 76 mm immersion.

And you can test it with a solvent and "calibrate" it if needed, but we often have to use whatever one we can find at work, and then just check to make sure that it works. They took all of our Hg therms at work years ago, and gave us back a few crappy blue ones in their place, so we have worse ones in my lab than I have at home, except for the few I have smuggled in from home. A few people have noted me bring in glassware to my lab and joked that I have the best equiped lab in my work place. We do now at least have a few good Jkem themocouple type temp controllers and they are good.

German - 26-4-2025 at 11:03

Less concerned about glassware than reagents. Special line shipping I believe is dependent on de minimus. With it gone I believe everything will have to de declared, inspected and explained (many precursors and reagents require manufacturing facility requirements not too mention other forms).

BromicAcid - 26-4-2025 at 16:13

Quote: Originally posted by German

Less concerned about glassware than reagents. Special line shipping I believe is dependent on de minimus. With it gone I believe everything will have to de declared, inspected and explained (many precursors and reagents require manufacturing facility requirements not too mention other forms).

That would be my real concern. I can run chemistry in bored out butane cylinders connected with carbon steel NPT if I had to but the access that people have to reagents using the internet these days is so far above and beyond what it was just 20 years ago.

Funkerman23 - 30-4-2025 at 20:14

Quote: Originally posted by German

Now THAT is both a good point, and a horrible sinking feeling...