Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Tour My Lab

Not to sound odd here.. but what is with the pentgram?

Pentagrams are awesome and their compass-straightedge construction is fairly easy

subsecret - 20-12-2014 at 13:01

Here's my lab, in the basement. The gray cabinet on the right was a server cabinet, and it serves nicely to keep dust off my glassware.

neptunium - 30-10-2015 at 10:42

Stop working on mine but this is whee it stands now

arkoma - 16-11-2015 at 06:05

Start of my new setup. Yup, Periodic Table on the wall with a Sharpie, and "Ghetto Balance v3.0"

[Edited on 11-16-2015 by arkoma]

SteampunkScientist - 16-11-2015 at 11:58

That's a cool balance idea using razor blades! Still, you can get an electronic scale that measures thousandths of a gram on ebay for a few bucks.

I do a lot of electronic experiments, such as high voltage lifters where a balance like that would still be pretty handy...

arkoma - 16-11-2015 at 12:27

I ordered a set of gram masses from eBay today. I wish I could take credit for the razor blade idea, but some rascal thought of it who knows how many years ago. Centuries probably. I'm going to have to put a aluminum blade on one end passing through a gap in a couple of rare earth magnets. Thing takes forever to "zero" because of air currents. Mag field sets up eddy currents which dampen motion. I didna think that one up either *sigh*

*edit*

My balance NEVER needs batteries, nor do I ever wonder, "are the batteries low? can I trust it?"

[Edited on 11-16-2015 by arkoma]

aga - 16-11-2015 at 13:27

... gowever 0.01g balances are probbaly cheaper than the weights, easier to use and the batteries last a very long time indeed.

arkoma - 16-11-2015 at 16:11

to be honest, digital scales remind me too much of selling dope. Been it, no longer in it.

arkoma - 17-11-2015 at 09:57

It's coming along. I managed to get my oil bath to 110C with my re-purposed Bunn-O-Matic coffee warmer

aga - 17-11-2015 at 10:07

Holy cow !

You're generating elemental Platinum directly onto the periodic table !

[Edited on 17-11-2015 by aga]

j_sum1 - 17-11-2015 at 14:25

You think that is impressive!
It is the great wedge of darmstadium below the platinum that impresses me.

ave369 - 18-11-2015 at 06:23

Not to sound odd here.. but what is with the pentgram?

It's an enchanting station, you noob. For making awesome swords of fire damage.

My own lab is modest compared to what most people have here, especially now during the Russian winter, when it migrated into my living room (because everywhere else is damn cold). It's basically half a table filled with glassware and a wall cabinet with reagent jars. I also had a special acid cabinet, but it failed to migrate into the living room, and right now my acid bottles just stand on the windowsill.

arkoma - 18-11-2015 at 08:18

Quote: Originally posted by ave369

Not to sound odd here.. but what is with the pentgram?

It's an enchanting station, you noob.

I'm so confused, theologically. My periodic Table is dedicated to Shiva, I mutter to Athena all day long, and I'm going to a local Baptist Church. *sigh*

I don't figure anyone of them has a lock on the "truth"

ave369 - 18-11-2015 at 09:23

Quote: Originally posted by arkoma

It has nothing to do with theology. Enchanting stations work on soul gems, and those were made by the Ideal Masters. Who aren't gods, merely frighteningly powerful entities.

Texium - 18-11-2015 at 20:22

Quote: Originally posted by ave369

Not to sound odd here.. but what is with the pentgram?

It's an enchanting station, you noob. For making awesome swords of fire damage.

Once he figures out that he can use his enchanting station to make Fortify Alchemy apparel which can then be used to craft increasingly powerful Fortify Enchanting potions and so on, we'll all be screwed...

arkoma - 23-11-2015 at 14:29

Got me some good "obtanium" today. Are y'all seeing a fume hood? The squirell cage is an induction motor too, so inherently sparkless.

The Volatile Chemist - 23-11-2015 at 14:45

Arkoma, Ghetto new balance...
But the Bunnomatic is super-cool, too bad it doesn't get hotter (than meeee...)
I swear, I'll be kicked off the forum someday...
I *just* cleaned up my lab, I'll have to take some pictures now...

arkoma - 23-11-2015 at 15:01

I got my lil' mass set in the mail other day GhettoBalance3.0 works GREAT. Getting ready to knock plumbing through wall from bathroom.

