Sciencemadness Discussion Board - new toys

new toys

Magpie - 25-12-2015 at 14:15

Here's a picture of some long sought after lab equipment I gave myself for Christmas:

This is indicating Drietite. No more use of swimming pool CaCl2.

Also shown is a small Brazilian agate mortar & pestle for use in preparing solids for a melting point. No more using my huge 4" Coors porcelain mortar & pestle.

Magpie - 4-1-2016 at 21:00

Here's a picture of an Atago Abbé refractometer I recently acquired off eBay for $150 including shipping. Atago thinks it was made ca 1963. It came in a nice wood case which included a small crystal block labeled N_D= 1.5163.

Although I've had to do some calibration it seems to be working fine. I always worry about buying something that old and complex from an antique dealer.

I calibrated it with water at N_D=1.3329. When I checked glycerol it read very close to the Wiki value of N_D=1.4746. I don't yet know how to measure the N_D of the supplied crystal.

If you have any questions about this instrument I'll try to answer them.

$Atago refractometer.jpg - 15kB$

gsd - 5-1-2016 at 18:34

Wow! The refractometer looks beautiful. @ $ 150 delivered it is a steal.
I am bit confused about the first picture though. what is the Christmas Present - the Pestle & Mortar or the Drierite Bottle? ;-)

gsd

JJay - 5-1-2016 at 19:04

Here is my new flask.

Magpie - 5-1-2016 at 19:47

Quote: Originally posted by gsd

Wow! The refractometer looks beautiful. @ $ 150 delivered it is a steal.
I am bit confused about the first picture though. what is the Christmas Present - the Pestle & Mortar or the Drierite Bottle? ;-)

gsd

Thank you gsd. I'm glad someone has an appreciation for these old instruments. Atago USA trying to find some more information on this item.

The Drierite and the mortar/pestle are both new items.

Morgan - 8-2-2016 at 15:36

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie

Here's a picture of some long sought after lab equipment I gave myself for Christmas:

This is indicating Drietite. No more use of swimming pool CaCl2.

Also shown is a small Brazilian agate mortar & pestle for use in preparing solids for a melting point. No more using my huge 4" Coors porcelain mortar & pestle.

I have sort of the same problem, a mortar and pestle my sister gave me that she no longer wanted that was for her kitchen presumably. It's nice to look at but what might it best be used for? It's 11 inches across and 6 high and the pestle about 10.5. It's marked Coors 520-6.

[Edited on 8-2-2016 by Morgan]

Dr.Bob - 8-2-2016 at 16:52

It (huge mortar and pestle) would best be used to grind up a huge amount of anything. It is nice to have a few of them, so you can handle any amount of stuff. I have a nice one that is great for grinding up NaOH or K2CO3 into powder for reactions where you need a fine powder.

The agate ones are nice as they are not porous, so they are easier to clean and you don't loose material in their pores. They are great for small samples.

blogfast25 - 8-2-2016 at 17:17

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie

Thank you gsd. I'm glad someone has an appreciation for these old instruments. Atago USA trying to find some more information on this item.

The Drierite and the mortar/pestle are both new items.

I luuuurrve these old instruments. I bought an old spectroscope a year ago.

Try working out the range of n_D that it can handle?

Magpie - 8-2-2016 at 19:09

Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25

Try working out the range of n_D that it can handle?

Is that a question for me? My instrument reads from N_D 1.3 to 1.7, which I think is typical for an Abbé.

[Edited on 9-2-2016 by Magpie]

edited to correct the range to 1.3 - 1.7.

[Edited on 9-2-2016 by Magpie]

blogfast25 - 8-2-2016 at 19:16

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie

Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25

Try working out the range of n_D that it can handle?

Is that a question for me? IIRC my instrument reads from about N_D 1.3 to 1.5, which I think is typical for an Abbé.

Yes, it was, thanks. Quite narrow range in a sense (but I'm no expert on refractometry).

Magpie - 18-4-2017 at 13:37

Recently I burned out my 5/12vdc power supply (salvaged from an old computer) by exceeding its 145w power limitation. This gave me the justification to buy what I've always really wanted anyway: a regulated linear power supply capable of holding up to 30vdc or 30adc. It just arrived today, as shown below:

JJay - 18-4-2017 at 14:08

That is a nice power supply!

