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Dilated
KB Cubensis Fanaticus



Registered: 03/28/14
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: stareatclouds]
#21361088 - 03/04/15 12:47 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
stareatclouds said: Man, ironing that shit was annoying, ha. After cutting the squares out, the very ends showed a bit of freying where I could see where I'd folded, but the middles were still solid. I just left them.
I also couldn't find my sandpaper so I just made a bunch of grid pattern cuts around the circles with my X-Acto and it worked just as well, if not better. Had to do them on the outside since I was using tubs already in use, but the next ones will be on the inside.
Thanks, Dilated!
I'd keep them on the outside stare, they get soaked during the spawn run if they're on the inside and if your tub sporulates to hard they get coated. I've noticed since I moved the filters to the outside of the tub sporulation has become almost a non existent problem. They also have a longer life span on the outside of the tub if, you stack your tubs when they're not being used.
You're welcome
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MBabble
Pumpkinhead



Registered: 01/05/15
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: stareatclouds]
#21361102 - 03/04/15 12:50 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I'm OCD and love how clean this tek makes the tubs look...I have a few sheets of ez-felt lying around, any idea how many layers of that would equal the ironed filters?
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Dilated
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: MBabble]
#21361120 - 03/04/15 12:54 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
MBabble said: I'm OCD and love how clean this tek makes the tubs look...I have a few sheets of ez-felt lying around, any idea how many layers of that would equal the ironed filters?
Now idea, never needed ez-felt. But I think it comes in different thicknesses so you would probably have to play around with it. I believe MudaFuka has used it as a filter on his tubs. He follows this thread, I'm sure he could have some information.
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,982
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: Dilated]
#21361129 - 03/04/15 12:57 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Dilated said: I'd keep them on the outside stare, they get soaked during the spawn run if they're on the inside and if your tub sporulates to hard they get coated. I've noticed since I moved the filters to the outside of the tub sporulation has become almost a non existent problem. They also have a longer life span on the outside of the tub if, you stack your tubs when they're not being used.
You're welcome
Oh yeah, got confused and mixed up whether in or out was the ideal area. Out they shall stay!
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MBabble
Pumpkinhead



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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: stareatclouds]
#21361143 - 03/04/15 01:00 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Regardless, I'll be doing this and your lid tek this weekend, thanks for taking the time for the excellent write ups!
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,982
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: MBabble]
#21374584 - 03/07/15 01:30 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hi,
I just wanted to pop in with another quick alternative to hand sanding down the circles to make the ridges. While using an X-acto worked well for me, I found an easier way.
When building another tub just now, I realized I can just utilize my hole saw to make perfectly buffed/scraped grooves around the actual cutout.
If you just angle your saw on the edge and move it counter to the direction you're drilling, it hangs on and makes a perfectly grooved area for your filter to stick. It also takes like 5 seconds or so.
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Dilated
KB Cubensis Fanaticus



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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: stareatclouds]
#21374744 - 03/07/15 02:21 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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That's awesome stare, thanks for the information. I'm going to try that if and when I make new tubs.
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,982
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: Dilated]
#21374823 - 03/07/15 02:43 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Sweet man, let me know how you like it!
Do your tubs still show the ring around the filters when they're fruiting like regular puffs of Poly do or what? I'm not getting that on all of mine so I'm hoping I didn't mess anything up.
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Dilated
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: stareatclouds]
#21375689 - 03/07/15 06:25 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
stareatclouds said: Sweet man, let me know how you like it!
Do your tubs still show the ring around the filters when they're fruiting like regular puffs of Poly do or what? I'm not getting that on all of mine so I'm hoping I didn't mess anything up.
Usually it's just below the filters. I usually don't ever worry about it lol
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Jacek
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes!) [Re: Dilated]
#21401326 - 03/13/15 08:28 AM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Using the search engine on this thread hasn't given an answer to my question... . If you hold up the 4ply of ironed felt, can you easily see or spot a lightbulb through and nothing else? . My ironing-fu seems a bit lacking and I want to make sure I didn't stretch the felt in those few thinner spots too much.
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liquidclutter
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: Dilated]
#21401760 - 03/13/15 10:52 AM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Dilated said: So this is my tek on how to basically make filter discs for your monotub so you don't have to stuff anymore polyfil "puff balls" tightly into your bottom holes anymore. It's 4 layers of polyfil roll (it's a 1/2 inch thick roll of polyfil) and iron them into a sheet to create filters. Those are cut and used to cover the bottom holes of your monotubs. I use 4 layers because it is sufficient in making a tightly breathable hole just like it would be if you were stuffing it. Here's how I do it.
Here is what you'll need:
High loft quilter's polyester batting (polyfil roll)

