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mushpunx
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Impulse sealers
#21306199 - 02/20/15 09:35 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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So Im switching over to bags, hastily bought a 12" impulse sealer on ebay without looking into them too much "like oh hey this looks convienent no messing around w wires zip ties etc"haha
http://m.ebay.com/itm/271579712056?cmd=VIDESC
The impulse sealers on most supply sites are pretty much the same dimensions except theyre like 150 bux and seal a thicker mil?
I bought one of these for like 10 bux. Looks like it only seals to .3 mil
Do these cheaper sealers work on most spawn bags? If not it was only 10 bux but hey
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krypto2000
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21306452 - 02/20/15 11:07 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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I have a similar model as that one, it looks the exact same but a bit bigger, and mine works great for spawn bags. It goes from 0 (or 1?) up to.. I can't remember.. maybe 10. I find 4-4.5 to be the best spot. I haven't tried above 5 or maybe 6, but you begin the risk of melting/cutting the bag off so they're definitely strong enough if that's what you're worried about.
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blindingleaf
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yea i think that will work. it might just be a weak model, and u will have to turn it up to 7. press medium hard during the seal, and then after the light goes off, keep it closed with ur hands for 4-5 seconds to let it cool and congeal before lifting, otherwise u can get pinholes because the plastic doesn't "set" right when u lift handle too quickly.
i dunno why it says its max heat time is 1.3 seconds. the numbers on the dial are supposed to correspond to the amount of seconds the element stays hot.
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hamloaf
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21306895 - 02/21/15 05:17 AM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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What did you get an impulse sealer for, mushpunx? You have a flowhood.
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: hamloaf]
#21307467 - 02/21/15 09:47 AM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Thanks guys!!
Loaf- doesn't it seal up spawn bags nicely? Isnt that what its for?
Now Im confused. Course it was only ten bux plus shipping
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hamloaf
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21307733 - 02/21/15 10:46 AM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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They do. Imo, an impulse sealers place in this hobby is for doing spawn bags modified with injection port to be inoculated in open-air though. Pre-sealing bags with an impulse seal greatly increases the risk of the bags bursting during sterilization creating a HUGE mess to clean up, as well as, all that time, effort, and materials used to prepare the substrate for sterilization in your sterilizer wasted.
With a flowhood you have the option of folding the bags accordion-style with the tyvek wrist sleeves installed for filtered air only to be allowed to enter the bags as they return to atmospheric pressure. More bags can be fit into the sterilizer at once using the aforementioned, accordion style method of sterilizing spawn bags, and with a flowhood, are easier to seal using tie wire or zip-ties.
You really can't go wrong with a ten dollar purchase either way, but I don't think it's going to work. It might though. Stranger things have happened. When considering purchasing an impulse sealer for use in this hobby specifically for sealing spawn bags, a good high-quality impulse sealer bigger than you think you are going to need should be purchased. I use to use an electric food-grade vacuum sealer to seal my bags, sealing the bags pre-sterilization cycle, only two at a time, sterilized at 15 psi for two hours, using presto23's as the sterilization vessel of choice, pre-flowhood days.
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: hamloaf]
#21309871 - 02/21/15 06:17 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Ah, I gotcha. It sounded so convienent haha but yea really I'll just be cutting them open for G2G so maybe zip ties will work better.
Im sure ill find some awesome use for it haha
This is my first real switch over to bags, I gave them a try once before, melted them and made a mess. Im still picking plastic off my PC
But I bought a case of spawn bags off FP , gunna designate a bunch of quart jars for grain masters and going to retire the others, and use them for hundreds of stones jars
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krypto2000
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21311049 - 02/21/15 09:39 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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I think you'll be fine man. That's exactly what I use mine for, g2ging and then I seal them up in front of my flow hood. I also have a vacuum sealer that works, but I got the impulse sealer because I felt it would work better in front of the flow hood. I feel much safer throwing the bags around to break up the spawn with it sealed with an impulse sealer than I do with clothes pins, binder clips, zip ties, or whatever else. I've had some bags break in the pressure cooker, but from what I can tell it was always from melting as opposed to bursting.
