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OfflineMountainManDan
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X-Acto Knife Life Hack * 1
    #23441753 - 07/14/16 07:17 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

For those of you who use an X-acto knife for agar work give this a try and let me know what you think.

I have been trying to improve my sterile technique and have been getting occasional contams during transfers.

These contams are of two types:

1) Not getting my blade completely red hot. When dropping the transfer on the new plate I will get contams as I drop/slice into the receiving dish.



2) The handle of the X-acto touches the agar. (clearly there are numerous satellite contams as well but note the streak perpendicular to where I cooled the blade)




Problem:
1) I have a hard time getting the entire blade red hot.
2) To get the complete blade red hot the handle will in turn become hot and after 10+ transfers it must be cooled.
3) The blade is too short so I occasionally bump the handle down onto the media



Solution:
Pretty complicated....  Pull the blade out a bit. :thumbup:
1) It allows the entire blade to get red hot easier and quicker.
2) Much less heat is transferred into the handle.
3) The blade length is increased which decreases the amount of non-sterile tool over the agar.



I would consider this just a Life Hack but if anyone things it would be useful to be labeled as a Tek let me know.

Anyways give it a try and let me know!


--------------------
:mushroom2: Damien5050 Coir Tek  :mushroom2:RRs Notes :mushroom2:  TEKS :mushroom2: My Semperviva Grow :mushroom2:
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InvisibleInocuole
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: MountainManDan]
    #23441780 - 07/14/16 07:25 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

.... Trying right now, brb.


God damn it.  :facepalm:


Well the heat transfer is... still sorta going on, might just be the handle being too close to the torch.  Will have to play around with only heating the tip of the blade, but holding it a bit longer.


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OfflineMountainManDan
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Inocuole]
    #23441801 - 07/14/16 07:35 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Heat transfer to the handle is inevitable.
I just find if the blade is positioned like this I can get more transfers in before the handle is too hot to hold. 

Not the dreaded face palm  :shake:


--------------------
:mushroom2: Damien5050 Coir Tek  :mushroom2:RRs Notes :mushroom2:  TEKS :mushroom2: My Semperviva Grow :mushroom2:
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InvisibleInocuole
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: MountainManDan]
    #23441805 - 07/14/16 07:38 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

That's not the dreaded facepalm(:rasta:), that's the "well fuck I'm an idiot" facepalm.

I never heat the whole blade like you have in the pic though.  Pretty sure heating a good portion of the tip transfers enough heat to the rest.


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InvisibleMunchauzen
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Inocuole]
    #23441817 - 07/14/16 07:43 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Inocuole said:
That's not the dreaded facepalm(:rasta:), that's the "well fuck I'm an idiot" facepalm.

I never heat the whole blade like you have in the pic though.  Pretty sure heating a good portion of the tip transfers enough heat to the rest.



yeah I dont have very many contams on transfers and ive been heating the tip like this for over a year or so. i used to use dabbing tools but the xacto holds wedges the best.

i still think ill try this.


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Offlinefatboyjeff
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Inocuole]
    #23441831 - 07/14/16 07:47 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Good idea, iv just taken a old needle and hammered it flat. It'll heat up real quick but it sucks picking up the agar and trying to get it off. I'll have to give this a go for the next transfers


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InvisibleInocuole
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Munchauzen]
    #23441842 - 07/14/16 07:50 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Munchauzen said:
Quote:

Inocuole said:
That's not the dreaded facepalm(:rasta:), that's the "well fuck I'm an idiot" facepalm.

I never heat the whole blade like you have in the pic though.  Pretty sure heating a good portion of the tip transfers enough heat to the rest.



yeah I dont have very many contams on transfers and ive been heating the tip like this for over a year or so. i used to use dabbing tools but the xacto holds wedges the best.

i still think ill try this.




Yeah OP I think the problem you were actually having is that you thought you had to get the whole blade red hot.  Granted, this is still a cool idea and I will be doing it because less heat transfer and more reach are always good.


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OfflineMountainManDan
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Munchauzen]
    #23441866 - 07/14/16 07:55 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Inocuole said:
That's not the dreaded facepalm(:rasta:), that's the "well fuck I'm an idiot" facepalm.




Glad to hear.


Quote:

Inocuole said:
I never heat the whole blade like you have in the pic though.  Pretty sure heating a good portion of the tip transfers enough heat to the rest.



Interesting, I always assumed you wanted the entire blade red hot but your the undoubtedly vet here!


Quote:

Munchauzen said:
yeah I dont have very many contams on transfers and I've been heating the tip like this for over a year or so.




If it works it works. Let me know after you give it a try tho :thumbup:


--------------------
:mushroom2: Damien5050 Coir Tek  :mushroom2:RRs Notes :mushroom2:  TEKS :mushroom2: My Semperviva Grow :mushroom2:
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InvisibleInocuole
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: MountainManDan]
    #23441871 - 07/14/16 07:57 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I just the get the tip hot and run the flame along the cutting edge of the blade a little bit and I don't ever see any contams I can attribute to my tools.  This undoubtedly helps me do that even further from the base of the handle.


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OfflineMountainManDan
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Inocuole]
    #23441891 - 07/14/16 08:02 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

That's good to hear. Thanks for setting me straight regarding how much of the blade needs to be red hot.     

Ya for the extension of the blade alone and the minimal heat transfer decrease I think this can still be useful.  (Although if only the tip needs to be red hot the handle won't be heating up as quickly relative to what I have been doing.)


--------------------
:mushroom2: Damien5050 Coir Tek  :mushroom2:RRs Notes :mushroom2:  TEKS :mushroom2: My Semperviva Grow :mushroom2:
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InvisibleInocuole
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: MountainManDan]
    #23441895 - 07/14/16 08:03 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Lots and lots of small relative changes are how this shit moves forward. :thumbup:


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                            :rainbowdrink: Tea doesn't work?                            AMU  (Q & A)                  Grain prep for Intergalactic Space Oats :pes:     

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OfflineMountainManDan
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Inocuole]
    #23441915 - 07/14/16 08:09 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

No doubt man. 
Thanks again:super:


--------------------
:mushroom2: Damien5050 Coir Tek  :mushroom2:RRs Notes :mushroom2:  TEKS :mushroom2: My Semperviva Grow :mushroom2:
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Offlinezathras
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: MountainManDan]
    #23442027 - 07/14/16 08:44 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I really like this idea, but couldn't this problem also be solved by insulating the handle? Again really cool idea, I may end up implementing it myself.


Edited by zathras (07/14/16 08:44 PM)


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InvisibleMunchauzen
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: zathras]
    #23442040 - 07/14/16 08:48 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

zathras said:
I really like this idea, but couldn't this problem also be solved by insulating the handle? Again really cool idea, I may end up implementing it myself.



they sell those. the xacto precision knife, aka X2000.


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InvisibleSnazz
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Munchauzen]
    #23442090 - 07/14/16 09:06 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Here I was thinking duct tape :p


Must be some Red Green in me


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OfflineMountainManDan
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Snazz]
    #23442138 - 07/14/16 09:24 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I have been thinking of using duck tape as well.

Although I like this method for the blade extension aspect more than heat transfer aspect. :thumbup:


--------------------
:mushroom2: Damien5050 Coir Tek  :mushroom2:RRs Notes :mushroom2:  TEKS :mushroom2: My Semperviva Grow :mushroom2:
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OfflineCannabisCures
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Munchauzen]
    #23513482 - 08/05/16 04:53 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Quote:

Munchauzen said:
Quote:

zathras said:
I really like this idea, but couldn't this problem also be solved by insulating the handle? Again really cool idea, I may end up implementing it myself.



they sell those. the xacto precision knife, aka X2000.




Reviews say that xacto x2000 isn't worth it.


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: CannabisCures]
    #23513496 - 08/05/16 04:56 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Were the reviewers using it for mycology work? Doubt it. For the purposes described in this thread, it's perfect.


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Munchauzen]
    #23513543 - 08/05/16 05:07 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

if you dip your metal tools like x-acto in 91% iso first (not too deep or it fills up the tip where the blade goes and burns like a candle) then flame off the iso as well as get the blade hot. it also cleans off agar goo that might be on there that just chars on and makes blades go to shit twice as quick

I use a baby food jar with just enough iso to get up to the top of the blade. use fresh stuff each time since you dirty it up


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: bodhisatta]
    #23513556 - 08/05/16 05:11 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

http://www.jove.com/video/3064/aseptic-laboratory-techniques-plating-methods

click the one for 6:38

since you can't flame glass rods red hot and cool them down without shattering them they dip them in 91% and then flame it off, Usually I would do this twice before spread plating micro samples just to be extra sure. use this same technique with the scalpel blade but also get it red hot


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: bodhisatta]
    #23513724 - 08/05/16 06:08 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Is the heated handle issue just a side effect of using the aluminum handled X-Acto knife or is this something I might expect from a steel #3 scalpel as well?  I haven't run into any issues with the handle while sterilizing it over an alcohol flame yet but in all honesty, might not be doing the number of successive sterilization passes as you may be.


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: KenInVic] * 1
    #23513740 - 08/05/16 06:12 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

the handle gets hot as fuck eventually, just use 2 and switch between them


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: bodhisatta]
    #23514110 - 08/05/16 07:52 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

i actually got a cheap x-acto -type set at Walmart, which came with two "ergonomic" handles, that im fairly certain i could PC(even though i dont PC my blade), but i dont have to worry about hot handles with these. one is skinny and the length of a normal x-acto handle, and the other is fatter and shorter. i use the longer on for agar and the shorter for anything else i might need to cut.. like making my drilled holes cleaner(i think im too OCD about my holes.. but i like em clean :lol:). also came with like 2-3 #11s and a ton of other types of blades, including these two curved, sickle blades that are excellent for cutting caps off mushrooms for prints or cutting stubborn fruits off of sub.

EDIT - just actually checked out what the x-acto x2000 is, and what i have is essentially the same exact thing. just not x-acto brand i think. =p

think the kit was under $8.. and i really do love not having a hot handle.


Edited by mupetmower (08/05/16 07:59 PM)


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Invisibled0urd3n
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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: bodhisatta]
    #23514830 - 08/06/16 12:42 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Quote:

Trusted Cultivator said:
if you dip your metal tools like x-acto in 91% iso first (not too deep or it fills up the tip where the blade goes and burns like a candle) then flame off the iso as well as get the blade hot. it also cleans off agar goo that might be on there that just chars on and makes blades go to shit twice as quick

I use a baby food jar with just enough iso to get up to the top of the blade. use fresh stuff each time since you dirty it up





Yeah I do this too, but sometimes I light my hand on fire. Be prepared for that if you try it. Iso on fire isn't as sketchy as some people make it out to be, I shake my hand and its hot as fuck, but never had more issue than that.

I like this idea OP, will be trying this. I plan to get a legit scalpel handle soon though.


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: KenInVic]
    #23515207 - 08/06/16 06:56 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Quote:

KenInVic said:
Is the heated handle issue just a side effect of using the aluminum handled X-Acto knife or is this something I might expect from a steel #3 scalpel as well?  I haven't run into any issues with the handle while sterilizing it over an alcohol flame yet but in all honesty, might not be doing the number of successive sterilization passes as you may be.




I'm taking a guess that the aluminium handle is what makes the heat transfer that fast and efficiently. I use a #7 scalpel handle nowadays but I have used both the #3 and the #3L (basically same as #3 but much longer). I have never had my steel handle get too hot to handle from heating the blade alone.

I stopped using the #3's. Stopped using the short one because it's too short for my taste and switched from the #3L to the #7 because the handle of the #3L is too thick. I flame my handle to red hot up to half way instead of PCing it so the thinner #7 will heat up much faster. I recommend that you give either of these a try, those #3 scalpel handles are too damn short. I would opt for the #7 personally, it's only 10bux on ebay.

PS. In case anyone is thinking about trying heating up half of the handle to red hot instead of PCing it, make sure that you are using a long scalpel handle and also make sure to rest it on something after flaming it up the handle. It will get the rest of the handle pretty hot after a couple minutes. Don't want to be the cause of another "flame sterilized finger" thread :lol: But keep those points in mind and it will do great, haven't PCed my scalpel for a long ass time.

I use a jar to rest my freshly flame sterilized handle to cool, notice that it is in front of the hood and that the part that is dark (where I flamed) is not touching the jar. This will keep it nice and sterile. You can do this just as easy in a SAB after the air has settled.


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: Supalemonhaze]
    #23515377 - 08/06/16 08:58 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

or use some pliers to hold the end of the handle while you flame it , if you are wanting to flame the handle :wink:


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Re: X-Acto Knife Life Hack [Re: mupetmower]
    #23517221 - 08/06/16 10:07 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Stainless steel doesn't really get hot that fast. Once I flame the thing half way up the handle to red hot, I rest it on that jar I pictured and it takes a couple of minutes for it to be too hot to handle, plenty of time to finish flaming it even if you are using those smaller torches. Doesn't take long to cool down either, I just wipe whatever it is I'm inoculating and go to work. Used to be so annoying when I forgot to PC my scalpel, this works so much better for me.

I reckon it would be a problem with the handles in the OP though.


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