HeYBrO
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Construction of a steel laboratory spatula.
Introduction.
Laboratory spatulas are useful instrument in any scientific setting. They are an excellent tool for transferring small quantities of reagents,
scratching the sides of a flask to induce crystallisation and can be used as a platform for the deflagration of small amounts of pyrotechnic
mixtures. Although cheap, finding high quality lab spatulas can, for some, be difficult and often through international sources, which entails
shipping rates etc. This report will demonstrate the simplicity of designing and building one's own spatula for minimum costs at home.
Purpose
To built a laboratory spatula with minimum funds.
Materials
- 2 mm steel wire (free)
- butane torch (already had)
- hammer (already had)
- hard steel surface [anvil or bench vice] (already had)
- file(already had)
- sand paper, steel wool and or sanding sponge (already had)
- safety glasses and heavy duty gloves (already had)
Safety considerations
Because steel will be heated to high temperatures, caution must be used when handling the hot material. Keep a burn relief kit nearby and wear safety
giggles and heavy duty gloves to protect from burns. Do this in a well ventillated area!
Procedure
1.Measure out about 18.5 cm of the steel wire.
2. Begin heating with the torch until you obtain a cherry red, then begin hammering and flattening out the end of the wire (until roughly ~2 cm has
been flattened)
 
3.A technique known as "hot filing" maybe implemented to shape the spatula. Heat the end and start filling. Use caution. It is useful to thin out the
spatula a little at this point.
4.Once the final shape has been achieved, heat the end of the spatula and quench it to harden the tip.
5.Repeat steps 1-4 for the other side with the desired shape.
6.Once hardened, the work up of the spatula may begin. use rough sand paper, then go to a finer grade and finish with a sanding block.
Discussion
The spatula came out with very satisfactory results. The main limitations of the spatula is that it is not stainless steel, hence it is mainly useful
for only rough qualitative work and reactions that will not react with iron. It is also important to wash the spatula after every use and to dry it
well to prevent corrosion.
Conclusion
The main goal of the procedure was achieved without major complication.
 
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Chemosynthesis
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Nicely done.
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Magpie
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I find that my 3 different shaped ss spatulas are among my most useful lab tools.
I have a 2mm diameter ss welding rod that has proved very handy at times also. I made a spiral in one end to remove packing from a narrow column, and
a small loop in the other end for some use I can't now recall.
Maybe you could get a friend who does welding to give you a ss welding rod to make ss spatulas.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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HeYBrO
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I too have three, a micro wedge style, a round spatula with red handle and another one similar to what i made.
Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  | I have a 2mm diameter ss welding rod that has proved very handy at times also. I made a spiral in one end to remove packing from a narrow column,
and a small loop in the other end for some use I can't now recall.
Maybe you could get a friend who does welding to give you a ss welding rod to make ss spatulas. |
perhaps it
was for hanging the tool up? That's a good idea, I'll see what I can do!
Thanks!
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Pyro
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niceley done!
one should try this with a nickel rod. nickel spatulas cost a furtune
[Edited on 22-7-2014 by Pyro]
all above information is intellectual property of Pyro.  |
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Morgan
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Why is it realitively pure nickel coins from Canada are so cheap but a simple nickel rod on Amazon or ebay tremendously expensive?
http://www.vincentmetals.com/Daily_Nickel_Prices.html
[Edited on 22-7-2014 by Morgan]
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Pyro
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id use this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10ft-Jewelry-Making-German-Nickel-Si...
might be a fun project to try to make one from a quarter
BTW:why rubber gloves when working with hot metal?
[Edited on 22-7-2014 by Pyro]
all above information is intellectual property of Pyro. |
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Manifest
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Nice post!
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HeYBrO
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I was doing something else in the lab before and i forgot to take them off... I know, i know, look at me, the hypocrite 
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chemrox
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Why would you do this? I appreciate tinkering but those rulers are worth a lot more than micro spatulas that you can by all day on ebay.
