It is very useful, but not obligatory. I know it is not the best way, but I hang condenser in the cabinets on top of working area. If you have ideas
how to fortify your apparatus then you don't need it. If you have the skill and materials to make your own improvised stand- do it - it will be
cheaper. but if you don't - you will have to consolidate your equipment to avoid disasters and/or broken glassware.
In fact It is so useful, that I just ordered this one:
You will get tired of improvising one day, if you will not buy it.
[Edited on 15-9-2018 by TheMrbunGee]Sulaiman - 15-9-2018 at 14:40
I have two stands and a few clamps,
a relatively expensive acquisition for my hobby chemistry.
I am so glad that I have them;
. I previously broke a Quickfit air condenser due to not having a proper clamping system
. for chemistry and other hobbies the clamps are like a third or fourth hand:
- holding test tubes over heat
- holding my vacuum flask with heavy Buchner funnel and tubing
- holding small beakers above heat
- holding stuff waiting for glue to dry
- holding glassware upside down to drain/dry
- holding electrodes
- holding separation funnels
- holding all kinds of stuff.
Even without chemistry as a hobby, clamps and stands are really useful,
and last a long time.
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I would suggest getting the tallest heaviest stand that your budget and space will allow,
if you intend to use 24/29 or 24/40 glassware.
I consider 50cm to be too short, I wish that my 60cm stands were a little taller.
e.g. from the work surface up;
heating (ideally with stirring), flask, optional Claisen adapter, column,
(two clamps required)
and above that probably an un-clamped still head/thermometer adapter,
the whole assembly can be easily toppled,
so the base should be as wide and heavy as possible,
or weighted or screwed down.
Unfortunately I (and I suspect many noobs) thought that glassware was the main expense for a distillation kit.
Consider;
. heating
. stirring is optional but HIGHLY recommended
. clamping
. cooling water
. a ventilated space (outdoor rain-proof wind-shielded, or a fume cabinet/cupboard/hood)
. personal protection equipment - goggles/face-shield, gloves, clothes, shoes etc,
. fire, spill and waste disposal preparations
. stuff I forgot that's probably important, but that's most of it I think.
There are many threads on this topic ...
P.S. don't let the above discourage you,
over my four hobby years most of my experiments were done with a cheap hotplate, a small spirit burner or lately a candle, and one stand.
[Edited on 15-9-2018 by Sulaiman]Housane - 16-9-2018 at 04:28
What is the cheapest condenser kit that works(uk only my dad won’t let me order form China) I do already have a hot plate ant the moment it seems I
will be using rubber bungs and a tube going to a cold flask ad I can’t find any.Sulaiman - 16-9-2018 at 05:56
Even when you order from UK the goods will probably be re-branded made-in-China.
You can buy 'original' supplies here https://www.scilabware.com/en/wheretobuy
I have previously bought from http://www.edulab.com/ and http://www.betterequipped.co.uk/
but I get most of my stuff via eBay from China.
Some of my best glassware is used Pyrex and Quickfit from eBay UK sellers,
but you need planning and patience, lots of patience.
If you cannot buy from China and do not want to go the expensive or patient route,
I suggest that for a while you do chemistry that does not require distillation
although there is a lot of chemistry that requires distillation,
most chemistry can be learned without distillation.
It may be that you get to a point where to proceed,
you really need distillation to be able to do distillations,
by that point you will know exactly what you want
and what can be afforded Housane - 16-9-2018 at 06:38
I have found a cheap condenser on better equipped do I need anything that is not glassware for it(pump?, tubing?)
