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zzrot
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Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do.
#26699573 - 05/27/20 01:59 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I inoculated 6 jars (pf tek) for my very first time just now. That went a lot worse than expected and right now I'm not really sure what to do. I think it is very likely that all 6 of those jars will be contaminated. I would greatly appreciate some advice/ help on what went wrong, as I am going to try another batch of 6 tomorrow. So here were the issues..
1. I found that it was seemingly impossible to get the syringe needle red hot via bic lighter. On my first attempt, I was lighting for a solid 3-7 (?) minutes and long enough that a small hole burned through my glove. The needle was completely black and I figured I'll just try inoculating anyway, so I did. The next attempt, I wiped the needle with ISO to get the black soot off, and it still would not turn red hot. I ended up inoculating all jars without the needle being red hot once. My thumb is currently black from holding down the light so long and having the flame slowly burn me (between all 6 jars, I must have been sitting there lighting the needle for 20-30 minutes). I know the response to this will likely be "you should get a torch", but I want to know why it's recommended to use a bic lighter in the first place and what I need to do to get that to work like it has for others.
2. My inoculation holes were covered with micropore tape pre-PC'ing. After inoculating, I was attempting to re-cover the holes with another layer of tape. Doing this with gloves on was very difficult. The tape would stick to my gloves and it was very hard to rip a piece off/ wipe it with alcohol/ place it on the holes. I ended up taking my right glove off the entire rest of the process so that I could manipulate the tape. How do people apply tape while wearing gloves?
I'm pretty bummed out since this is my first try, and growing in general is something I'm very excited to start doing, so I really want to figure out these issues, hopefully before my second batch tomorrow. Thank you for any replies in advance.
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Roger Clemency
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Registered: 03/23/20
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: zzrot]
#26699589 - 05/27/20 02:04 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a TEK call for using a bic lighter. Sometimes they will show an alcohol lamp but lighters leave to at black gunk so people rarely use them. That said I can’t imagine why you couldn’t get a needle red hot with a lighter unless it was a really heavy gauge needle. It shouldn’t take more than a few seconds for any of the syringes I’ve seen.
With the pf TEK you have a dry vermiculite layer. That is your filter so there is no need for tape of any kind over the holes. Only tin foil while sterilizing so water doesn’t get in. You’ll get it man. Just make sure you’re reading newer stuff. Like the list of TEKs in the journal of bodisatta or however it spells
-------------------- Sour grapes, sweet revenge Heaven starts right where hell ends
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zzrot
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: Roger Clemency]
#26699615 - 05/27/20 02:16 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Roger Clemency said: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a TEK call for using a bic lighter. Sometimes they will show an alcohol lamp but lighters leave to at black gunk so people rarely use them. That said I can’t imagine why you couldn’t get a needle red hot with a lighter unless it was a really heavy gauge needle. It shouldn’t take more than a few seconds for any of the syringes I’ve seen.
With the pf TEK you have a dry vermiculite layer. That is your filter so there is no need for tape of any kind over the holes. Only tin foil while sterilizing so water doesn’t get in. You’ll get it man. Just make sure you’re reading newer stuff. Like the list of TEKs in the journal of bodisatta or however it spells
I've read many of the newer/ popular teks, and after re-looking at them I see that they don't directly say to use a bic lighter, but many of them say things like "..although a butane torch or BIC lighter will work just as well.", so I figured it'd be okay. I guess I need to get a torch or something then. Would you recommend a torch or an alcohol lamp? And for a torch do those cheap cigar lighter torches work? But yeah I'm similarly confused why a bic lighter didn't work at all. I understand that it's not as good as a torch but still. Also the needle was a standard needle from what I can tell.
My next batch tomorrow I won't mess with any micropore tape. I really think the hassle of me manipulating the tape while it sticking to my gloves, etc., is going to cause more contamination than what it's worth using the tape in the first place.
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: zzrot]
#26699701 - 05/27/20 02:45 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I’ve alway used a lighter and haven’t had any issues. Yes it leaves some black soot but I always get it red hot fairly quickly. Move the flame down the needle and you’ll see that it is indeed red hot.
And yea don’t play around with taping the holes for PF Tek. Dry verm layer is a good filter.
Also don’t be bummed or think your attempt went horribly wrong. On my last inoculation, I put together my syringe but the cap on the needle was stuck. I pulled so hard that when I ripped it off, my hand recoiled into the now exposed needle which went through my thumb 
I got blood everywhere. But all I cared about was inoculating! So I make a temporary tourniquet for my thumb, cleaned and flame sterilized the needle and inoculated. And those turned out to be some great cakes that I spawned to bulk and got some great yields.
But after I was done I needed to clear half my house of blood splatter from running to the bathroom to stop the bleeding 
So you’ll be alright.