I got a vacuum pump. Now I just have to figure out how to connect the flare fittings to a hose barb... it can't be that hard, right?

Texium - 18-4-2017 at 14:52

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

I got a vacuum pump. Now I just have to figure out how to connect the flare fittings to a hose barb... it can't be that hard, right?

Not hard at all. Home Depot sells the part you need in the plumbing section. Wrap the threads with PTFE tape for a nice tight seal and you're good to go.

JJay - 18-4-2017 at 17:14

Quote: Originally posted by zts16

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

I got a vacuum pump. Now I just have to figure out how to connect the flare fittings to a hose barb... it can't be that hard, right?

Not hard at all. Home Depot sells the part you need in the plumbing section. Wrap the threads with PTFE tape for a nice tight seal and you're good to go.

That is what I was thinking, but if you talk to a professional supplier of such parts, they treat as though you are doing some sort of dark sorcery that is officially frowned upon by the Plumbers Guild, the Heating Installers Conclave and the Refrigeration Coven.

I'll stop by Home Depot later.

Funkerman23 - 20-4-2017 at 06:15

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

Here is my new flask.

Looks like a deschem offering to me. So far so good on my end with them but I stopped buying large flasks awhile ago with small center joints. Try a 2 0r 3 liter with a 45/50 or similar joint in the middle& a reducing adapter. With the adapter I never looked back.

JJay - 20-4-2017 at 17:13

Quote: Originally posted by Funkerman23

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

Here is my new flask.

It's a Deschem flask. I posted about it a long time ago before there was a glassware thread, but that is my favorite flask, and I have used it in dozens of reactions and distillations. Right now it has a thin layer of clay on the bottom that has defied removal with all common measures, so I am going to try scrubbing it and bought some copper scrubbers for the task. Eventually the flask will probably break, and I use it a lot, so I picked up a 4-neck 3L from Nanshin as a backup.

I actually have a 40/50 reducing adapter, but I just use it for my Soxhlet and my distillation bulb. I certainly wouldn't mind having one of those reaction vessels with a clamp-on top, though. In general, I try to avoid using adapters unless they are absolutely necessary.

The parts I picked up at Home Depot didn't quite fit the small valve on my pump (I think it's metric or something), but I did find a brake fitting that connects to the large one at Napa Auto Parts. It also connects nicely with the Home Depot hose barb. I used lots of plumber's tape and tightened the fittings onto the pump tightly enough that they will be hard to remove.

[Edited on 21-4-2017 by JJay]

Sulaiman - 21-4-2017 at 01:14

"Right now it has a thin layer of clay on the bottom that has defied removal with all common measures"

I would try swirling and shaking (or better, mag-stirring) sand, water and a little NaOH in the flask

XeonTheMGPony - 21-4-2017 at 03:51

I just made a 105 dollar order from deschem, so far they been a seemingly good quality source (Good quality being relative to Chinese suppliers!)

His stuff fits for the most part and is priced to its value so can't complain there!

The Alanhin condenser I got has held up very well as have the 500ml flask I ordered.

Will post pics when it arrives in a month.

Brom - 21-4-2017 at 09:59

Here are a couple of things i recently acquired. A Hamilton gas syringe, and some nitrocellulose filters. I am going to try to sell the filters on ebay as i have no use for them.

Geocachmaster - 23-4-2017 at 12:10

I happened across a yard sale today and found some good stuff!

A central scientific hotplate

A heat gun

Fisher Pasteur pipets

And best of all...

Fischer technical LAV-3 vacuum pump, holy crap it's $600 for a new one on Amazon. It works and is in very good condition, other than a bunch of dust.

I got everything here for a grand total of $8

j_sum1 - 23-4-2017 at 23:56

Score! Well done, Geo. I'd do that for eight bucks too if I had the chance.

My latest purchase:

I have had one of these on my ebay wish list for about a year but always the price has been exorbitant and the shipping ridiculous: in some cases more than the purchase price. This was 33 aussibucks with free shipping.

JJay - 24-4-2017 at 00:48

I have one of those, but I bought the absolute cheapest one on eBay and ended up with one that needed some repairs and didn't have a coaster and doesn't always go up and down smoothly... still, I do use it a lot.

