Improvisation
Lab equipment can be expensive, but it's not impossible to use certain household items as lab equipment. It's possible to replace many things in the lab, from glassware to entire processes.
Contents
- 1 Glassware and other accessories
- 1.1 Boiling chips
- 1.2 Büchner funnel
- 1.3 Consumable aluminium beaker
- 1.4 Crucible
- 1.5 Crystallizing dish
- 1.6 Desiccator
- 1.7 Dewar
- 1.8 Distillation kit
- 1.9 Dropper
- 1.10 Filter paper
- 1.11 Gauze
- 1.12 Light bulb flask
- 1.13 Pipeclay triangle
- 1.14 Retort stands
- 1.15 Scoopulas
- 1.16 Stirring rods
- 1.17 Test tube holder
- 1.18 Test tubes
- 1.19 Wash bottle
- 1.20 Watch glasses
- 2 Conveniences
- 3 Miscellaneous
- 4 Video
- 5 References
Glassware and other accessories
Boiling chips
Ceramic shards, such as porcelain (unglazed are recommended) can be used as boiling chips.
For better chemical stability, sandpapered glass shards are also better, as they will not react with acids (except hydrofluoric and hot phosphoric acids), but will react with hot alkali and degrade less. It's necessary to sandpaper them to create a rough surface, as normal glass is smooth, inadequate for creating a boiling surface. Since glass types are between 5-7 on the Mohs scale, you will need abrasive sandpapers that are higher on the Mohs scale (the black type for example, containing silicon carbide, is good).
Boiling/anti-bumping chips can also be produced from crushed high-quality quartz geodes after being treated with acid. The rough surface of these actually protects against bumping more completely than many lab-grade boiling chips.
Büchner funnel
Coffee filter funnels, usually made of aluminium or stainless steel (rarer), found in certain coffee makers can substitute Büchner funnels very efficiently. They are however unsuited when filtering corrosive substances, such as acidic or alkali solutions (the stainless ones are more resistant to the latter), so they are more suited when filtering organic solutions.
Consumable aluminium beaker
Aluminium cans are more heat-resistant than glass beakers, as they don't tend to shatter on intense heating. The top can easily be removed with a can opener. This is not recommended for use with oxidizing compounds. Large hollow aluminium capacitors can also be used, and since they're thicker than aluminium cans, they deform less when heated. It should be noted, though, that aluminum will react with many acids, sodium hydroxide, and many solutions of metal ions, such as copper(II). Therefore, aluminium beakers are more useful in organic reactions and somewhat useful when dealing with nitric acid. One must be careful when using nitric acid however, since any traces of chloride ions in the presence of acidic protons will dissolve the aluminum. Since aluminum does not have a high melting point, it can melt if overheated.
Crucible
For most chemical reactions, any steel can can be used as a crucible, though it usually can only be used once before severely rusting. Carefully cut fire extinguisher cylinder bottoms are thicker and better than most iron cans. Stainless steel cups can handle high temperatures much better and will not rust, though they will suffer heat coloring. Any cup-like object made from stainless steel, such as bowl cups, ash trays, can be safely used as crucibles, up until 1000 °C, depending on the grade.
For higher temperatures, ceramic flower pots can be used as a vessel for igniting thermite, though it may crack most of the time due to the thermal shock.
Crystallizing dish
Glass plates can be used as crystallizing dishes, although it's best to use a smooth surface dish, as dishes with complex inner texture will trap crystals, which makes removing them difficult, as well as difficult to properly wash.
Microwave glass turntable plate is a good choice, as it has a smooth surface and it's wide, giving it a large evaporating surface.
Desiccator
Any plastic or even metal boxes than can be sealed airtight can be used as a desiccator. Large air-tight plastic storage bins, such as this one, available at many stores and hypermarkets are cheap and can be easily made airtight. The wet material can be placed on the bottom of the bin, while the desiccant can be placed in the superior part on a support, as the water vapors are lighter than air and will rise. Normal plastic boxes can be made (somewhat) air tight by adding grease where the lid touches the box.
Instead of a plastic box, large reclosable bags can also be used. If the bag is too small, you can cut the bottom of two bags and tape them both. This also has the advantage of allowing two openings, where one can be used to introduce the wet material, and the other for the desiccant. While cheap, the main disadvantage of this method is that the bags are easy to accidentally poke, which can ruin the dry atmosphere inside.
Dewar
Various all-polystyrene caped cups, boxes and other containers can be used to store cryogenic materials, usually best used for storing dry ice. The thicker the styrofoam walls are, the better it insulates. Some can be found in certain stores, such as hardware stores or in school/office supplies stores.
Double wall stainless steel ice buckets can be used as open dewars, though their use is limited, and can mostly be used for cooling baths. They are generally unsuitable for storing liquid nitrogen and have limited use for dry ice.
Distillation kit
A solvent can (like the kinds used to store acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and n-heptane) can be attached to a metal pipe, bent over into a collecting vessel. These kind of metal retorts are actually preferable to glass for producing and collecting substances such as benzene and phosphorus. The main problem is their tendency to react with products. One may have trouble with the production of metal chlorides, nitrates, or various coordination complexes if the reagents to be distilled react with the apparatus.
If you do have access to glassware but not to running water, there is a few ways to improvise. The simplest way is to connect an air-cooled condenser such as a Vigreux column instead of a normal condenser. This works best for high-boiling liquids (and for the very high-boiling ones such as sulfuric acid, this is indeed the best option even if you have running water). Another method is to use a water pump in a bucket.
