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Author: Subject: Homemade and Repurposed Lab Gear
smaerd
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 08:26


Sulaiman gorgeous work there.

I guess I could ramble about some of my home-made efforts but I'm sure it bores alot of people here to tears. All of these are posted on the boards somewere.

I recently made a dispense only syringe pump (retract coming soon when I have time)
Made a rotary evaporator
Classic ATX AC->DC power supply
I also made mini-glascols for test tubes with nichrome and sheet fiberglass (not very useful) powered by a cellphone charger.
Made a short and medium wave UV Photochem-TLC lamp&housing

All sorts of stuff. I'm sure I'm forgetting more of it.

[Edited on 14-3-2015 by smaerd]




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Magpie
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 08:46


Very clever burette holder, Sulaiman. Are those zip ties?



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mayko
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 09:02


Oh my, this one brings up memories...
My current hot plate I got from a community college discards pile.
Before I picked that up, however, there was this fire hazard



diy_hotplate.jpg - 194kB

[Edited on 14-3-2015 by mayko]




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Magpie
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 09:46


coat hanger support.jpg - 85kB
clothes hanger support

qualitative analysis kit.jpg - 113kB
qualitative analysis kit





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Fulmen
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 10:34


Mayko: Sir, you are a genius. Perhaps a demented one, but a genius nonetheless :D



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Zombie
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 17:09


Where did you finr that regulator for the Gas bottle Magpie?

Is that a camp stove Reg.?


I love the creativity on this thread. Now I feel Much better about re- purposing items.




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Magpie
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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 18:36


Quote: Originally posted by Zombie  
Where did you finr that regulator for the Gas bottle Magpie?
Is that a camp stove Reg.?


I found it in the BBQ section of a Ranch & Home store. I haven't seen one since. Avogadro's Lab Supply sells one like it (at an outrageous price.)

Yes, I think its intended purpose is likely for a camp stove. Mine was about $15 ten years ago.

[Edited on 15-3-2015 by Magpie]




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[*] posted on 14-3-2015 at 20:15


I HAVE to get one. Thanks! :D



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[*] posted on 15-3-2015 at 01:23


Smaerd, I love to see some pictures of your work. You say that they're trivial but i'd beg to differ :)

I'd love to see all of those, especially that rotovap. I was just recently thinking to myself "how do I get me one of those?".
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[*] posted on 17-3-2015 at 17:13


good old washing machines spin cycle with a little home made cradle that strap firmly to the center churn shaft of the washer for a centrifuge :)
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 03:59


My latest haul. A mason jar (love those graduations), plaster of paris(shouldn't be here.. but my god this is so hard to find in my country), and a hamster drinker, which is basically a test tube any how. It even has a glass protrusion making it ideal for generating small quantities of gas.

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The Volatile Chemist
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 08:23


The qualitative analysis kit looks so cool, a list of reagents would be great!



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Loptr
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 08:55


Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  
Quote: Originally posted by Zombie  
Where did you finr that regulator for the Gas bottle Magpie?
Is that a camp stove Reg.?


I found it in the BBQ section of a Ranch & Home store. I haven't seen one since. Avogadro's Lab Supply sells one like it (at an outrageous price.)

Yes, I think its intended purpose is likely for a camp stove. Mine was about $15 ten years ago.

[Edited on 15-3-2015 by Magpie]


Yeah, I have been trying to find one as well. I tried to see where Avogrado purchased theirs, but there was no getting around them.

For now, when I need a burner I just attach the burner's latex gas feed tube to the end of a propane torch, turn on the gas, and then light the burner. It works, for now.
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 09:01


Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  
The qualitative analysis kit looks so cool, a list of reagents would be great!
Click on the picture, and you can read all of the labels. And yeah, I want to make one of those now too.
I have something slightly similar, in that I bought a rack of 25 centrifuge tubes for a few dollars and use it for storing small quantities of a lot of different reagents.




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Magpie
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 09:19


Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  
The qualitative analysis kit looks so cool, a list of reagents would be great!


What you first need to get is a book or manual of the qualitative analysis procedures. Qual analysis used to be a standard course in college chemistry - I don't know if it is taught anymore because most professional analyses are done with instruments.

My procedures are in the college chemistry book by Holtzclaw et al. It's a separate section in the back of the book. Not all editions have it.