*edit* If I didna have a 16year old daughter, be able to use less "obtanium" (scrounged stuff)

[Edited on 11-23-2015 by arkoma]

[Edited on 11-23-2015 by arkoma]

The Volatile Chemist - 23-11-2015 at 19:01

Heh, Im sixteen. She can handle Vogel and Braums

Have you taught her chemistry technique yet?
In regards to lab, my lab table is now a piece of family history. Not too smart, but a great table, and mine to keep. The tabletop is a wooden door attached to two handmade short cabinets with drawers. Moveable though, as it dissassembles with ease. Made by my diceased grandfather.
Sorry aboutthe terrible spelling, I'm on a first gen iPod, and it's ten at night...

CharlieA - 23-11-2015 at 19:12

... my lab table is now a piece of family history....The tabletop is a wooden door attached to two handmade short cabinets with drawers... Made by my diceased grandfather.

That's a great story! I have a couple of old tools from my late father-in-law. I treasure them like I'm sure you treasure that lab table.

The Volatile Chemist - 28-11-2015 at 08:57

Quote: Originally posted by CharlieA

... my lab table is now a piece of family history....The tabletop is a wooden door attached to two handmade short cabinets with drawers... Made by my diceased grandfather.

That's a great story! I have a couple of old tools from my late father-in-law. I treasure them like I'm sure you treasure that lab table.

Yep. Though I have a piece of glossed wood-board on top of the surface of some of it, and a black plastic-covered piece of cardboard (once the back of a desk calender) covering another part of the surface, so the actual table doesn't get damaged by spills. Funny, both of the chemistry tables I've used have had white surfaces...makes 'em look messy.

Atrum - 29-11-2015 at 00:14

This thread is awesome. So many ideas for my soon to be lab. I only wish I had half of the equipment I have seen in this thread.

ave369 - 30-11-2015 at 03:30

Tadadadadam... Today... The ultra-rare photos of ave369's winter lab! Not the normal lab but the bare bones relocated to the great hall because elsewhere it's too damn cold!

[Edited on 30-11-2015 by ave369]

[Edited on 30-11-2015 by ave369]

j_sum1 - 30-11-2015 at 03:35

You inspire me, ave. I thought my lab was cramped and untidy. I don't feel so bad now.

ave369 - 30-11-2015 at 03:39

Pay attention to the heating device on the photos. It's the brand new Soviet heating mantle: the Rekord brand pressurized kerosene stove, made back in 1950! And the process of agressive dehydration of the Bat is well underway.

And concerning the chaos in the lab... they don't call me the Mildly Psychoneurotic Scientist for nothing!

Hooray! I've got 85% sulfuric acid! Everything is ready for a Zintl-Karyakin!

Upd: Zintl-Karyakin stopped prematurely because of the uncontrollable bumping. I was afraid that the gunfire-like bumping will break my flask and sprinkle CrO3 all over the place. No boiling chips known to me could stop the bumping.

At least I now have some chromic acid to de-gunk my glassware somewhat. And it was much more de-gunking than doing chemistry. I even used the dreaded nitrochromic acid.

[Edited on 30-11-2015 by ave369]

[Edited on 30-11-2015 by ave369]

ave369 - 30-11-2015 at 05:54

And final hint for everyone: never do the Zintl-Karyakin with ammonium bichromate! The little bitch will decompose in the process of distillation, and all you will get is green sulfuric acid contaminated with chromium trioxide and chromium sulfate!

At least it will work for Glauber's syntheses...

The Volatile Chemist - 2-12-2015 at 12:23

Yum... Nice pics, though a bit too cluttered for me. Good disty-rig, how big is it, actually, it's hard to tell...

arkoma - 17-12-2015 at 06:47

It's coming along. Ain't spending precious cash on ring stands though. My friend made the condenser holder for me out of cypress wood. Inch and a half forstner bit made holes that hold it SNUG. Brought water through the wall from the bathroom. A sink is on the "to do" list.

Tsjerk - 17-12-2015 at 09:05

Looks nice! How do you hold the two neck flask?

Tsjerk - 17-12-2015 at 09:13

Looks nice! How do you hold the two neck flask?

arkoma - 20-12-2015 at 17:19

Quote: Originally posted by Tsjerk

Looks nice! How do you hold the two neck flask?

the lovely wood condenser holder keeps it all lined up

UC235 - 20-12-2015 at 17:40

Quote: Originally posted by arkoma

It's coming along. Ain't spending precious cash on ring stands though. My friend made the condenser holder for me out of cypress wood. Inch and a half forstner bit made holes that hold it SNUG. Brought water through the wall from the bathroom. A sink is on the "to do" list.

I am confused by your blatantly incorrect poster on the wall. Distillation from acidifed dichromate is a standard method of producing aldehydes from alcohols. It would oxidize aldehydes to carboxylic acids with further exposure.