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mushpunx
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Ill try it out, see how it works out
It was only a few bux so if I dont like it Ill just go back to zip ties
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21343530 - 02/28/15 02:32 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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So it came today, I dunno it looks pretty solid for ten bux. Ill do a couple test runs on an old bag, maybe fill it up with water, seal it up and test for leaks.
Although... I did my first couple spawn bags yesterday before it came and I gotta say, it was pretty easy to just twist up and zip tie, tie wire might even be better, this sealer might prove a bit clumbsy in front of the hood.
But since I have it I might as well use it right?
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taGyo
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21343628 - 02/28/15 02:57 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Let me know bro,
I want to get one and get into bags. Easier then jars. Then I want to dedicate all of my jars to a massive Sclerotia grow.
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Val
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21343653 - 02/28/15 03:03 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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to mushpunx Very Similar to the one I have...havent used mine to much yet...but were I did it was fast and a good seal.
Looks like you got a good deal for 10$
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: taGyo]
#21344164 - 02/28/15 03:34 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
taGyo said: Let me know bro,
I want to get one and get into bags. Easier then jars. Then I want to dedicate all of my jars to a massive Sclerotia grow.
Hahaha thats what Im doing with my quarts too. Im saving a bunch to use as masters but I wamt to tie up the rest with stones grow
So the sealer.. I played around with the settings, took a piece of spawn bag and sealed one end, filled it with water and sealed the other side. Squeezed it alot, no leaks
You guys got me all paranoid about pinhole leaks haha, I dunno this sealer seems like it would work really nice with the flow hood, but so would tie wire which might be a bit more reliable
But it was cheap and it works
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taGyo
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21344178 - 02/28/15 03:36 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Seriously keep me posted on your bag progress, if I like the way it goes I'll be making the switch. Only thing I don't like about bags is they're one time use are they not? Or a few times but they do get old right?
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Ghatti
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: taGyo]
#21344202 - 02/28/15 03:40 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Really only safe for one time use as the mycelium tends to slightly break down the plastic or at least degrade it.
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taGyo
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: Ghatti]
#21344243 - 02/28/15 03:44 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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See?
That's what gets me. My jars are infinite until I smash them. I just think bags would lead to shorter PC use. If I could fit 3 bags in my 23 qt presto that equal 15 jars I have just saved time. Then again if they're leaning against the side do the bags melt?
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: taGyo]
#21344297 - 02/28/15 03:54 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
taGyo said: See?
That's what gets me. My jars are infinite until I smash them. I just think bags would lead to shorter PC use. If I could fit 3 bags in my 23 qt presto that equal 15 jars I have just saved time. Then again if they're leaning against the side do the bags melt?
Haha well thats what this thread is about. I think you really just have to alter how you pack/use the PC if it isnt an AA.
It does seem wasteful, but when you think about it right now Im going 4 qts in one bag and then G2G half or a full quart master jar into it.
So one or half one jar-one bag- one tub
I bought a case of 100 bags to start with for around fifty bux, that should do 100 tubs so it seems fair, worth the cost of supplies IMO Oh and they take up less space, less lids you have to do etc. Ill finally be able to afford an SFD lid for every grain master haha
My first G2G with them was kinda clumbsy even working in front of the hood haha but I think a little practice and itll be cake
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Edited by mushpunx (02/28/15 03:56 PM)
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hamloaf
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: taGyo]
#21344571 - 02/28/15 04:48 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
taGyo said: See?
That's what gets me. My jars are infinite until I smash them. I just think bags would lead to shorter PC use. If I could fit 3 bags in my 23 qt presto that equal 15 jars I have just saved time. Then again if they're leaning against the side do the bags melt?
No. The bags will only melt if the PC runs out of water.
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taGyo
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21344595 - 02/28/15 04:51 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Keep a log man,
I will follow. 