I also have a smaller one that is high quality, but I hardly ever use it.

Eight bucks for that stuff was a fantastic deal!

[Edited on 24-4-2017 by JJay]

JJay - 25-4-2017 at 23:28

JJay - 26-4-2017 at 14:03

Milligram scale.

Atrum - 30-4-2017 at 13:16

I have that exact balance.

JJay - 30-4-2017 at 13:36

I needed something for preparing analytical solutions and weighing samples for microscale experiments, and the price was unbeatable. I am sure I could get another decimal point of precision out of a much more expensive setup, though.

As much as I like using a power drill with a dimmer switch for stirring mixtures, I don't think that's a good idea with ether (or even acetone really), so I recently ordered a JJ-1 mechanical stirrer: http://cnjinyi17.en.made-in-china.com/product/WvCQrFMlEDVR/C...

I've sunk an obscene amount of money into mechanical stirrers, so I hope this one will do what I want and have few problems.

XeonTheMGPony - 1-5-2017 at 11:05

just scored 2 pounds of mercury! some in the form of beautiful mercury displacement relays!!!! Will post porn shots of it when I get home!

Best part is only cost 20 bucks Canadian, was doing a job at an old medical building and figured I'd ask the head maintenance guy if they had any!

Pics as promised

did a ruff weigh and I deff have 2 or so pounds !

I'm not going to kill the Displacement relays! I'm going to make them new coils and use them suckers!

[Edited on 1-5-2017 by XeonTheMGPony]

Funkerman23 - 1-5-2017 at 20:20

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

I needed something for preparing analytical solutions and weighing samples for microscale experiments, and the price was unbeatable. I am sure I could get another decimal point of precision out of a much more expensive setup, though.

As much as I like using a power drill with a dimmer switch for stirring mixtures, I don't think that's a good idea with ether (or even acetone really), so I recently ordered a JJ-1 mechanical stirrer: http://cnjinyi17.en.made-in-china.com/product/WvCQrFMlEDVR/C...
Mc Master carr has the ready made one here: https://www.mcmaster.com/#chucks/=17g1k6t I've shopped around and save for a a dollar or so, these things are set in price. Failing a chuck, the old standby of automotive jubilee hose clips and a length of rubber tubing might work but that can be a PITA.

I've sunk an obscene amount of money into mechanical stirrers, so I hope this one will do what I want and have few problems.

At some point you may find that the included chuck does not work well with different diameter stirr rods. There is a Mixer chuck available from a number of sources that will solve this problem permanently but is around 100 USD. I don't know what wattage you have as I have a 100 what one. Same JJ1 stirrer.

[Edited on 2-5-2017 by Funkerman23]

JJay - 3-5-2017 at 19:03

I finally got my JJ-1 stirrer, and it looks very nice. It comes with a very sturdy collapsible stand and some clamps, as well as two stainless stir paddles. The included chuck is a collet chuck and is designed to work with a single diameter stir rod... it would be nice to hook a small Jacobs chuck up to it, but collet chucks are more durable and hold the shaft straighter (so I guess that is why they designed it with a collet chuck).

Mine was sold as 40 watts but it looks the same as the 100 watt ones, so I really don't know. I think 40 watts should be sufficient for most purposes.

I am going to get it set up and take some pictures.

[Edited on 4-5-2017 by JJay]

JJay - 3-5-2017 at 19:55

Here is my humble small-scale reaction apparatus. It still needs a fume hood, an argon tank, a thermometer tube, and a temperature controller

JJay - 9-5-2017 at 22:44

I got some 300 mL crucibles. I would like to point out that javener2010 is an *excellent* seller - shipping was fast, the price was the best on eBay, and the crucibles were packed like they were shipped by Deschem.

Funkerman23 - 10-5-2017 at 13:24

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

Here is my humble small-scale reaction apparatus. It still needs a fume hood, an argon tank, a thermometer tube, and a temperature controller

If I may: what size flask and mantle are you using in that set up? And where did you find the mantle?

XeonTheMGPony - 10-5-2017 at 15:21

Well my toys from deschem arrived and got to say they look much better then the last order and very well don ground joints!

My lab safety partner was diligently watching my unpacking and ready to attack the foam if it made any dangerous moves!

Eyeborg - 10-5-2017 at 16:38

I got an older Fisher Thermix 310T hot plate stirrer of eBay rather recently.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182545765277?_trksid=p2057872.m2749....

Got a pretty good deal for it, $26 and ~$10 shipping.

JJay - 10-5-2017 at 17:01

Quote: Originally posted by Funkerman23

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

Here is my humble small-scale reaction apparatus. It still needs a fume hood, an argon tank, a thermometer tube, and a temperature controller

If I may: what size flask and mantle are you using in that set up? And where did you find the mantle?

3000 mL. It's a Glas-Col fabric mantle. They are all over eBay.

The hardest piece to obtain was the 1L pressure-equalizing addition funnel.

JJay - 18-5-2017 at 19:35

tsathoggua1 - 3-6-2017 at 08:35

Another trick to avoid sparks is to use a hand-drill, since they rely on gear wheels and hand cranking rather than an external energy source there is no motor wiring to arc. And they can take any reasonable size of stirring rod.

And as it happens the neck portion of many of them happens to fit conveniently into a standard sized two-pronged lab glass clamp. Not exactly cutting edge, but it is handy to have the option when doing things that need stirring, especially when there is something extremely flammable present, or ferromagnetic materials present that would preclude stirring (such as nickel catalysts, Fe, Raney cobalt etc.) For the likes of reductions involving nickel catalysts and hydrogenation at STP using the likes of Ni2B/borohydride it fits the requirements pretty well.

Just had a water aspirator vacuum arrive yesterday, for when the more powerful electric vac pump is overkill and today, a big bag of stainless steel keck clips to replace the plastic ones that with the exteption of perhaps 3 or at most, 4, all died horribly after being used to secure joints of a still being used for distillation of ICl.

[Edited on 3-6-2017 by tsathoggua1]

Magpie - 3-6-2017 at 09:21

Quote: Originally posted by tsathoggua1

Another trick to avoid sparks is to use a hand-drill, since they rely on gear wheels and hand cranking rather than an external energy source there is no motor wiring to arc. And they can take any reasonable size of stirring rod.

Perhaps it would not be too difficult to provide a belt drive to the drill. Then place the motor in a more protected area.

Quote: Originally posted by tsathoggua1

... and today, a big bag of stainless steel keck clips to replace the plastic ones that with the exteption of perhaps 3 or at most, 4, all died horribly....

Where do you buy ss Keck clips?

Edit: Nevermind. A few years ago I searched all over for ss clips. Now I see they are available through Walmart

[Edited on 3-6-2017 by Magpie]

tsathoggua1 - 3-6-2017 at 11:35

Bought a big bag of them on ebay. Not sure how many there actually are but certainly enough to last a while. Those plastic ones were awful. Alright for a few uses but some chemicals, most notably iodine monochloride and trichloride ripped them to pieces. They quite literally crumbled away when lightly touched into powder and small plastic chunks about the size of a BB.

I think I'll end up electroplating them in something highly resistant to most attack, such as iridium, perhaps, or if I can't get sufficient iridium salts then nickel as second choice. Ir, IIRC, is only attacked by molten, fused alkali metal hydroxides, halogens at elevated temperatures and fused cyanide melts. And plenty things will have a go at ordinary stainless given a chance.

Walmart? from what I read of that place, that does surprise me. Although we haven't got walmarts in the UK.

Magpie - 3-6-2017 at 12:37

My problem with the old Delrin clips was melting when I would do high temperature disitillations, etc. Then I bought ptfe clips and haven't melted one since. They are expensive, however, but so is a failed synthesis.

What you have read about Walmart is likely true. Amazon is going to slay them all however. They have 30,000 employees in Seattle and want to build to 100,000. They are ruining the Seattle real estate market.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiruoKLwqLUAhU...

[Edited on 3-6-2017 by Magpie]

tsathoggua1 - 3-6-2017 at 13:17

Yeah in the end, using PTFE tape to wrap stoppers (didn't have any fluorocarbon grease) was the only thing that didn't end up as crumbly powder or cement-ified slag on contact with the vapors from the iodine monochloride. Definitely not something I'd wish to inhale.

tsathoggua1 - 5-6-2017 at 01:35

Bought a 150ml glass syringe, for dispensing nasty things that would eat plastic/rubber or cause it to burst into flames. Worked a treat for bottling my iodine monochloride without it escaping (a few drops did, but nothing my gas mask wouldn't handle)

A 100-pack of melting point tubes. Need to get a Thiele tube as well, new 1l sep funnel, a new fritted Buchner, going to get a few different sizes of the latter plus some filter papers for my ceramic type non-fritted buchners and some celite.

Also, seen some long, tall and narrow fritted Buchners on ebay that I like the look of, would be quite convenient for vac filtrations, going to bag a few in different sizes.

Bought a shitton of small test tubes (50 of them) and a 1.5l flat-bottom conical vacuum filter flask.

Contemplating, if I have enough money left over after going lab-shopping, getting myself a kilo of boron, as a replacement for the lead that is currently inhabiting the heating chamber of my molten metal bath, mainly due to the toxicity of lead and the quite obvious fuming at higher temperatures, it was enough to quite quickly produce a fair bit of white lead slag

JJay - 19-7-2017 at 22:04

I bought most of the materials I need to make a recirculating aspirator and an amateur fume cabinet. I still haven't decided exactly what I am going to use for the sash, but I'll have a look around when I go back to the home improvement store for PTFE tape and plaster. Polycarbonate would be nice....

Dr.Bob - 20-7-2017 at 05:24

Polycarbonate is great stuff for impact and strength, but it gets hazed by chemicals quickly. For use with chemicals, I would stick with plexiglas, which is more chemical resistant (but still attacked by many chemicals.)

PS, If you want long, tall glass frit funnels, I have lots of them, tell me what you are looking for, and I can find some.

JJay - 20-7-2017 at 06:48

Oh, cool. I might be interested in those. I've been looking in particular at how to safely filter out salts when making organometallics. My one fritted funnel broke a couple of weeks ago while it was sitting in a box, so I have actually been looking for a new one.... I guess I'll have to see what you have

Booze - 20-7-2017 at 15:37

My latest purchase was a soxhelt extractor (well 2, because one came broken), a hotplate stirrer aaaand benzyl alcohol.

tsathoggua1 - 20-7-2017 at 23:07

I'd be interested in tall thin fritted buchners myself.

JJay - 21-7-2017 at 00:10

It's not pretty, but here's my recirculating aspirator almost ready for action. I'm curious about how strong of a vacuum it will pull.

[Edited on 21-7-2017 by JJay]

JJay - 28-7-2017 at 18:02

I recently obtained a bundle of ceramic paper.

The quality of it seems to vary, with some sheets being in perfect shape and others seeming fragile, being ripped and perforated. It was dirt cheap though. I wish I had some way to stitch the sheets together....

AvBaeyer - 28-7-2017 at 19:11

JJay,

Re.: Your recirculating aspirator system.

In the event that your home-built aspirator system does not meet your needs, have you considered buying a used commercial system such as those offered by Cole-Parmer and similar? They can seem pricey but are worth every dollar. I bought one several years ago on ebay and it is a lab workhorse for filtration and distillation.

AvB

JJay - 28-7-2017 at 19:41

It pulls a vacuum but is a bit loud, and caulking a pipe into the bucket doesn't seem to be a very durable solution. I'm planning on fitting an airtight lid with hosebarb to it so it can vent gases easily, and I'm considering detaching the pump and using an unmodified bucket. I'm pretty sure I'll have to prime the pump if I do that, though.

I have a vacuum pump, but I can't use it to remove solvents under vacuum, and it's vulnerable to attack by acids, halogens, and so forth.

Geocachmaster - 11-8-2017 at 17:36

I just spent $600 on stuff for the lab. Various chemicals, new glassware (most notably a Dean-Stark trap), and something that I've been yearning for for a long time...
A Chemglass PTFE diaphragm vacuum pump!!!

It's a used one from eBay and is this model. It's supposed to arrive next week but I was so excited I had to post something now.

JJay - 11-8-2017 at 19:45

Nice. Those diaphragm pumps definitely have their uses.

Geocachmaster - 17-8-2017 at 10:45

Here it is!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbVXF9Wr77k

Vosoryx - 22-8-2017 at 19:27

So I saw this ad on craigslist, (if you don't know what that is, it's a place where everyday people can sell and buy things. Less exclusive than Ebay.) for a 6000ml erlenmeyer flask, two allihn condensers, and a 500ml grad. cylinder. It was a great deal, so I go to pick it up, and the seller decides to add in a handful of test tubes with rubber stops and three quartz glass tubes that he had laying around. And he decides to give it all to me for free.
I have no idea what i'm going to use it all for, but I have it!
The glassware, excluding the quartz glass, is all Pyrex. None of it is ground glass, which is a bit unfortunate, but I'm sure I'll get some use out of this free glassware!
Probably not the right thread, but I'm very excited so I had to share it.

I should have put a scale there, If you don't already know the size of some of the stuff it could look smaller than it is. The Erlenmeyer is 6 liter, the grad cylinder is 500ml, and I think the condensers are 400mm.

XeonTheMGPony - 13-9-2017 at 14:08

Well scored Ascorbic acid and my NaNO2 finally arrived! getting so close to azids and the like I can "Taste" it!

Next will be glass wear! More of rather.

JJay - 28-11-2017 at 00:05

I got a [very inexpensive] new in box Glas-Col 500 mL heating mantle, with power cord! No longer will I have to mess around with salt baths and oil baths at a 500 mL scale.

Another big plus is that I won't have to endanger myself with this abomination every time I want to use my other heating mantle.

[Edited on 28-11-2017 by JJay]

Vosoryx - 28-11-2017 at 15:04

Nice find!
I have a glas-col 500 mL
I got it used off of ebay very inexpensively, and was actually concerned it might contain asbestos. I called them up, it doesn't.

Sure beats a sand bath.

JJay - 14-12-2017 at 22:38

I got a PID controller with a big relay. My plan is to wire it up with an oven dimmer and use it to control my various electric heating apparatuses.

JJay - 20-12-2017 at 05:07

I got an infrared temperature sensor. I really ought to pick up a heat gun at some point....

CharlieA - 20-12-2017 at 18:40

My wonderful EE brother-in-law set up a PID for me. Now I use it to control a cheap toaster-oven. This set-up makes a great drying oven.

[Edited on 12-21-2017 by CharlieA]

CharlieA - 20-12-2017 at 18:47

Tomorrow my new microscope arrives. This will be my first real microscope. The last one was basically a toy that I had ~65 years ago. I haven't been using up my chemistry budget lately, so this is a Christmas gift, from me to me, with love. I've never studied biology/microbiology yet, but I guess it is never too late to (try) to learn.

JJay - 12-1-2018 at 12:38

MrHomeScientist - 12-1-2018 at 13:06

I have exactly the same regulator/flowmeter for my Ar tank. Works great! If all goes well, I'll be using it this weekend in combination with my new propane furnace

(this one) Appears to be good quality but we'll see how the test run goes.

JJay - 12-1-2018 at 13:31

Nice furnace. I wasn't sure if I had the regulator screwed on all the way, but the flare fitting doesn't want to go any tighter even with a fairly large crescent wrench, and I don't want to strip off any threads.

I am going to try playing with some organometallics soon. I am probably going to start with something easy like synthesizing t-butanol from acetone and methylmagnesium iodide.

[Edited on 12-1-2018 by JJay]

NEMO-Chemistry - 12-1-2018 at 19:19

I dont normally post in this, not even my prized satorius balance!! But i figured i would share this enay score with you....

Now you all know how i like my real books, take a wild guess what i won this lot for in the auction with P&P?
22 books all together. I will post pics of some the highlights for me.

Three of them i already have, so if anyone is interested shout me. One i think is fairly hard to get and costs a fortune normally.

its the last three i have duplicates of now
I think i am now well over 200 hardback books on chemistry and biology

[Edited on 13-1-2018 by NEMO-Chemistry]

Geocachmaster - 23-3-2018 at 07:49

I just got two reaction vessels with lids! Both are 2 liters, one is glass and the other is stainless steel. From the same person, I got a 2 liter glas-col heating mantle and five new clamps.

$35 for the lot!