That's a nice martini glass full of vinegar.

j_sum1 - 21-12-2015 at 00:31

Nice setup arkoma. But yes, that poster would annoy me too.

JJay - 21-12-2015 at 03:15

I am going to take a trip to my secret base hidden deep in the salt mines to see if my old lab is still intact. If it is, I should have some photos of some pretty holy equipment to show in a few days. (Or maybe a bunch of broken glass.)

arkoma - 21-12-2015 at 07:07

I know poster is incorrect--it's "tongue-in-cheek". Alcohol is the "solution" to looking at it.

JJay - 22-12-2015 at 03:51

Water got into my electronics... I think I'm going to cry...

Texium - 22-12-2015 at 10:14

I've posted pictures of my lab a few times before, but never in this thread, so I figured it was about time I did.

First up, my lab bench, with a tiny chloroform distillation in progress.

Next, the two reagent storage cabinets (organic on the left, inorganic on the right). I also store various odds and ends such as crucibles, stoppers, filter papers, and test papers on the top shelf of the inorganic side.

In one of the cabinets under the bench, I have my centrifuge and a really old variac. My hotplate lives on top of that milk crate when not in use. The other picture shows my glassware drying rack with surplus reagents stored on the shelves underneath.

All of my glassware is stored on shelves in my bathroom and bedroom due to lack of space in the garage. Most of it can be seen in these two pictures, but there's a bit more stored away in drawers. A few pop-chem books share a shelf with some in the second picture.

Here's my collection of chemistry textbooks and references, as well as a bunch of miscellaneous clutter and my compound collection. That's just about everything.

ParadoxChem126 - 22-12-2015 at 10:52

Looks nice, zts. I have the same McMurry fourth edition ochem textbook

Zephyr - 22-12-2015 at 11:30

Nice lab zts! I envy those labels and all the cork rings.
I'm renovating my lab at the moment, I think I'll share some photos when it's done.

Texium - 22-12-2015 at 12:05

Thanks guys!

Quote: Originally posted by ParadoxChem126

I have the same McMurry fourth edition ochem textbook

Haha, I found that one at Half Price Books for $4.00

The Volatile Chemist - 30-12-2015 at 14:57

Zts16, nice! How old are you, I always forget; looks very professional. Something to aspire to. Of course you live in a rich-person house, so everything looks pristine (kidding...)

I am going to take a trip to my secret base hidden deep in the salt mines to see if my old lab is still intact. If it is, I should have some photos of some pretty holy equipment to show in a few days. (Or maybe a bunch of broken glass.)

Wait, what... you kidding? If not, that's probably the best thing I've heard all day. That's more to aspire to than a pristine lab, even if the electronics are wet

Might as well post pics of the less messy, lab 2.0 for Nathan P. (me...):
That last one's a failed synth of citrazinic acid. Just wanted to throw that crap in here....

JJay - 30-12-2015 at 16:44

Zts16, nice! How old are you, I always forget; looks very professional. Something to aspire to. Of course you live in a rich-person house, so everything looks pristine (kidding...)

Wait, what... you kidding? If not, that's probably the best thing I've heard all day. That's more to aspire to than a pristine lab, even if the electronics are wet

Might as well post pics of the less messy, lab 2.0 for Nathan P. (me...):
That last one's a failed synth of citrazinic acid. Just wanted to throw that crap in here....

Most of the glass was broken too, including my beaker set and most of my boiling flasks. I did recover some ground glass Erlenmeyers.

The Volatile Chemist - 30-12-2015 at 16:46

Zts16, nice! How old are you, I always forget; looks very professional. Something to aspire to. Of course you live in a rich-person house, so everything looks pristine (kidding...)

Wait, what... you kidding? If not, that's probably the best thing I've heard all day. That's more to aspire to than a pristine lab, even if the electronics are wet

Might as well post pics of the less messy, lab 2.0 for Nathan P. (me...):
That last one's a failed synth of citrazinic acid. Just wanted to throw that crap in here....

Most of the glass was broken too, including my beaker set and most of my boiling flasks. I did recover some ground glass Erlenmeyers.

...That's crazy...you actually had a lab in some abandoned salt-mines? Wish there were those around here...

JJay - 30-12-2015 at 16:52

...That's crazy...you actually had a lab in some abandoned salt-mines? Wish there were those around here...

No, it wasn't actually in a salt mine...

The Volatile Chemist - 30-12-2015 at 17:00

...That's crazy...you actually had a lab in some abandoned salt-mines? Wish there were those around here...

No, it wasn't actually in a salt mine...

Oh, come now, don't tell such lies...

Where was it, you have pics?

JJay - 30-12-2015 at 18:21

...That's crazy...you actually had a lab in some abandoned salt-mines? Wish there were those around here...

No, it wasn't actually in a salt mine...

Oh, come now, don't tell such lies...

Where was it, you have pics?

Hey, when you're a superhero, you don't tell *anyone* where your lab is

I'll try to post some pictures later, though.

The Volatile Chemist - 30-12-2015 at 18:23

Thanks, looking forward to it.

In case people missed it, pics of my lab 2.0 are the last post on the previous page

Texium - 30-12-2015 at 18:47

Zts16, nice! How old are you, I always forget; looks very professional. Something to aspire to. Of course you live in a rich-person house, so everything looks pristine (kidding...)

Um, thanks, but rich-person house... where'd you get that notion?

The Volatile Chemist - 30-12-2015 at 19:04

Quote: Originally posted by zts16

Zts16, nice! How old are you, I always forget; looks very professional. Something to aspire to. Of course you live in a rich-person house, so everything looks pristine (kidding...)

Um, thanks, but rich-person house... where'd you get that notion?

Haha, I took a better look and retract my statement.
Sorry if that sounded snob-ish, your lab really does look great.

Texium - 30-12-2015 at 20:01

My family is fairly well-off, but certainly not rich. Most of the glassware that I have was obtained simply by good fortune and chance, as I was able to acquire a ton of nice old glassware from a closed laboratory at no cost. If I showed you the collection of glassware that I've actually spent money on, it would look far less impressive. Consequently, that has allowed me to spend more money on chemicals. The pristine look of everything is just because I am very particular about keeping things clean... especially when I'm getting it prepared to post pictures of it on here.

Work Shop Tour - VIDEO

kadriver - 30-12-2015 at 20:21

Here is a short video of my work shop;

https://youtu.be/0FYgjW-ecRU

Thanks for looking!

kadriver

The Volatile Chemist - 30-12-2015 at 20:22

I see. Sorry about my prior statements. I started my interest in chemistry with the gift of an old chemcraft kit which had lots of rather interesting chemicals and experiments but no glassware except a few test tubes, later I was given old glassware from a man at our church, which included an old style distillation appuratus and 125 mL size things, with more test tubes. More recently, through gift cards given to me, I've purchased chemicals and some general glassware from Home Science Tools. No ground glass yet, I'd love to find some local.
But would you believe it, I can run a vacuum distillation with the glassware I have?

Buchner flasks are the best, filtration, vac. dist., gas wash bottle.... Good stuff.

Sulaiman - 31-12-2015 at 07:29

here is my shed

table - kitchen door - auxiliary experimentation zone (BBQ & table)- neighbour's house - shed
note the stylish blackout mat

look right

chemistry - repairman - electronics - main transceiver (behind wood pile) & telescopes

look ahead

most of my chemicals and glassware
the boxes contain more glassware, bulk dH2O & reagents beneath

hiding from the sun behind the 'chemistry set'

Look Left

[Edited on 31-12-2015 by Sulaiman]

Texium - 31-12-2015 at 10:34

Nice shed Sulaiman, looks like you've got a lot of good stuff in there. I see you must do a lot of shopping at Onyxmet.

The Volatile Chemist - 31-12-2015 at 11:23

I was going to say, those looked like onyxmet solvent and reagent liquid bottles

Very nice. Some fine electronics there!

aga - 31-12-2015 at 11:31

Looks like a busy space Sulaiman.

My main question is how my lucky green underpants got to be on your washing line ?

JJay - 31-12-2015 at 14:44

Here I am running a lab in a public restroom.

The Volatile Chemist - 31-12-2015 at 15:42

Uh, lol, you kidding? What *are* you making?
Nice lab though

JJay - 31-12-2015 at 16:14

Uh, lol, you kidding? What *are* you making?
Nice lab though

Ethylsulfuric acid. I am using a technique from a patent that some have stated does not work as claimed... but so far, things have run exactly as expected.

The Volatile Chemist - 31-12-2015 at 16:18

Quite interesting. Did you carry that all in your backpack then set it up in the public restroom?

JJay - 31-12-2015 at 18:51

I keep most of my lab equipment and supplies in Sterilite plastic tubs. I have 8 18 gallon tubs and a 40 gallon tub, plus various odds and ends that don't fit in the tubs, e.g. 5 gallon buckets, an ultrasonic humidifier and a small oven.

The Volatile Chemist - 31-12-2015 at 21:36

Cool. It's unfortunate you don't have an actual lab-space. Is that by choice or convinience?

JJay - 31-12-2015 at 22:57