Iron

drill with 1 1/2 inch hole saw drill bit

Measuring tape or ruler

Sharpie or marker

Scissors

Silicone (there are a few kinds, make sure they adhere specifically to material such as plastic)

Coarse sandpaper or a sanding block (I prefer coarse sandpaper now)

And of course a transparent tub with a transparent lid (I use 66 QT tubs)

I'd like to note that everything I use can easily be found @ Walmart.
First I start out by taking my measuring tape and measuring up 4" from the bottom of my mono tub and making a mark. Then I measure out 4-6" from the outside and mark.

I use these markings to know where to drill my 1.5" holes.

Do this for all 4 holes and drill them. Use light pressure and let the drill do the work or you may end up cracking your tubs. Take your time on this step! Remember the holes are permanent.
 
Continue until you've made all 4 of your bottom holes. Once you're done drill 2 more holes near the top underneath the latches (1 under each latch).
Next you will want to sand around the holes on the outside of the tub so that the silicone will have little nooks and crannies to adhere to. I use very coarse sand paper to make decent grooves to adhere to. Trust me do not skip this step or your ironed polyfil SFD's may not adhere very well to the plastic.

After you've done this it's time to move on to ironing out some polyfil rolls to make your SFD's.
Start by cutting out a manageable rectangle of roll to work with. Remember each cover is 2"x2" of 4 layers of roll. Cut out enough to make as many as you will need.
Fold the rectangle in half once and begin ironing it on a setting similar to this.
 
If I set it to 100% it will and does melt the polyfil making a mess on your iron, don't want that! Iron this until it is very flat and fold it in half again making 4 layers. (If you put a big piece of foil over the polyfil as you're ironing it, you can crank the heat all the way up and it works great!)

Once again iron this until it is very flat again.

Even this was a bit thick for my liking so I ironed a bit longer. The ironing is the longest process but if you have the patience it is well worth it in the end.
Once it is very flat I cut off the edges that seem like they don't have 4 layers sufficiently lined up. Don't cut off the folded edge because it simply doesn't need it

Now I measure out 2"x2" squares so that I can cut them out. If you prefer circular filters that would work just as well but I didn't have a good template to cut out circles so I use squares. Get as creative as you want, you're the one that has to look @ them everyday 

You may need to iron the individual filters again if they still have layers in them. Usually I ironed them for a couple more minutes and they become very thin at this point and make one solid filter.
Now you will want to add silicone along the outer edge of your square. Add very generously so that it will create a very good seal. The amount added to my filters in the photos probably wasn't enough, I took the pics the first time I did it and had to go back and add a generous amount. So don't be scared of the silicone! (I went ahead and bought a caulk gun since I first posted this and it works very well. I apply the caulk directly to the tub now around the 1.5" drilled hole and apply the filter once the caulk is already on the tub. I can add it much more generously this way!)

After that adhere it to the outside of the tub over the hole the best you can. Eye ball it centering it the best you can.

Do this for all 4 bottom holes and it should look like this.

Here's what your finished product should look like.

That's all there is to it. No more having to stuff polyfil into your holes and remove them everytime you need to remove your lined substrate to harvest your mushrooms. No more mushies growing into your poly making a mess. Easy removal of your lined substrates for harvest. More room for your mushies to grow! This is also a much cleaner look and will allow you to move your tubs without having to worry about the bottom poly falling out. You will want to add very loose "puff balls" of polyfil to your top holes to allow FAE (this is done after your bulk substrate is 100% colonized and you've removed the tape from your holes to bring it to fruiting conditions). I got this idea after I couldn't find SFD's in my area so I made my own SFD's out of polyfil for my QT jars. Follow this link if you'd like to use these SFD's for your jars as well. How Dialated makes his ironed out polyfil SFD's
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!
Update to the OP: This tek was made when I use to put the filters on the inside of the tub. Since then I've found that they stay a lot cleaner on the outside and won't get wet during the spawn run because the tape will be covering the inside of the hole during colonization of the bulk substrate. Also I've found that once you're done with the monotub and not using it anymore, it's easier to stack them inside one another with out ripping them off if you keep them on the outside.
Update: Pics of pins and harvest.. tried and tested 
   
