Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Low-quality labware

Oxy - 20-5-2021 at 04:01

I am really mad because of poor quality wash bottles which I constantly get.

Today it was the end of 10-th during this year, it cracked on the side just in half of it's height. And it wasn't the cheapest one :mad:

[Edited on 20-5-2021 by Oxy]

Keras - 20-5-2021 at 06:19

Quote: Originally posted by Oxy  
I am really mad because of poor quality wash bottles which I constantly get.

Today it was the end of 10-th during this year, it cracked on the side just in half of it's height. And it wasn't the cheapest one :mad:

[Edited on 20-5-2021 by Oxy]


Where do you buy them?

Oxy - 20-5-2021 at 06:48

I buy them in the shops where I also buy glassware which I can't complain.


Are those washers always so bad or it's just my bad luck? :D

Keras - 20-5-2021 at 07:13

I have two. One I never used so far, the other is full of distilled water I use to rince every sort of glassware. Never had to complain about anything.

Texium - 20-5-2021 at 07:18

What are you putting in them? What I’ve observed is failures are often due to people putting solvents in them that shouldn’t really go in them.

Oxy - 20-5-2021 at 07:32

Mostly just water. I always check compatibility tables when I want to use a specific item for acetone or other organic solvent.
Today's victim was made of polypropylene and filled with acetone. According to compatibility table there shouldn't be any issues with those 2.
And there were no other signs of damage than this nasty crack

Texium - 20-5-2021 at 07:40

That is unfortunate. Acetone should be fine. I was more thinking of people in research labs who love filling them with chloroform or acetonitrile, which will kill even good quality wash bottles. Sounds like you may want to look online for some better quality ones. Unfortunately a lot of stuff sold in brick and mortar stores tends to be low-quality but overpriced compared to items from online vendors.

Keras - 20-5-2021 at 09:00

Quote: Originally posted by Texium  
[…] in brick and mortar […]


You mean mom-and-pop stores? :p

Texium - 20-5-2021 at 09:27

Those are more or less synonymous in this case, though brick-and-mortar refers to any physical store that you go to, while mom-and-pop refers explicitly to small, independent businesses

Dr.Bob - 20-5-2021 at 10:24

I have some Nalgene wash bottles that I have been using for DCM and acetone for 10+ years of daily use. Yours are just cheap and poorly made or made of poor quality polymer. Buy a few good ones for a few dollars and they will last many years. I do have some junky ones, so I just use until they break and then switch to better ones. If you are in the US, I have some used but good ones at 2/$5, hard to go too wrong there.

Keras - 20-5-2021 at 10:26

Quote: Originally posted by Texium  
Those are more or less synonymous in this case, though brick-and-mortar refers to any physical store that you go to, while mom-and-pop refers explicitly to small, independent businesses


Thanks, I’m always at loggerheads with those American English niceties. :)

Oxy - 20-5-2021 at 12:11

I bought all mine from my usual online seller

I am in EU Dr.Bob so maybe it's not the best idea to send it here. However yeah, you're right and it's time to buy something with better quality.
Those which I bought were not really cheap but I will check Nalgene or similar brand. They seems to be more expensive but it's definitely pay just once and have reliable equipment that having such a surprises.