Best lab spatulas according to redditors
We found 26 Reddit comments discussing the best lab spatulas. We ranked the 9 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 26 Reddit comments discussing the best lab spatulas. We ranked the 9 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Explosive Elephant Toothpaste!! edited to correct ingredient - and update notes
My goal was big, shooting foam steams! I tried other methods and recipes - but this worked best!
What is happening in elephant toothpaste: hydrogen peroxide is made up of two hydrogen and two oxygen molecules. This is one extra oxygen molecule than water. Hydrogen peroxide is very unstable; it keeps wanting to lose that extra oxygen molecule. In this experiment, we use potassium iodide as a catalyst to knock off that extra oxygen molecule very quickly, and soap to capture those molecules of oxygen in foam.
I tried this with two different flask types: 2L Erlenmeyer flask and 2L graduated cylinder.
For each flask I needed the following:
To get (my best approximation of) 4 molar KI, I put 35 mg of nearly-pure granular KI in a small glass measuring beaker, and filled it to 50 ml with cool tap water.
If you use smaller flasks, you will need to cut the ingredients by about 1/2.
I was able to buy the chemicals and all the flasks online. Please be careful with the hydrogen peroxide – it will burn your skin at this concentration.
The result is soapy water - but there may be some residual hydrogen peroxide. Simply rinsing the area well should be sufficient.
Steps:
Pre-make the KI solution, and measure out all other chemicals.
USING GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION
-- Put 250ml H2O2 in each flask
-- Put ~25-30 ml of dish soap in each flask
-- Add a few drops food coloring of color desired (complicates clean-up - be warned!)
-- QUICKLY add 50 ml KI solution to each flask and jump back!
Notes:
The graduated cylinder produces a thick pillar of foam, the Erlenmeyer flask produces more of a jet.
The chemicals should be added by an adult.
If you film this, be sure to have the person filming stand back, and be prepared to capture an 8 to 10 foot jet coming out of the flask.
Shopping list (what I used):
This puts out a thick column of foam:
213I16 Karter Scientific 2000ml Glass Graduated Cylinder, Single Metric Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006UKIBKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8OuWxbG8YRB8N
This puts out a narrow/taller jet of foam - I now have three:
2000ml / 2L Narrow Mouth Erlenmeyer Flask with Heavy Duty Rim https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q34D0HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rQuWxb4708ZVJ
Pure Health Discounts Certified 35% Hydrogen Peroxide with 1 oz Bottle Dropper - 32 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AKIGJW4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YD4pzbZTGXC86
Potassium Iodide, High Purity Crystals, 99.8 % min., 100 grams https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D8161I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PTuWxb0N94SZQ
Atlas Glove 620 Atlas Vinylove 12" Double Dipped Gloves - Small (they come in different sizes) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002PJ0WRK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nUuWxbSQCV77N
Learning Resources Primary Science Safety Glasses (good size for kids) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZLSWFI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SVuWxbBKKKD9R
Heathrow Scientific HD15909 Spatula with Flat End and Spoon End, 9" Overall Length (optional - but good for mixing the potassium iodide) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061OT1A4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qSuWxbA6R27C3
I like my lab spoon/spatula.
Sturdy, long and cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061OT1A4/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
edit: To avoid confusion. Both ends of this tool are flat. It works fine for stirring and scooping sugar or jams for example but it doesn't have a true concave spoon on it. FYI.
Homebrew Materials:
Vacuum Pump Oil
Vacuum Tubing
1/4" Barb x 1/4" NPT Male Hose Fitting
1/4" Male x 1/4" Female NPT Extension Hose
Vacuum Pump
Filters
Spatulas
Magnetic Stir Bar
Digital Hotplate with Magnetic Stirrer
Nitrile Gloves (Better than Latex)
Empty Capsules (Buy Separated unless you hate your life)
Capsule Machine (If you value your sanity, buy more than a 100... I hated my life doing this)
Mohr Pipets
Pipette 10ml
Mortar and Pestle (If you're doing orals, get this... Otherwise, you're playing Russian Roulette with your doses and liver)
Funnel (For pouring into small places)
Alconox (For clean your shit)
Temperature Gun (How hot is my shit?)
Graduated Cylinder (If you measure with beakers, you're a fucking idiot... And you should consider Volumetric Flasks)
Beaker Set
1 Liter Beaker (Because brewing en'masse is better)
Scale (I have a 2kg one, too)
Calibration Weight Set
Calibration Weight 100g (Because you need two for the scale linked)
Vacuum Regulator (Unless you want to filter 9001 times due to broken shit)
Oil (Any USP grade, filtered or unfitlered)
BB
BA
Butyl Stoppers
Flip Top Seals
Crimper
Vials (Unsealed)
Autoclave (Cheaper than an oven, why are you using an oven?!)
Weight Boats (Buy a million of these. They're cheap and useful)
Did I miss something? Probably. Yes.
