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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Rams' DIY spawn bags 3
#25847274 - 03/02/19 08:29 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hey folks.. Here's an "Under 0.01 USD grow/ spawn bags" for you. from past few years i was thinking of many a ways of making an easy and cheap spawn bag, worked on many and found this one to be the simplest, easiest and best (IMO) and can be made with the simplest and easiest of available things at home. I didn't have to go out to buy a single material from the market as they were already available in my lab desk.
here is the flow diagram :

All you need:
1. 6X12 (or any narrow size) PP Bag 2. Hole punch 3. handful of Polyfill (i guess Nonabsorbent cotton should also work but extra caution needed) 4. Sealing machine 5. paper or magazine cover cut into a 1-1.5 inch wide strip
Method:
1. Take the pp bag. and a hole punch..
 
2. Fold it vertically into four and punch hole from the bottom end (this side is going to be the top later). So we have got 8 holes, 4 from each side. (The bigger the bag and substrate the more the number of holes) 1 hole per 1.5 inches (width) is enough from each side.
  3. Stuff in the poly-fill and try pushing it to the end (those who have access to tyvek can place a strip towards the hole and then tighten the polyfill). You can stuff it tightly with the help of some wide and flat object. I use a notebook.
 4. Take the paper strip that you have cut and wrap it like this. This is to avoid the plastic bag from getting sealed from the center because we want the breathing space for our myc. You can also brush this strip with water so that there is no chance of bag getting sealed from the centre. (again same logic-The bigger the bag and substrate the bigger the strip and hole)

I prefer to keep the timer of the sealer on 3 seconds. Keep it at the temperature where it doesn’t cut the plastic but only seals it nicely.

5. Now this is the trick:
A. Keep the SWITCH of the sealing machine on –OFF setting
B. Place the strip wrapped bag under the sealer and press it enough tightly so that you can pull from the top too .

C. Now while one hand presses sealer Pull the end you are holding with other hand and pull it to the maximum so that a tight roll of polyfill filter is achieved.

D. With the hand you were pulling the bag, switch on the machine while pressing it all the time by other hand. Keep pressed for another 2-3 seconds after the machine has sealed the bag..
6. Check for the centre if it is open or not by placing a finger.

7. TA TA your bag is ready.

8. Instead of center the breathing space can also be left from one side..
Now the bag can be filled and either sealed or tied. Autoclave it and ..
cut with a flame sterilized scalpel (if sealed) from the other side of the filter, Inoculate in front of the flow hood and seal again.. and place vertically filter-side up.
these bags can be stored flat and stacked thus reducing the space usage in PC as well as incubator.
HOW TO DO GRAIN WITH THESE BAGS...
i filled them with half kg of boiled grain, You can fill them according to your requirement and the size of the bags you have..

sealed them with the sealing machine

i had made 3 bags one had 8 holes on the top and 2 had 4 holes only and that too on the side making it a "T" shaped filter ..

PC them...
INOCULATION
Get bags ready

cut with a sterilized scissor or scalpel

Open the bag towards air flow

Pour desired quanity of the master in the bag

seal the bag.

mix well and the bags are ready for incubation.

Incubate for few days..
RESULTS

BINGO..!!
ECONOMICS OF THE BAGS
1 PP BAGS (6X6) : 0.013 USD (i got 1 kg PP Bag for 4.00 USD had around 300 pieces) (8X18 inches bags (150 pieces) will fill 4.4 lbs/2 kg spawn) 5-10 grams POLYFILL : 0.04 USD (i got 1 kg Polyfill for 4)
TOTAL EXPENSES: 0.053 USD / BAG
so considering the success of these spawn bags .. i would refine the process of making these bags with even lesser trouble and here is the model..

the refined version of spawn bags will have..
1. polyfill filter on one corner : thus making them easier to prepare as it will be easy to compress the polyfill on one corner.
2. much space as compared to the ones i have tested here, thus making it easy to mix the master with the freshly prepared grain.
3. the risk of filter getting in contact with the grain while inoculating will be minimized as it will be in the corner..
Will keep posting and updating ...
Thanks for you time.. i hope this will help .. any advice and suggestion is much appreciated
Edited by rams (03/20/19 05:52 AM)
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: rams]
#25853752 - 03/05/19 08:09 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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so .. as today i was going to do grain, i decided that its time to test my spawn bags. i filled them with half kg of boiled grain

sealed them with the sealing machine

i had made 3 bags one had 8 holes on the top and 2 had 4 holes only and that too on the side making it a "T" shaped filter ..

the bags are in the PC now and will check them tomorrow ..
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Inocybe
Stranger


Registered: 01/16/17
Posts: 328
Loc: Spain
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: rams]
#25854390 - 03/05/19 02:14 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Smart!!
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: Inocybe]
#25855986 - 03/06/19 09:56 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Update:
Get bags ready

cut with a sterilized scissor or scalpel

Open the bag towards air flow

Pour desired quanity of the master in the bag

seal the bag.

mix well and the bags are ready for incubation.
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Inocybe
Stranger