D340DF6A-CFAD-46DC-B9E0-8258832831BE.jpeg - 1.9MB

C62E161D-021C-44D9-9924-8D02177518C0.jpeg - 2MB

649ED4D0-B3F1-4345-8450-309617ADBB34.jpeg - 1.4MB

74D0236E-24E5-4A26-A2BD-27EDF394F02F.jpeg - 1.7MB

7BDBB6B2-CBE9-4E2A-98BE-DBB9B161D67C.jpeg - 2.3MB

CDEBDE5D-D5F8-43F9-A423-DDB57FC68628.jpeg - 1.4MB

JJay - 23-3-2018 at 08:12

Sweet deal. I wish I could find something like that.

weilawei - 13-4-2018 at 03:45

Scored a Mel-Temp II for $39 plus $17 shipping. I don't often bid on eBay auctions, but I threw in a bid as a hail mary, and now I own a proper melting point apparatus. Previousluly, I was using a big steel plate I'd drilled a hole in for a thermocouple and a dent for a sample well.

The bulb is burnt out, but these cost like 50 cents to replace. It heats beautifully, and my old mercury thermometer fits perfectly.

XeonTheMGPony - 1-5-2018 at 16:45

well it arrived! some fun new supplies I been waiting for!

and some glass wear

JJay - 17-8-2018 at 13:07

rawr

Yes, my new ball mill was 300 munnies. Now to figure out some sort of media... I wonder if buckshot works.

JJay - 17-8-2018 at 20:07

j_sum1 suggested this device for extruding sodium wire a while back, so I figured I'd pick one up. I'm looking forward to finding out how well it works.

Sulaiman - 17-8-2018 at 23:32

They work well for making sodium wire - very shiny on exit.

Cleaning after use can be 'interesting'

(dis-assemble and throw in a big bowl of water is my safest method so far)
(overall, I find it is easier to just use small pieces of sodium)
(oil the threads before use or they may get stuck)

P.S. for experiments such as 'transparent sodium' or sodium 'coulombic explosion' the extruder is really useful
for making sodium wire which can be extruded then cut off to a desired length,
giving approximately the same sample size each time.
Like a pipette for metal

(measuring small sodium samples is otherwise non-trivial)

..........................................
To save another comment box, my answer to the question below is
'I don't keep isopropanol in stock so I've not tried'
but it does sound more expensive and less fun.

[Edited on 18-8-2018 by Sulaiman]

DavidJR - 18-8-2018 at 01:46

Maybe quench with isopropanol would be safer?

JJay - 13-11-2018 at 19:56

I got a steel five-gallon bucket with a locking lid: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Steel-Pail-Black-Cap-5-Gal-With-Lin...

I'm going to try to build a heating mantle for it with heat tape and fiberglass, but I'll probably remove the paint first.

JJay - 25-8-2020 at 11:21

I got a 5 gallon vacuum chamber. The lid appears to be plexiglass. The vacuum gauge will actually measure down to -30 psig, which is impossibly low.

Sulaiman - 25-8-2020 at 21:20

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

The vacuum gauge will actually measure down to -30 psig, which is impossibly low.

I cant read he scale in the photo ... maybe inches of mercury ?

OldNubbins - 25-8-2020 at 22:44

Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

The vacuum gauge will actually measure down to -30 psig, which is impossibly low.

I cant read he scale in the photo ... maybe inches of mercury ?

That seems more likely. The only thing I am aware of that hits -30 psig are very talented escorts.

draculic acid69 - 7-9-2020 at 08:23

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

It's not pretty, but here's my recirculating aspirator almost ready for action. I'm curious about how strong of a vacuum it will pull.

[Edited on 21-7-2017 by JJay]

I used to have a similar setup.here in Oz 15yrs ago I spent about $350 building it.could have bought a vac pump for$400.now we have eBay, Amazon, Alibaba etc sorry we now aren't bound to spending as much now building this sort of stuff comparsed ro the exhorbitant prices we used to have to pay

JJay - 7-9-2020 at 21:03

Quote: Originally posted by draculic acid69

Quote: Originally posted by JJay

It's not pretty, but here's my recirculating aspirator almost ready for action. I'm curious about how strong of a vacuum it will pull.

[Edited on 21-7-2017 by JJay]

I hardly ever use mine because it tends to splash a bit, and sometimes a hose pops off. I'll use it a more when I get the minor kinks worked out, but it's less messy to use a vacuum pump or just hook the aspirator to a water faucet.

I'm away from my lab for the next couple of months, but I'll check out the gauge on the vacuum chamber when I get a chance... inches of mercury would make more sense than psi....