Dropper
For most liquids, a drinking straw may be used as a dropper. Placing a finger on the top opening while the bottom end is under the surface of the liquid allows the straw to be lifted from the liquid while retaining the liquid inside the straw.
Filter paper
Coffee filters are sufficient, unless you need smaller size pores. Colored coffee filtered may however interact with certain organic solvents. Tea bags are also good and have high wet strength. Note that filtration through tea bag paper is quick and dirty, leaving the finest particles in the filtrate. Air filters can also be used.
Gauze
A stainless steel or nichrome mesh can be used. A sheet of heat-resistant material, like mineral wool or asbestos can be added in the center of the mesh.
Light bulb flask
Carefully cut light bulb glass can be used as a flask, and is quite resistant to heat, though being very thin means it can break very easy and it might not be able to safely contain a stir bar. High pressure sodium bulbs however are much thicker and may be used just like any other piece of glassware.
Pipeclay triangle
Three thin ceramic tubes are connected with three steel or stainless steel thick wires, inserted through the tube. Alumina tubes, found in various machinery or electric machines can be used.
Retort stands
Upright paper towel holders can be used as lab stands. Generally they are made from either wood, plastic or stainless steel. These stands tend to have better performance than the common lab stands and the stainless steel ones are less prone to rusting than their plain carbon steel counterparts. Their main disadvantage is the short length of the metal rod (~30 cm), which limits their use in large and complex installations. Their base is also not always very wide, which makes them prone to toppling.
Scoopulas
One type of tool used in jewelry making and repair resembles a scoopula. It is available at Hobby Lobby for 50 cents. Various spoon-like plastic-ware from ice-cream shops may serve well as replacement scoopulas. Small scoopulas may be made from straws or pipes with L-shaped cuts at their ends.
Stirring rods
Glass bead kits often come as glass rods, which can be used out of the box. Alternatively, you can make one by sealing a glass tube from a broken glassware at one or both ends.
Test tube holder
Large clothespins can be used as tube holders. If their cutaway section is too small, it can be widened by carefully cutting it or simply cutting a new one.
Test tubes
Vanilla pods are often sold in glass tubes with a plastic lid. Similar tubes are also found in many bargain stores, as containers for incense sticks. Usually there's two of them, bound with a sticker.
Plastic or glass test tubes can be found in many stores, used for storing flavors, spices, as well as many other non-edible products, such as toys. Martha Stewart test tubes are a good example. Test tube shots can sometimes be found in many clubs, bars and pubs, used for shot drinking.
Many brads, such as Jägermeister, not only sell plastic cylindrical shot tubes, but also other types, such as rectangular tubes and even tube racks of various sizes, made either from foam, metal, plastic or acrylic. Other alcohol product companies sell similar products.
It is important to remember that most of these glass test tubes do not handle thermal shock as good as lab test tubes.
Wash bottle
A bent plastic tube inserted in a relative thick plastic bottle works pretty good as a wash bottle. Normal plastic bottles can also be used, though their performance varies.
Some RC fuel bottles can also be used as wash bottles.
Watch glasses
Literal glasses from watches or clocks can be used as watch glasses. Most however tend to be flat glass disks, and may pose problems when holding spherical particles. They are also not heat resistant. Eye protection goggles lens display identical features.
Carefully cut wine glass bottoms can also be used, however it is extremely difficult to flatten the wine glass leg stub. A much better idea would be to add some support to keep it straight.
Small glass plates/dishes can be found in many stores and are very cheap.
None of the above however have good thermal shock resistance, though they are good enough for recrystallization.
Plastic watchglass can also be made from various concave appliances parts or coverings. An example is the circular type of display screen cover, used for portable CD players. Leaving it in a sodium hydroxide solution overnight will remove most of the outer paint, especially if it's silvery aluminium. Do not leave it too long in sunlight or it will become brittle.
Conveniences
Miscellaneous
Heating elements
Kitchen stoves, portable cooking/camping hotplates, alcohol burners, and even candles can be used for simple reflux setups or dissolving solutes. A metal plate or grate can be placed over a well-controlled fire to obtain very high temperatures, which may however break glass. A sand or an oil bath can be placed on the metal plate. When boiling flammable solvents, avoid using an open flame.
Microwave ovens can also be used for heating chemicals directly and more homogenous.
Storing containers
Ordinary food glass jars can be used for storing many compounds, however, they are unsuitable for storing volatile compounds, as the lid, usually enameled or painted metal is not resistant to corrosion and may contaminate the compound with rust. Use plastic lids instead, such as PP or PE.
Metal coffee containers, such as the ones used for coffee, cocoa, tea, cookies can be used for storing non-hygroscopic and non-corrosive compounds. Stainless steel food containers can also sometimes be found at hypermarkets and are good for storing various materials, except for corrosive ones.
Old large siphon/soda bottles are a good choice for storing volatile chemicals, due to its narrow opening, large body volume and can tolerate high pressures. They can be used to store volatile corrosive chemicals such as fuming acids, liquids with low boiling point, etc. A PE, PP or even PTFE lid (if you have one) can be used to close the opening.
Any container that originally came from the grocery store and contained food must be appropriately relabeled; the old label completely removed and a new one, warning about the hazards of the compound within, glued to it. Nothing about the container is allowed to say "Eat me!". This requirement is less strict with containers that originally held inedible stuff, such as topical medications or household chemicals.
Water aspirators
For vacuum filtering, Venturi injectors, available at agricultural shops, can effectively replace lab water aspirators.
Smaller Venturi injectors can be found in aquarium shops, though they are generally too small for performing strong vacuum.
Video
A significant portion of the ideas came from myst32YT's video of lab tips:
