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Mycosperiment
Stranger

Registered: 11/19/17
Posts: 198
Loc: USA
Last seen: 11 months, 16 days
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Homemade transfer tool from old silverware 2
#25106285 - 04/01/18 09:20 AM (5 years, 9 months ago) |
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This is how I make my tools to transfer agar wedges out of old stainless steel silverware. Grinders (and all things) can be dangerous. Do this at your own risk.
First, I dress the grinding wheel if needed to get nice sharp corners on the wheel. Make sure to wear eye protection (maybe even a dust mask) while doing this because it will throw a lot of dust and small bits of the wheel. It makes some noise too so you might want hearing protection.

To cut off the spoon (or fork) end of the utensil, I use the corner of the wheel to grind a deep enough groove to allow the end to be broken off. I had to use one hand to take the pictures but I used both hands to do this grinding so I could hold the spoon tight enough and stay in the right spot. It does get warm (or hot) but gloves could get caught in the wheel so cool it in some water or give it time to cool off if it starts getting too hot to hold.


Then I just bend it back and forth until it breaks off. It will likely be hot so cool it off in some water or wait for it to cool. If it doesn't bend easily, grind it a little deeper and try again.


Next, I start grinding the point on the tool trying to keep it as centered with the handle as possible.

I use the corner of the wheel again to grind the back of the spear point and to thin the handle a little ways to make heating and cooling faster. I continue refining the shape as I go.

Then I sharpen the front of the spear on the top and bottom. Keep in mind that this is only used for cutting agar so it doesn't need to be razor sharp.

I then deburr the tool using a wire wheel on the grinder. I also round the sharp edges a little bit and clean up the rest of the tool if needed.

Here's my finished tool.

I use it to cut wedges of agar from petri dishes to transfer to fresh plates or to put into centrifuge vials for trading. This was a staged picture with an old contaminated plate but it shows the tool in use.

I've hardly used a real scalpel since I started making these tools. It is nice to have several of them so I can pressure cook them wrapped in aluminum foil to sterilize the whole tool including the handle. The ends can be heated red hot using a flame to sterilize them between transfers and they don't rust like a cheap scalpel blade will when repeatedly heated to red hot temperatures.
Edited by Mycosperiment (04/29/18 01:32 PM)
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Mycosperiment
Stranger

Registered: 11/19/17
Posts: 198
Loc: USA
Last seen: 11 months, 16 days
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Re: Homemade transfer tool from old silverware [Re: Mycosperiment]
#25106291 - 04/01/18 09:28 AM (5 years, 9 months ago) |
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reserved 2nd post in case I have to add to this tek
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,278
Last seen: 1 month, 9 days
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Re: Homemade transfer tool from old silverware [Re: Mycosperiment]
#25106393 - 04/01/18 10:36 AM (5 years, 9 months ago) |
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Nice write-up, think I'll have to make one of these. Was just in the market for one and hate the way the blades warp/short handles
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Mahdi
Temporal



Registered: 12/17/16
Posts: 257
Last seen: 3 hours, 13 minutes
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Re: Homemade transfer tool from old silverware [Re: Psilosopherr]
#25110713 - 04/03/18 11:02 AM (5 years, 9 months ago) |
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These work great and are way better than disposable scalpels or bulky knives. I'd definitely recommend everyone make one
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