Once you have the procedures the list of reagents will fall out of those. Without knowing how to use these reagents you are just collecting - but that's alright too. ;)

On the regulator for propane bottles - I tried to find a source for it too. The only information I could find was a company name in Mexico, which led nowhere.




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The Volatile Chemist
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 12:39


Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  
Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  
The qualitative analysis kit looks so cool, a list of reagents would be great!


What you first need to get is a book or manual of the qualitative analysis procedures. Qual analysis used to be a standard course in college chemistry - I don't know if it is taught anymore because most professional analyses are done with instruments.

My procedures are in the college chemistry book by Holtzclaw et al. It's a separate section in the back of the book. Not all editions have it.

Once you have the procedures the list of reagents will fall out of those. Without knowing how to use these reagents you are just collecting - but that's alright too. ;)

It's funny you should mention this - I found a book at a rather nearby library system called Quantitative chemical analysis, which was a textbook. When I do end up checking it out, I'll look more into the above analysis kit.




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Magpie
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 12:49


Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  

...I found a book at a rather nearby library system called Quantitative chemical analysis, which was a textbook. When I do end up checking it out, I'll look more into the above analysis kit.


That's a different course than Qualitative Analysis.

Quantitative analysis deals with procedures like titrations and gravimetric procedures that give the %, ppm, etc of a chemical specie.

[Edited on 18-3-2015 by Magpie]




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The Volatile Chemist
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[*] posted on 18-3-2015 at 12:51


Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  
Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  

...I found a book at a rather nearby library system called Quantitative chemical analysis, which was a textbook. When I do end up checking it out, I'll look more into the above analysis kit.


That's a different course than Qualitative Analysis.

Quantitative analysis deals with procedures like titrations and gravimetric procedures that give the %, ppm, etc of a chemical specie.

[Edited on 18-3-2015 by Magpie]

So sorry, I know the difference, just mistyped.




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[*] posted on 25-3-2015 at 08:21


A forum member asked me about small fiberglass blankets for insulating flasks during distillations, etc. Here's a link with a picture and linked directions for making one yourself:

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=32482#...




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[*] posted on 25-3-2015 at 08:50


Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  
A forum member asked me about small fiberglass blankets for insulating flasks during distillations, etc. Here's a link with a picture and linked directions for making one yourself:

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=32482#...


I just purchased 8 sq. ft from Amazon for $8.99 with free shipping from Rain Writer, one of the alternative sellers.

http://www.amazon.com/Bondo-20128-Fiberglass-Cloth-sq/dp/B00...

(others available in new condition)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B002JRGOT8/ref=dp_olp...

EDIT: Be careful not to purchase the fiberglass mats that seem to not be braided, which I assume would not be very coherent and difficult to keep a uniform covering.

[Edited on 25-3-2015 by Loptr]
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The Volatile Chemist
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[*] posted on 26-3-2015 at 13:24


Interesting. Is the use of Asbestos a totally bad idea? I know it's use isn't promoted now, but is it actually super dangerous, or just treated that way?



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[*] posted on 26-3-2015 at 13:32


Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  
Interesting. Is the use of Asbestos a totally bad idea? I know it's use isn't promoted now, but is it actually super dangerous, or just treated that way?


Mostly treated that way. Personal opinion only, no data to back my thoughts up.
Do not breath its fibers and I think it is good to go.
I am too tired to research to back up my thoughts:(
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[*] posted on 26-3-2015 at 13:35


Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  
Interesting. Is the use of Asbestos a totally bad idea? I know it's use isn't promoted now, but is it actually super dangerous, or just treated that way?


It's actually not that terrible. There are still many older floor tiles that are made out of asbestos, the real issue arises when you inhale it. Most wire gauzes still use asbestos, as I believe that it has rather superior properties and is cheap. As most chemicals, being exposed to asbestos dust a few times is not the end of the world, it takes a chronic exposure to get asbestosis.
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[*] posted on 26-3-2015 at 13:51


Quote: Originally posted by The Volatile Chemist  
Interesting. Is the use of Asbestos a totally bad idea? I know it's use isn't promoted now, but is it actually super dangerous, or just treated that way?


I have a friend that fought abestosis for decades. It sounded horrible.

Take that for what its worth. There is a shipyard around here were a lot of people were exposed.

If you get it, its pretty bad.
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The Volatile Chemist
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[*] posted on 26-3-2015 at 13:51


Interesting. Modern textbooks describe it as death incarnate. Vogel appears to have used it a lot. I'm pretty sure he lasted a long time.



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