Registered: 01/16/17
Posts: 328
Loc: Spain
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: rams]
#25856057 - 03/06/19 10:51 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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One thing, do you think that could be better to fill less the bags (or make them longer) to provide a greater air space for mixing after inoculating and to make it easier to break down the colonized spawn prior to spawning it to bulk substrate? In the last pic seems like there is an air pocket, but personally I like leaving more space to break it easily after colonization. Once I had to buy some bags of shiitake spawn, and they came filled up to the top with very consolidated myc on millet. Trying to break them to inoculate was like
Edited by Inocybe (03/06/19 10:53 AM)
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: Inocybe]
#25856082 - 03/06/19 11:14 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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haha..exactly .. if the bag is tightly filled its definitely PITA to break it up into spawn inside the bag. they are tightly filled i guess to utilize the available space by the commercial spawn producers. What i am intending is if i can form them into thin and flat bag (not more than 1 or 1.5 inches thick.. of course after colonization) they will be easy to stack and store just like books in the shelves. Also the thin and flat bags will be easy to break into spawn inside the bags itself and once it is broken and accumulate at the bottom there will be a lot of space remaining inside the bag already.
that is why i mentioned it in the "All you need" that any narrow bag according to the quantity of grain quantity will do.. i have used 6X12 inches bags for 500 grams of spawn here. i use 7X20 inches bags for 1 kg of spawn, will be trying with these bags too.
today i made some bags with the traditional way which had almost 25% air pocket. but if you notice these bags has almost 40-50% air pocket with the same size of bags and same quantity of spawn.
Edited by rams (03/06/19 11:18 AM)
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Inocybe
Stranger


Registered: 01/16/17
Posts: 328
Loc: Spain
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: rams]
#25856120 - 03/06/19 11:40 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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got it!
If you are going to stack them, I would advise you to use some air spacers between bags, because if you pack them tightly it would get hot as hell. At the company I work we buy pallets with more than 200kg of spawn (6kg per bag) and if the spawn is little old and remains stacked for more than 2 days the bags burn my hands when I catch them .
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: Inocybe]
#25856152 - 03/06/19 12:08 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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thanks for the advice Ino .. i never thought that way.. will check if placing 1cm thin thermocol sheet between each bag solves the heating issue.
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Inocybe
Stranger


Registered: 01/16/17
Posts: 328
Loc: Spain
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. [Re: rams]
#25856718 - 03/06/19 05:27 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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If your spawn bags are light, they shouldn't generate too much heat as the 6kg bags, but spacing is always recommended, specially with high nitrogen substrates (supplemented sawdust, grains, etc). Our spawn supplier now send us the spawn bags out without cardboard boxes and with a egg-box shaped plastic sheet, that spaces the bags and allows air space between layers. It helps but still we have to move the spawn as soon as possible to the fridge to avoid the heating up. When storing small amounts of spawn bags that aren't too big that problem doesn't appears. But is preferable to always be prepared and prevent it
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: Inocybe] 1
#25883128 - 03/19/19 07:07 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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hey guys so here is how nicely they came out..
 BINGO..!!
so considering the success of these spawn bags of mine.. i would refine the process of making these bags with even lesser trouble and here is the model..

the refined version of spawn bags will have..
1. polyfill filter on one corner : thus making them easier to prepare as it will be easy to compress the polyfill on one corner.
2. much space as compared to the ones i have tested here, thus making it easy to mix the master with the freshly prepared grain.
3. the risk of filter getting in contact with the grain while inoculating will be minimized as it will be in the corner..
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ScotTony
Stranger

Registered: 03/13/18
Posts: 156
Loc: Europe
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: rams]
#25883219 - 03/19/19 08:57 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Good job! The "Asian" style bags are very easy to make and bulletproof though, I am a big fan! Funny, I can buy filterbags relatively easily and like to experiment with the Asian style bags...
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: ScotTony]
#25883265 - 03/19/19 09:31 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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yeah the Asian method never fails though its considered old..
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Inocybe
Stranger


Registered: 01/16/17
Posts: 328
Loc: Spain
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: rams]
#25883826 - 03/19/19 03:16 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Like it. Filter in the corner seems a good idea!
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: Inocybe]
#25884626 - 03/19/19 09:11 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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thanks.. yeah it will be less trouble making them and small filter will make extra space in the bag..
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Inocybe
Stranger


Registered: 01/16/17
Posts: 328
Loc: Spain
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: rams]
#25885036 - 03/20/19 04:30 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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The good thing of this DIY bag is that it allows to make very small bags for selling to people who only want to try the experience of growing a single bag/bucket
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: Inocybe]
#25885088 - 03/20/19 05:10 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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you nailed it ..!!
this time i have bought 7 X 14 inch Bags which will accommodate 1 kg of grain. gonna try the corner filter this time.. I believe a bigger 2-3 kg bags can also be made with this technique..
Quote:
ECONOMICS OF THE BAGS
1 PP BAGS (6X6) : 0.013 USD (i got 1 kg PP Bag for 4 USD had around 300 pieces) (8X18 inches bags (150 pieces) will fill 4.4 lbs/2 kg spawn) 5-10 grams POLYFILL : 0.04 USD (i got 1 kg Polyfill for 4 USD )
TOTAL EXPENSES: 0.053 USD / BAG
Edited by rams (03/20/19 05:42 AM)
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: rams]
#25887504 - 03/21/19 08:56 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Wow, awesome.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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Rik
Biohacker


Registered: 01/09/11
Posts: 183
Loc: Caribe
Last seen: 1 year, 11 months
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: filthyknees]
#25889151 - 03/21/19 09:29 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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Can you share a source for these bags?
I am using PP 32 and 16 oz. commercial kitchen containers for oysters with good results. They cost less than 10 cents with lid and ca be reused.
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: Rik]
#25889190 - 03/21/19 09:54 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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hey Rik i bought them locally.. Will check if they are available online..
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rams
MushTafa



Registered: 07/16/15
Posts: 423
Loc: Mt. Everest Base camp
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Re: My DIY spawn bag. Time for results... [Re: rams]
#25889217 - 03/21/19 10:11 PM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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