"When you let the dumbasses vote you end up with populism followed by autocracy and getting back is a bitch." Plato (sort of)
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HeYBrO
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| Quote: Originally posted by chemrox | | Why would you do this? I appreciate tinkering but those rulers are worth a lot more than micro spatulas that you can by all day on ebay.
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thanks for the response.
Firstly, I'm a litte confused by your somewhat contradictory statement and question; if you appreciate it why do you choose to point out "flaws"?
Secondly, if you re-read my original post more carefully you would see the answer to your question:
| Quote: Originally posted by HeYBrO |
Introduction.
Although cheap, finding high quality lab spatulas can, for some, be difficult and often through international sources, which entails shipping rates
etc. This report will demonstrate the simplicity of designing and building one's own spatula for minimum costs at home. |
Besides that, this is just a nice thread to spark ideas such building from different materials etc. This project was free and took less than two
hours, I would have to wait two weeks if I bought it online. Why do you have to justify building something so useful and simple if the means for doing
so are at your disposal? Surely that is the spirit of amateur chemistry?
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Manifest
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I agree, you shouldn't be asking why, but why not.
This post fits the quality we should all be aiming to post and fits within the theme of amateur chemistry.
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MrHomeScientist
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Sometimes I get the safety giggles too
Kidding aside this is a pretty neat idea. Looks like it turned out well! I'd be interested to see how long it lasts before corroding. With careful
care and cleaning it should do pretty well.
It sounds like chemrox thought you hammered the ruler into a spatula? It was a metal wire that was used - the ruler was just there to measure, as they
usually are.
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UnintentionalChaos
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If you can get nickel wire/rod, you could make quite a few of these. Stainless won't work too well. The heating tends to ruin the
corrosion-resistance.
Department of Redundancy Department - Now with paperwork!
'In organic synthesis, we call decomposition products "crap", however this is not a IUPAC approved nomenclature.' -Nicodem
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Morgan
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If anyone knows a relatively low-cost source for pure nickel rod that would be nice. Nickel is starting to approach 9 dollars a pound but rods of it
seem to cost quite a bit more.
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Metacelsus
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I have 2 nickel rods (somewhere, I hope I can find them), and a heat source. I'm going to try making a nickel spatula right now!
Update: Well, I ran the induction heater at 48 volts, the nickel started glowing, I took it out and hammered on it, put it back in, and then one of my
MOSFETs had a critical existence failure (aka magic smoke).
Now I have a slightly more pointy nickel rod!
[Edited on 24-7-2014 by Cheddite Cheese]
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Morgan
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I suppose the train lines would frown on this but if you affixed a small piece of wire to the track with a spot of super glue or used a 1981 or older
Canadian nickel which is 99.9 % nickel it would form the metal to some extent. Maybe one could join a flattened nickel to a nickel rod, making a large
pure nickel spatula spoon.
1964–1981 4.54 g 21.21 mm, round 99.9% nickel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_(Canadian_coin)
Coins on the Track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VitmL070-vQ
http://www.capecentralhigh.com/perry-county/coins-on-the-tra...
Here's a pretty shape.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Teardrop-Pendant/?ALLSTEPS
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aga
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Excellent !
Very well done, and nice photos.
There needs to be much more of this - actually making stuff, and using some imagination.
Ignore chemrox - clearly read very little of your post and just saw a word or two and a picture.
If you manage to get some Stainless rod, just try hitting it with a hammer a lot.
Allow it a little Time between sessions and you might find it works, albeit slowly.
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Morgan
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This shine is fairly impressive for an ordinary nickel. I wonder how a Canadian 99.9% nickel would do? If it polished up as well, it would be possible
to make a reflective spoon shape of some sort that could be attached to a rod for an artistic scoop-like spatula at one end.
How to polish, in real time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Mc4NkCeo0
http://orgchem.colorado.edu/Technique/Equipment/Benchequip/S...
http://www.ajaxscientific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Lab...
http://strauchfiber.typepad.com/the-wool-goes-round/2010/02/...
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