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 mcdonalds_is_fun
Stranger
Registered: 02/16/05
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 parafilm?
#9335111 - 11/30/08 12:21 AM (1 month, 9 days ago) |
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is parafilm needed for petri dishes? will it dry out without it? i ask because it costs $60 for a roll :o yet petri dishes are like $3 for a 20 pack.
cheers!
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 German Kahuna
Bonsai Cubensis Cultivator
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 1,054
Loc: Germany
Last seen: 5 minutes, 46 seconds
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I bought enough parafilm to last me for ages for a few bucks (5m x 5cm). How much would you get for $60???
Ebay Germany
Ebay US
Edited by German Kahuna (11/30/08 04:13 AM)
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b3jamboree
yes we have no portabellas
Registered: 09/11/06
Posts: 238
Loc: 45th Parallel, MI
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you could just use clear kitchen wrap, but I like parafilm better.
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denger
Mycelium keeper
Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 597
Loc: MD, US
Last seen: 6 hours, 28 minutes
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I actually prefer kitchen plastic wrap, even though I have a roll of Paraffilm. The key to using kitchen wrap is to cut the whole roll with an electric or bread knife into narrow rolls about 3/4" wide. These small rolls are very handy to wrap the dishes with. Once you do one and a half turn around the dish (tightly), stretch the film so it breaks, and press the end onto the dish with your fingers.
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Dennis, in Love with Fungi
My improved magnetic stirrer
Breeding mushroom strains
Looking for Chantarelle and Armillaria cultures, have a huge collection of other edibles to trade.
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denger
Mycelium keeper
Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 597
Loc: MD, US
Last seen: 6 hours, 28 minutes
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Re: parafilm? [Re: denger]
#9336761 - 11/30/08 11:31 AM (1 month, 8 days ago) |
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Also, different brands of kitchen plastic wrap perform differently, some are too weak and break too easily. Unfortunately I cut my roll a couple of years ago and still have a couple small rolls left, so I do not remember which brand I ended up using. It is the strongest one I could find, definitely not the Saran Wrap. Possibly Glad, but I cant say for sure.
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Dennis, in Love with Fungi
My improved magnetic stirrer
Breeding mushroom strains
Looking for Chantarelle and Armillaria cultures, have a huge collection of other edibles to trade.
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madsick
Stranger
Registered: 03/19/08
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Re: parafilm? [Re: denger]
#9337700 - 11/30/08 02:18 PM (1 month, 8 days ago) |
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glads the shit
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frankenstoen
Cat Juggler
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 114
Loc: Pacific NorthWest
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Re: parafilm? [Re: madsick]
#9339286 - 11/30/08 06:31 PM (1 month, 8 days ago) |
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Glad Wrap works well, I prefer Parafilm myself. Glad Wrap is WAY cheaper, though.
$60 for a roll of Parafilm is insane! (unless it is a very large roll!) $25 for a 2" x 250 ft. roll is more common in the states.
I wrap two dishes at a time with the 2" roll, and then cut them apart with the scapel, this helps keep my costs down.
Parafilm is also available is available in some floral shops in a narrower 1" width, the formulation is slightly different but will still work for sealing dishes.
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caricapapaya
Stranger
Registered: 04/10/06
Posts: 84
Last seen: 1 day, 14 hours
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another easy way to cut kitchen wrap is with a pvc cutter. it can smash the roll a little, but it works well.
good luck
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tr8orjohn
Waiting for an airplane...
Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 68
Loc: Deep In the Heart of the ...
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If memory serves me, scotch/electrical tape will serve the same purpose
You just need a relatively airtight seal...
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Ex Chemist, Current Biologist, working towards Mycologist...some slack may be necessary
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denger
Mycelium keeper
Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 597
Loc: MD, US
Last seen: 6 hours, 28 minutes
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Electrical tape (I assume you mean regular black kind) is not too stretchy, has a nasty goo and is fairly expensive. Aside form that, it might work, kinda.
Scotch is totally useless for this because it does not stretch at all and will leave gaps no matter how well you press it down.
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Dennis, in Love with Fungi
My improved magnetic stirrer
Breeding mushroom strains
Looking for Chantarelle and Armillaria cultures, have a huge collection of other edibles to trade.
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makaveli8x8
Stranger
Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 7,033
Last seen: 16 minutes, 3 seconds
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Re: parafilm? [Re: denger]
#9349353 - 12/02/08 03:46 AM (1 month, 7 days ago) |
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what about that tape you find at the store, it comes it paper or plastic, its what some people cover there jar lid holes with, kinda the same material as filter patches. i guess the problem would be the glue and not much length...prolly more expensive too.
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  We were sent to hell for eternity  Ø h®
We play on earth to pass the time 
Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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lipa
Registered: 07/24/07
Posts: 663
Loc: Where it doesn't rain.
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The idea behind using parafilm and plastic wrap is that it breaths. Plastic wrap is not expensive and it works well so I see no need for anyone to be looking for alternatives to it. Using something that can allow contaminates to stick(tape) is a bad idea. However if you use a tape I recommend a masking tape that does not leave a mess.
Lipa
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makaveli8x8
Stranger
Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 7,033
Last seen: 16 minutes, 3 seconds
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Re: parafilm? [Re: lipa]
#9355678 - 12/03/08 12:23 AM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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wouldn't tape help trap contams, asuming your tube was glue free and clean prior ?
plastic wrap absorbs charges really easy, would that attract or repel?
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We were sent to hell for eternity Øh®
We play on earth to pass the time
Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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 ReverseOsmosis
Stranger
Registered: 11/11/08
Posts: 285
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Glad Cling Wrap. Why is this in advanced?
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gregoron
There and back again...
Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 31
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Hey,
I was thinking why mess with cutting Glad or ordering parafilm when we have "Teflon" (sealing) tape, aka plumbers tape: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film. It is wrapped around the threads of a pipe to make a tight seal to prevent leakage. It is very thin and stretchy and seals to itself. I have not used it with petri dishes but you could use it just like parafilm I would assume. It's easy to cut and is very inexpensive at any hardware store and they are about 1.5 inches in width I think, maybe 2 inches...
HTH
Edited by gregoron (12/07/08 02:20 PM)
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makaveli8x8
Stranger
Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 7,033
Last seen: 16 minutes, 3 seconds
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it wont let gases excape so it wont work
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We were sent to hell for eternity Øh®
We play on earth to pass the time
Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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gregoron
There and back again...
Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 31
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I would assume it would works if Glad works...if Glad is wrapped tight around the sides of the dish/cover how does it allow grasses to exchange? And if Glad is not wrapped tight what good would it be?...
Edited by gregoron (12/07/08 04:37 PM)
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frankenstoen
Cat Juggler
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 114
Loc: Pacific NorthWest
Last seen: 6 hours, 25 seconds
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Glad wrap is actually slightly breathable (or permeable) - I doubt Teflon is, but haven't tried it for anything other than plumbing. Parafilm is more permeable than Glad Wrap, so you will get faster growth. Some other plastic wraps are not as permeable as Glad - Glad is made from polyethylene, I believe...
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