@The_Loaf,
Even in my shitty 23 qt presto?
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Ghatti
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: taGyo]
#21344628 - 02/28/15 04:57 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yes
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taGyo
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: Ghatti]
#21344630 - 02/28/15 04:58 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: taGyo]
#21345382 - 02/28/15 06:16 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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I thinj its trust worthy man, Ive been squeezing and squeezing this cant get it to leak at all!
I think if I pull my hood to the edge of the table, set the spawn bag on a stool so it sits below the top, pour in my master quart, then slide the sealer around the back and fold the bag down, seal. Bam.
Ill be a spawn machine haha
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hamloaf
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21345414 - 02/28/15 06:28 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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That is a good looking sealer. You don't want to fold the bags down after inoculating them though.
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: hamloaf]
#21345427 - 02/28/15 06:33 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
THE_LOAF said: That is a good looking sealer. You don't want to fold the bags down after inoculating them though.
How do you mean? Like I mean after I inoculate, just line up the gussets and bend it forward onto the sealer and seal ?
These sealers are generic brand or something, I dont know why they are so inexpensive theyre all over ebay. But seeing how well it holds water in the bag without leaking, you think its suitable for just closing up bags after inoculation? I think it was inexpensive because the seal isnt that wide, probably 2mmor less Thx
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Edited by mushpunx (02/28/15 06:40 PM)
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hamloaf
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21345475 - 02/28/15 06:49 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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You want to create a plenum in the bags by inflating the bags with sterile air from the flowhood before sealing them which is actually quite awkward when sealing bags prior to inoculation with an impulse sealer. Inflating bags, then sealing them with zip, or tie-wires is so much easier with a flowhood over sealing them with an impulse sealer.
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mushpunx
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: hamloaf]
#21345526 - 02/28/15 07:08 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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I gotcha man. Ill play around a bit and see what works best for me.
If it proves too cumbersum Ill just go back to zip ties
Ive been PCing the bags w tyvek, it doesnt really matter much to me how I seal them as long as it doesnt leak
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Val
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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21345886 - 02/28/15 08:47 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Mushpunx FYI those sealers will seal more than plastic BTW...try tyvek since you mentioned it if your curious..
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PirateSwazey


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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: Val]
#21346438 - 02/28/15 11:28 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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After I inoculate bags w/ G2G I let them inflate a little with air from the flowhood, fold the gussets back so they are uniform, then seal with an impulse sealer.

No problems.. and they colonize fast. Btw these are all .5 micron.. pres-sealed... before sterilization... everytime.
Edited by PirateSwazey (02/28/15 11:34 PM)
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krypto2000
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Bags are much better for sclerotia I would think.
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mustangbob3
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great that impulse works so well for $10, wonder how many bags it will seal before the element needs replacing, thats assuming they are replaceable?
some cheap ones you cannot replace the elements or the cloths and they can wear out pretty fast with cheap models. my first impulse didnt even manage 20 bags!!
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PirateSwazey


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We've ran through 2 of them over the course of a couple years. Most of them come with a few extra pieces of Teflon & heating elements. I think our first was a 'technopak' (eBay) one & the one I'm using now is a uline brand. Honestly I think the cheaper one worked better!
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mushpunx
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Yea this one came with extra cloth and stuff. If it burns out and i cant find the part Ill buy another, just type impulse sealer into ebay theyre everywhere!
Swazey, holy spawn! I need one of those racks, where do you get it?
You seal before you sterilize?
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PirateSwazey


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Re: Impulse sealers [Re: mushpunx]
#21347795 - 03/01/15 11:22 AM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yeah I seal then sterilize all my bags.. They are the .5 micron filter bags from unicorn, but you can get them from just about any vendor (unicorn only sells by the 1000). I don't like showing off my work but so many ppl say you can't do this or don't do that and when I have been doing both for a long time I think it's okay to step up and say "hey now!"
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