Bulky Chemicals in Bulk

[steve]

When I got started tie-dyeing, it burned me up to pay as much in shipping as the cost of the chemcials itself--particularly urea and soda ash.

I now buy 50 pound sacks of soda ash at swimming pool suppliers and 50 pound sacks of fertilizer grade urea at farm suppliers. They cost around $15.

The urea I get has a very small percentage of brown pellets that don't dissolve, but I just pour off the solution and leave the insoluble pellets behind.

Does anyone else have sources of such chemicals in smaller quanties? Yet at good prices?

Steve

[dancingbearmama]

Hi, Steve!  I am bummed, the chemical supply store in ABQ went out of business (before i had a chance to stock up on soda ash).  I haven't had any luck finding bulk soda ash anywhere else for as good a price, but my friend got me some at a clay store.  It wasn't that cheap -- about $1/lb., but I didn't have to pay shipping.  I have no idea what people who work with clay do with soda ash!!!

peace,
nicole

[steve]

Bummer! That's awfully expensive. Aren't there any swimming pool supply places around? Once, I bought it from a mail order pool supply place, They had "free shipping" and a $8 handling fee. I think it came to about $30 for 50 lbs with the handling. I can't seem to find any deal like that right now though.

Steve