Plus its really easy to fold into different shapes. Like if you fold it in half with two pointy ends, it's not too hard to pour the powder into a pill capsule. Another easy way to pour powder into a pill is with plastic weighing spatulas, like the blue one in the following link. You use the skinnier end and it fits right into the pill.
https://chemglass.com/disposable-smartspatulas?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Edit: here it is on amazon. Pretty pricey since it comes with like 300, might be able to find lower amounts by searching disposable weighing spatula. I used to just get them for free from a lab i worked at.
https://www.amazon.com/LevGo-17211-smartSpatula-Disposable-Polypropylene/dp/B00442Q64O/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?adgrpid=54190686697&gclid=CjwKCAjw0vTtBRBREiwA3URt7plM6NWAb1U2M15eYjszheX9ScDI81umlamNin76DFcv1Y5JYSgfURoC_IkQAvD_BwE&hvadid=274812115123&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9021743&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=11848356208702469523&hvtargid=kwd-297966147785&hydadcr=8575_9621053&keywords=disposable+spatulas&qid=1572707468&sr=8-4
You can get a good scale for about 20 dollars. Make sure to have you scale on a level surface(you can buy one of those levels with the bubble in it for like 3 dollars) and make sure to calibrate your scale before every use. Also keep your scale clean and make sure you keep it somewhere where it won't be dropped or anything.
Here's a good scale
Here's a cheap reliable level
Here's a nice little scooping tool for your powders
Stay safe my friend!
Looks like a chemistry spatula
Chemistry Spatula
For weigh boats I use these, work perfectly. And to round out your weighing arsenal, one of these for smaller loads, and one of these for the larger ones.
There's a great guide to racetams here https://www.reddit.com/r/StackAdvice/comments/4g6p0i/racetams_and_you_a_guide_of_the_popular_racetam/
If you decide to go with powders (which is more cost-effective in the long run) make SURE you get a good scale to measure everything out. I went with this onehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012TDNAM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and this to measure everything out https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WX4URE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You should feel subtle effects like improved mood, less anxious, more energy, might have slight enhanced interest in colors, music sounds better. If you see any traces, distortion or waviness in your vision you're taking too much for a microdose.
Me personally, I can feel .05g, I prefer .1 or .2g, if I take .3g I can see tracers of my finger tips as I move them across a dark background in a dim room. But that effect only lasts for less than 30 minutes, that's my upper limit for a microdose.
I got one of these to use when filling my capsules, works great!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WX4URE/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This thing is exactly what you need:
https://www.amazon.com/Chemglass-CG-1983-12-Spatula-Overall-Nickel-Stainless/dp/B005WX4URE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1482023131&sr=8-8&keywords=scoopula
Gemini-20 - cheap, reliable, and reads 0.001 gram increments. I also have one of these for scooping.
Cheap scale that does the job.http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-GEMINI-20-Portable-MilliGram/dp/B0012TDNAM
Buy 00 capsules-easier to pack.
http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Veg-Capsules-Capsules-250-Count/dp/B000OSQS4U
And then get a spatula if you need one to pack and so your hands don't get sticky.
http://www.amazon.com/Heathrow-Scientific-HD15909-Spatula-Overall/dp/B0061OT1A4
If you are just packing the capsules full of powder, you can use a capsule filling machine. I recommend the capsule machine as I've used it to pack powdered shrooms into size 00 capsule (0.5g in each).
If you are working in smaller quantities then you'll have to fill each capsule individually with a spatula. It is time consuming, but there's something tranquil about the process. I'd put some weigh paper onto your scale and add powder with the spatula to the desired weight. Fold a crease into the weigh paper beforehand so you can use the paper to slowly drop the powder into the capsule. Repeat.
I filled about 13 size 5 capsules using creased weigh paper. The capsule machine can also help with smaller quantities by holding your capsules and minimizing spillage (put some tape over the nearby holes). Unfortunately, there are no affordable size 5 capsule machines so I had to hold them very carefully.
You can get something like this to help you move the chems. Don't get plastics as they can get staticly charged.
Some scales come with small shallow containers with a spout that you can pour the powder from into a capsule. You can also place the stuff in a capsule that you have weighed beforehand. A little brush can help moving the powder out of a container that you have.
Type of lab spoon/spatula. https://www.amazon.com/Heathrow-Scientific-HD15909-Spatula-Overall/dp/B01JNZ703W
Thanks for the reply.
What do you use to scoop the solid oil into the caps?
Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Reagent-Sampling-Spatulas-8-8inch/dp/B01M3P2R19/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501544919&sr=8-2&keywords=powder+scoop
This looks like a micro lab scoop I'd use to weigh out powdery substances at work.
Yeesh people, don't stick metal thingies like this in your ears! I get chills thinking about what could happen. Blergh...
ETA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3P2R19/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RiiOBbTYBGF1G
Oh wow, much different then I was expecting, you get what I was expecting; right? How sometimes the hole flares out like a single mm, so I thought it was just going inward a mm instead lol
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The carb on this reminds me of just a regular weed pipe with not as deep of a bowl, except there doesn't appear to be a (second?) Carb (since that's almost always on the left IME), so it's obviously different in that case
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Thanks for sharing. Yea I imagine loading this is a lot easier. I have a bunch of these lab spatulas that fit very nicely into my carbs for loading. Although my one pipe it BARELY fits into and doesnt fit into that one's stem at all, but all my other ones it has fit into either side no problem.
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Can't imagine what a pain it'd be for most people who use a folded piece of paper to get it in. Fuck that.
Found this one. Spoon width is 0.628cm.
Update: I purchased this lab spoon, and it's not much of a spoon. More of a spatula. Herb falls off the surface fairly easily. While I will probably continue to use it for the time being, I would not recommend getting one for loading purposes.
This is a good starter:
https://www.amazon.com/Bel-Art-Spatula-Weighing-Stainless-F36705-0000/dp/B002VBW48M/
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Edit: found a better starter set