Which brand of clear do you currently (2016) prefer? US, EU, or Asian?

I know this has been a topic in the past, but I'm hoping for a discussion based on the current state of production and quality. I'm interested in hearing about experiences with the new US33, I'm sure many other people are as well.

I occasionally use Simax for tubing sizes that I can't get of Kimble, but mostly everything I use is Kimble. If I'm going to advertise as a selling point that this is US, non import glass, it feels wrong to use imported base materials.

Because of this weird moral conundrum, I was excited to hear about US33. I was hoping it could fill in the gaps to replace my use of Simax. I've been dissapointed so far in the feedback I've been seeing. I'm planning on doing a personal pallet order this spring, but now I'm going to delay that as long as possible.

While researching all of this, contacting distributors, doing pricing projections, and re inquiring manufacturers origin, I found out what I consider to be truly fantastic news.

I'm told that currently, Corning is importing their tubing from the Czech Republic, from the same factory that produces Simax. I was also told that they have closed on the purchase of the old Kimble plant in NJ, they are currently moved into the building, and are preparing it for production of their tubing and rod. Starting in June of this year (2016)!

Sometime this year we are going to have three options for US glass! Ultimately, this might lead us back down to two options, if Kimble ceases their production entirely with the sale of their plant. However, as I'm sure you're all aware, the sizing of Kimble tubing wasn't always ideal, as it wasn't created with us in mind as the end user.

I'm going to continue to order Kimble in the meantime, it's still my favorite. I think this is going to lead to positive changes for our community though, and our options for base materials.

What do you think? Are you excited for Corning to re-enter the US tubing market? Are you excited about US33, and sticking with them through their (what seems like) growing pains? Is this not going to have any effect on you anyway because you're sticking with SBA or Schott (or chinese or indian...) tubing?

Basically, US, EU, or Asian?

Right now I use Schott but just like you I am looking to make a HUGE clear purchase and want to make sure I get what I pay for. The Schott while being better than asian, I find it to be off round and even have seam lines in a few pieces(26mm x 4mm). I learned after reading that the Artistic glass from Schott is basically odds of their pricier sci glass.

Simax is what I want to try but I don't do enough fuming to justify the price.
Pyrex I heard is great quality in 5ft lengths and just saw a case on Wale for $145 for 25pc
US33 I have heard horror stories about how they don't box their cases of glass and its received scratched but the free shipping sounds awesome(especially when Wale wants to charge you the price of a case to ship it!)
Schott is my last Choice, but with affordable prices, good packaging, and a track record of working for me I might have to go this route.

Glocc, if you're ever in the midwest (central IL) come to my shop, and let's burn, glass on me, you can melt Simax to your hearts content. I would really suggest trying out Kimble if you're not totally satisfied with SBA.

I haven't calculated shipping costs yet, if wale is that much more, then I won't be making the switch. For a pallet though, I can't see them charging that much more than anyone else, unless their crating fees are ridiculous, the freight and lift gate fees I would think would be about the same from all distributors on the east coast. Could be totally wrong on that one though...

I've tried schott, and 'SBA', they both seemed good. The stuff from corning I have tried was fairly old, it said made in japan. I didn't know they were getting their tubing imported from CR these days.

Does anyone here have any new Corning they can try side by side next to Simax? I'd be interested to hear about that.

new corning is made in asia

I love asian tube

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skuzz

new corning is made in asia

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They make changes I have heard about the stuff coming from the kavelier factory also .

I can't wait to try some .

I use Asian glass also but gave up Pyrex after I got some 50 mill that would bounce out of rollers it was so far out .

I use some China glass but I don't love it it's cost effective sometimes but has a bunch of issues .

They send over bad batches and there quality control is off sometimes .

I always try to find out who has the good stuff before I load up .

But if you are just pricing the supply houses and ordering the min they restock it's nothing more than a crap shoot .

I use Asian tube as well for certain applications with much success, I love their cobalt blue tubing. I happened to get a good batch of clear last time I stocked up. For anything with fume or for better clarity I use Simax. I'd love for Schott to bring SBA to Australia, I would buy that in a minute. After I finish my Simax stock I will have to switch to german Schott.

1. Simax
2. Pyrex (new kaviler made)
3. Kimex
4. Sba
5.us33
6. China or asian pyrex . Both shit imo.

So I have tried most all except China which I just don't want to discuss here.
Kimble is better than Pyrex but both tend to have stray seeds and weird lines as well as being very out of round which really shows up on my lathe builds.
I love Sima and it's all I use, even for tear rods. No China clear so if I pick it up I know I can use it 8n my project with no problems.
Abr has 40% off few times a year so if you are going big on an order it's very cost effective.
Nothing g worse than having skills but being held back by inferior products.

The only glass I like better than Simax is schott duran but that stuff is next to impossible to find outside of a science shop