Should I pay more for a GC Column?

[mickygd]

Are all brands basically the same?

what has been your experience with Restek, JW or some of the other ones?

[skunked_once]

Each brand of GC column is the best and is worth every $. Just ask a sales representative I have used columns from many of the major manufacturers and have found them all to be of good quality. This may be one of those "Chevy is better than Ford" issues. Or are you asking whether a Chevy is okay even though the salesperson is pushing the Cadillac?

[chromatographer1]

There are many manufacturers of columns and those who make poor columns are no longer in business.

Certain columns from any one supplier may be slightly better than the competition, but you may never have an analysis where this can be determined.

Certain brands have specialty columns the competition do not carry.

Service and return issues may have more value to you.

And I may be biased as I work for a major supplier, which shall remain nameless. Those who know for whom I work know already, and if you don't know I don't want to influence you one way or the other but will try to give you an honest answer.

Some like Ford and the Mustang, others like Chevy and the Malibu, and some Toyota and the Corolla.

Your mileage may vary.

best wishes,

Rod

[Peter Apps]

What you should keep in mind is that if you have oxygen or water in your carrier gas, or dirty samples you will destroy an expensive column at exactly the same rate as a cheap one.

Peter

[gstaepels]

Hi,

I have been using J&W columns for many years, and I am quite satisfied with them. My motto is "Never change a winning team", so I stick with J&W columns. Some of them I have used several years.
The long life is how you treat them. Cutting 30cm of the beginning of the column on a regular basis keeps the column often in a good condition.
I also use the GROB test mixture to test the performance.

[mickygd]

Thank to all who answered.