Electra
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What is your personal way of storing (short term/long term) and transporting your glassware?
I've thought about this for some time and the only practical yet safe option I can think of is each larger piece having it's own box with padding, and
just praying the box doesn't get crushed, but even this is impractical for short term storage, as unpacking everything is a hassle. In any lab
scenario I would constantly be looking for some part that is packed away.
Having lab equipment laying around in the open would work but then there runs the risk of the accidental stumble causing much shattering chaos. What
do you all suggest? I don't have a whole lot of glassware, but I don't have a small amount either. It could all maybe fit in the back seat of a car if
boxed up carefully, yet compactly.
The first time I went to my lab partners house to see their personal lab, I cringed when I saw they kept over 8 different pieces of sensitive
glassware all in the same box with no padding between them, condensers, flasks, separatory funnels. And, there were multiple boxes like this. Nothing
ever broke, that I know of, at most if the box is handled correctly it makes the classic glass-on-glass noise... but this is far too risky of an
option for me. I don't have money to throw around to replace broken glass ware so easily.
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Crowfjord
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I store mine similarly to your friend, with my distillation pieces and most of my round bottom flasks, tubing and adapters in the same box. The top
and bottom are padded with plastic bags filled with shredded paper, and some pieces are padded from one another with cotton wool that I keep for
fractionation insulation. The rest of my glassware is variably distributed in other boxes.
For transport (a rare occasion), glass pieces are more carefully packed in boxes with plenty of wadded newspaper for padding.
Eventually, I want to get one or two or three large hard-shelled suitcases, which I will line with foam padding. A second layer of foam with cut-outs
in the shape of the pieces to be held will go inside the first. This would essentially be a homemade recreation of the cases for the glassware kits we
had in college o-chem lab, but larger. Someday...
[Edited on 21-5-2014 by Crowfjord]
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prof_genius
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I have a plastic box that I can put in the car for transportation. I recommend you get some shelving for your glass. If you're worried that the glass
will fall pick up some of those elastic bungee cords and attach them to the shelving, that will keep the glass from falling and I have seen it in use
at a professional lab in an earthquake prone area to stop the glass from falling.
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Electra
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Quote: Originally posted by Crowfjord  | I store mine similarly to your friend, with my distillation pieces and most of my round bottom flasks, tubing and adapters in the same box. The top
and bottom are padded with plastic bags filled with shredded paper, and some pieces are padded from one another with cotton wool that I keep for
fractionation insulation. The rest of my glassware is variably distributed in other boxes.
For transport (a rare occasion), glass pieces are more carefully packed in boxes with plenty of wadded newspaper for padding.
Eventually, I want to get one or two or three large hard-shelled suitcases, which I will line with foam padding. A second layer of foam with cut-outs
in the shape of the pieces to be held will go inside the first. This would essentially be a homemade recreation of the cases for the glassware kits we
had in college o-chem lab, but larger. Someday...
[Edited on 21-5-2014 by Crowfjord] |
I have one of those foam cases for that reason. It was a waste of money. I thought I could fit way more glassware in their than I was able to. I fit
maybe 10 pieces of small 500ml-1000ml glass ware in there, with a few condensers and fractionating columns, and the entire thing is barely able to fit
into the back seat of my car.
| Quote: Originally posted by prof_genius | | I have a plastic box that I can put in the car for transportation. I recommend you get some shelving for your glass. If you're worried that the glass
will fall pick up some of those elastic bungee cords and attach them to the shelving, that will keep the glass from falling and I have seen it in use
at a professional lab in an earthquake prone area to stop the glass from falling. |
Good thought. It might be nifty to modify some storage bins with some of those so the glass can be stored in there securely, without it touching, and
without the need for a ton of foam. I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to create a secure electric type pouch for each piece of sensitive glass. A
little bit of stitching and it could turn into a cool little project.
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DrAldehyde
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I won a large glass lot at an auction. I had to move it a couple hundred miles at a moments notice. I bought a couple of packs of cotton shop towels
from Costco and a dozen plastic containers with built in lids, also from Costco. I wrapped each piece in a towel and nested them when I could. Then
packed them in the boxes. The towels are pretty inexpensive, reusable, and much easier to use and offer better protection than paper. Everything made
the trip.
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Muffn Man
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Foam drawer liner
I saw this and thought that it was a great idea. Make a drawer liner/tray from an old T-shirt and some spray foam. Worth a look.
http://www.howtogeek.com/news/create-custom-tool-drawer-line...
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Rogeryermaw
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that looks pretty cool but i wouldn't use it for glassware. if it's a tight fit, the foam may crack fragile pieces as it expands. also, if you form it
around round parts, you may have to cut them out after the foam sets.
a couple of years ago one could practically choke on the sheer quantity of distillation sets available on ebay that came with the foam lined cases.
now, i can't find them. at least not on ebay anymore.
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Texium
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At home, I have all of my glassware in a large cabinet, and I keep my condenser and other fragile pieces wrapped in bubble wrap when I'm not using
them. I've never had to transport anything, other than a few tiny little volumetric flasks, but I'd probably use plastic bins with a lot of padding,
as some of you have already described, if I needed to transport more of my stuff.
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Oscilllator
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I got a large foam mattress and a flat storage box (about 1.2x0.6x0.2m) and filled it with foam. I then cut holes in the foam mattress with a knife so
that my glassware fits in there. With careful arrangement you can fit a decent amount of glassware in there
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Rogeryermaw
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http://www.specialized.net/Specialized/Blow-Molded-Case-FULL...
may have to get a couple of these
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