        
Would Ez Felt not be the same thing but without the iron? Excuse my ignorance
Quote:
dr harry bush said: i use felt on both my jars and on my monos

I have ploy fill and I do plan to use the OP's tek. Thank you for sharing!
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Green Bastard
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: liquidclutter]
#21401966 - 03/13/15 12:02 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Ok, this is great! Hating the messy look of polyfill blobs...
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new2doinstuff
Traveller


Registered: 06/15/14
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: Dilated]
#22116369 - 08/20/15 11:52 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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My poly-fil came in basically a pillow stuffing form instead of a roll. How would i then do this tek? Also, the roll itself has been sitting out in the open (the plastic got messed up)
bacteria/etc wont be an issue after I iron it, correct?
edit: Is this tek more widely used than spitball's? what's reccomended. I could easily just stuff it with the tek in spitball's, but this looks so neat i couldn't pass it up
Edited by new2doinstuff (08/20/15 11:59 AM)
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Mad Season
hookers and blackjack



Registered: 09/16/12
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: new2doinstuff]
#22116383 - 08/20/15 11:56 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Bacteria/etc on the poly won't ever be an issue this late in the game.. also.. Idk just try ironing it? Only 1 way to find out how it works..
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new2doinstuff
Traveller


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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: Mad Season]
#22116432 - 08/20/15 12:08 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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True story. i figured, but i just want to make sure.
I have an air conditioner in the room as well. They are also dehumidifiers. Is this ill-advised, or will the tubs be OK? I don't want to have to mist, but i guess at some point I'll have to, right?
I'm probably going to drill a small hole in the side and cover it with tape. So when i have to spray it, i'll just take the tape off, and spray distilled water into it, a little (I have a berkey filter, that water should be good enough) and re-cover.
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Mad Season
hookers and blackjack



Registered: 09/16/12
Posts: 12,666
Loc: Canada
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: new2doinstuff]
#22116454 - 08/20/15 12:13 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Or you can open the lid and check on it daily (like you're supposed to), and mist when needed. An ac won't cause any harm. We use an oscillating fan anyways.
I don't think you understand just how dirty fruiting actually is. Even if you don't open the lid, there's like 10 billion mold spores going in and out of your chamber every 5 minutes. Contaminations in fruiting aren't environmental! They're problems with prep and spawn
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new2doinstuff
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: new2doinstuff]
#22116507 - 08/20/15 12:26 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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oh perfect, so opening the lid is alright then? I'm assuming this is because once I colonize, it can't have competition from other things, correct? seeing how the mycel is already covering substrate, contams shouldnt be too much of an issue??
is there something i can read up on for contams in the monotub, and when/how they occur? i've seen a thing here or there about trich etc
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Mad Season
hookers and blackjack



Registered: 09/16/12
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: new2doinstuff]
#22116574 - 08/20/15 12:40 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22085515
It's not really a thing about monos. It's about bulk in general. It'd be a long read. There's a few links in it as well that are long reads too.
But in a nutshell it's saying, if you have clean spawn, and prepped your bulk substrate perfect (not too wet, or improper pasteurization), you're guaranteed success. Full colonization will ward off contaminations. The problem is if it was spawned with some sort of hidden contam
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more4u2c
Mad Hatter

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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: Mad Season]
#22170140 - 08/31/15 05:21 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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OK so I'm making my first mini mono with your ironed filters Idk if it's just my iron (smallest cheapest on at walmart) or what but I've had these guys ironing for almost an hour now and they are flat but the edges are all still layered looking is this normal or are they supposed to be looking like one solid piece? I got tired of ironing and just used caulking around the edges of the square to close off the edges.
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,982
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Re: Monotub Tek (Ironed polyfil filters for bottom holes) [Re: more4u2c]
#22170189 - 08/31/15 05:30 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Mine still had open kind of layered edges and they all worked fine. I would suggest cutting the squares bigger than the hole the the flattened part is what covers it.
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