In Chicagoland I buy glycerine at Walgreens or Osco. OA from Amazon.

 

Back in 2020 I got glycerine as low as $10/L. At the 20L size I would expect better than $15/L today.

 

Where was this?

 

I also purchased OA from Alpha Chem. The glycerin, I believe from NewDirectionsAromatics.ca NewDirectionsAromatics.com is the US address. They have an amazing catalogue of every substance imaginable for soap and oils and also in large and small packaging at decent prices.
You could spend hours just looking over their catalogue.

 

Doh! I did the math wrong: the glycerine is $240 for 20 lite, so $12/liter. At 1.26 kg/liter that's about $10/liter. Good to know about NewDirectionsAromatics though: they are also in Mississauga.

 

Great! Well at least people in the area have a few new sources and a lot cheaper than the bee supply stores!

 

What are you soaking it into?

 

I bought some 'Swedish Sponges' off Amazon even though they are silly expensive. I may have found a source for Spilltech absorbent pads (https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/ABSORBENT-PAD-GRAY-19-L-PK100/p/SLEGPC100S) but I haven't actually bought them yet.

I tried meat pads but they don't seem to absorb much of the stuff.

 

I bought some 'Swedish Sponges' off Amazon even though they are silly expensive. I may have found a source for Spilltech absorbent pads (https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/ABSORBENT-PAD-GRAY-19-L-PK100/p/SLEGPC100S) but I haven't actually bought them yet.

I tried meat pads but they don't seem to absorb much of the stuff.

Amazon.com: HOMEXCEL Swedish Dishcloths for Kitchen 10 Pack, Sponge Dish Cloth for Counters & Washing Dishes, Reusable and Absorbent Paper Towels, 3 Colors Assorted : Health & Household

Amazon.com: HOMEXCEL Swedish Dishcloths for Kitchen 10 Pack, Sponge Dish Cloth for Counters & Washing Dishes, Reusable and Absorbent Paper Towels, 3 Colors Assorted : Health & Household

www.amazon.com

 

Its not exactly going to bankrupt me either but if I had a screw for a hive and it was $0.70 and I figured the screw was worth $0.05 I would not be happy paying $0.70 for it.

 

$0.70 for the hive to survive the winter is still OK with me.

 

True, but $0.05 is even better. especially since it is suggested here Instructions for extended-release oxalic acid (updated 7/22/25) - Scientific Beekeeping

 

Good luck with your $0.05 and I hope you will not be buying $200 packages next spring.