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Gan
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: Socrateshroom]
#26699761 - 05/27/20 03:12 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yes to what the others have said. As for a torch, I just use a Bernz-O-matic torch. But, like everyone said, you can use anything for a flame as long as it is hot enough to get your tool red hot. I like a torch cause I light it once at the start of the session and that's all I need to do. Plus, it gets anything red hot in a couple seconds. But, it's not necessary. Perk of an alcohol lamp is no soot, but soot isn't really that big of a deal.
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redeyesmj
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: Gan]
#26699795 - 05/27/20 03:36 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Put the needle just above the tip of the flame not in it
-------------------- Where am I at?
[/url]  “To be godless is probably the first step to innocence," he said, "to lose the sense of sin and subordination, the false grief for things supposed to be lost." So by innocence you mean not an absence of experience, but an absence of illusions." An absence of need for illusions," he said. "A love of and respect for what is right before your eyes.”― Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat
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zzrot
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: redeyesmj]
#26699812 - 05/27/20 03:43 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thank you everyone for the help!
Quote:
Socrateshroom said: I’ve alway used a lighter and haven’t had any issues. Yes it leaves some black soot but I always get it red hot fairly quickly. Move the flame down the needle and you’ll see that it is indeed red hot.
And yea don’t play around with taping the holes for PF Tek. Dry verm layer is a good filter.
Also don’t be bummed or think your attempt went horribly wrong. On my last inoculation, I put together my syringe but the cap on the needle was stuck. I pulled so hard that when I ripped it off, my hand recoiled into the now exposed needle which went through my thumb 
I got blood everywhere. But all I cared about was inoculating! So I make a temporary tourniquet for my thumb, cleaned and flame sterilized the needle and inoculated. And those turned out to be some great cakes that I spawned to bulk and got some great yields.
But after I was done I needed to clear half my house of blood splatter from running to the bathroom to stop the bleeding 
So you’ll be alright.
What do you mean by move the flame down the needle? I tried both moving the flame slowly up and down the needle, and quickly, neither worked. And yeah for me it at no point got red hot so I don't know why it works for you and not me. And that's quite the story thanks for giving me some perspective, I'll try to not let myself get too bummed out over this.
Quote:
Gan said: Yes to what the others have said. As for a torch, I just use a Bernz-O-matic torch. But, like everyone said, you can use anything for a flame as long as it is hot enough to get your tool red hot. I like a torch cause I light it once at the start of the session and that's all I need to do. Plus, it gets anything red hot in a couple seconds. But, it's not necessary. Perk of an alcohol lamp is no soot, but soot isn't really that big of a deal.
I'll see if I can find one of those torches. I'm still a bit confused though because you and others tell me that it should and does work to use a bic lighter. But I held that light on the needle for the longest time..
Quote:
redeyesmj said: Put the needle just above the tip of the flame not in it
I'll do a test run and see if I can get the needle red hot by doing this. If it still doesn't work I'll likely just go and get a torch.
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zzrot
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: Socrateshroom]
#26699841 - 05/27/20 03:57 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I just tried lighting it at the tip of the flame, and this time I actually got part of it red hot in about 30secs-1min. However, the whole needle wasn't red hot, only a small part at the tip, and when I moved the flame down the red hot part went away. I assume that's what Socrateshroom meant when he said
Quote:
Socrateshroom said: Move the flame down the needle and you’ll see that it is indeed red hot.
So once I see the slightest amount of red hot-ness at the tip, the whole needle is considered red hot and I'm good to go?
Edited by zzrot (05/27/20 03:58 PM)
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DigDug
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: zzrot]
#26699868 - 05/27/20 04:18 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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So I know this isn't a bunson burner, but you should be able to see a blue flame, even with a regular lighter. The hottest part of the flame is represented by the letter "C" in the image below.
 The needle should be inside of the orange or yellow part of the flame, just at the top of the blue part of the flame.
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tramalot
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: DigDug]
#26699882 - 05/27/20 04:27 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Just buy some lamp wicks and use a 4 oz glass jar with a metal lid and band make your own!
-------------------- It's the Journey I enjoy!
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Ran into multiple issues while inoculating. Not sure what to do. [Re: zzrot]
#26701801 - 05/28/20 12:58 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
zzrot said: I just tried lighting it at the tip of the flame, and this time I actually got part of it red hot in about 30secs-1min. However, the whole needle wasn't red hot, only a small part at the tip, and when I moved the flame down the red hot part went away. I assume that's what Socrateshroom meant when he said
Quote:
Socrateshroom said: Move the flame down the needle and you’ll see that it is indeed red hot.
So once I see the slightest amount of red hot-ness at the tip, the whole needle is considered red hot and I'm good to go?
Yes, sometimes I don't notice its red hot when its in the flame but when I move it down the needle to flame the rest, I do see its red hot.
A torch and those cool alcohol lamps are much better. The problem with the lighter is as you've mentioned, you generally can't get the entire thing red hot at once, you need to move the lighter down the needle. I've never had a problem or a contam issue from doing it that way, but I'd get one of those alcohol lamps if COVID didn't make everything impossible to buy where I am.
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Edited by Socrateshroom (05/28/20 12:58 PM)
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