Massive variations in chemical cost?

I have been shopping around at various chemical companies for the stuff I need to start wet palte collodion and have noticed massive variations in price for what appear to me to be the same product, particularly with silver nitrate. Some companies are cheaper with collodion, others with silver nitrate etc... One thing I have noticed is the incredible variation in the cost of silver nitrate. For instance, Anachemia lists Silver Nitrate, Crystals, ACS Reagent 25g @ $57.40, while Biobar lists Silver Nitrate, Crystals, Baker Analyzed Reagent 30g @ $160.50. JD Photochem lists 30g of silver nitrate crystals for $24!

With collodion the two companies switch places. Anachemia lists Collodion, USP 500ml @ $55.40, while Biobar lists Collodion, USP (from the same supplier!) 500ml @ $26.36.

Why does there not seem to be any consistency in pricing between companies?

Grade and the markets they sell to?

Analyzed Reagent generally costs more than ACS as the AR grade has the analysis of the batch printed on the label. Otherwise, ACS and AR are produced to the same ACS specification.

i have seen this also while shopping for chemicals.

i have found this place for silver nitrate:

http://www.saltlakemetals.com/Silver_Nitrate.htm

great people to do business with. i ordered the silver nitrate on sat. i got it on Monday! (slc-ny) they have 2 grades available. 50g for $30 and a higher grade for $45.

eddie

Formulary. Just got some yesterday at 39$ for 30g


jan

eddie gunks said:

i have found this place for silver nitrate:

http://www.saltlakemetals.com/Silver_Nitrate.htm

Click to expand...

I got some from here too a while ago. 100g for $60 I think. It looks very nice!

I get mine from Artcraft. If you buy a pound, it's currently 42 cents per gram.

Thanks for the help, any of those places ship hazmat to Canada? I'll check 'em out, some might be. Formulary did send me a tiny pouch with my Van Dyke kit without any issues so maybe they are willing to do larger quantities.

- Justin