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father_fungi
Mold Farmer



Registered: 12/13/21
Posts: 245
Last seen: 1 month, 14 days
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FF Spawn Jar Lid Tek
#27600010 - 12/30/21 03:34 PM (2 years, 28 days ago) |
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Updated 2022-02-09
Disclaimer: I have not used these yet!
[2022-02-09] I've been through about 15 Quart Spawn jars using these lids. I've experienced no contamination.
I'm not sure that these lids offer any hands down advantage over other options, but here they are anyway!
[2022-02-09] No dramatic advantages, but definitely a net positive after the initial investment. They just work.
Over the years I've used commercial SFDs, homemade SFDs, upside down lids and syringe filters to provide air exchange. Upside down lids are cheap easy and easily accessible but imperfect and prone to contamination. I've had great success with SFDs, but after repeated use seemed to become a source of contamination after they had become impregnated with spawn, dust, etc. I eventually started using a new one for every jar but grew tired of cutting them out. Syringe filters seemed to be the ideal solution at first - reliable, reusable and economical but the air exchange is inadequate for larger jars.
[2022-02-09] Air exchange on these is amazing! I've had some of the healthiest looking spawn to date from these jars!
What follows is my solution. Certainly not entirely original, except maybe in the addition of the grommet. The grommet probably isn't even necessary, but in my mind it creates a longer pathway through the cotton that contamination has to make it through. Also, if the cotton is pulled into the grommet and then installed on the lid it compresses the cotton creating a tighter seal than if the cotton was installed directly in the lid.
[2022-02-09] The grommet protects the cotton from moisture that collects on the lids during sterilization!
It is my intention that the cotton is replaced after each use. 200 cotton balls cost < $2 so we're looking at .02 per use vs .85 for SFD. It just occurred to be today that cottons rolls like they stuff in your mouth at the dentist would be perfectly suited to this application. The grommets have an ID of .375" and I found 600 cotton rolls that have an OD of 10mm - almost .4" should be a perfect fit! $13 for 600 so still around the .02 ea price and they can could be cut in half if you're really a miser.
Drawback to cotton is that it's "food" for mushrooms and probably contamination alike. As long as they stay dry and are replaced after each use I don't suspect this will be an issue.
[2022-02-09] It's not an issue.
The grommet is a high temperature silicone grommet. 3/8" I.D. 9/16" O.D. 1/16" material thickness. McMaster Carr Part Number: 1061T84
2022-01-12 Update I haven't gone through a full cycle with any of these yet, but I've had 21 quarts of sterilized spawn sitting around for about 2-3 weeks in them, so far with no contamination. Just inoculated my first couple with some A. Bisporus LC so we'll see!
[2022-02-09] Turned out great!

Dental Cotton Rolls

2022-01-12 Update
With dental cotton rolls. I wish they fit the grommets slightly tighter but I think they will be just fine! One roll cut in half make two sections the perfect length. Super easy to remove and install. Also, serendipity - the grommet keeps the cotton from wicking and moisture that collects on the lid during autoclaving.
[2022-02-09] They fit tight enough. No reason to change anything.

Edited by father_fungi (02/09/22 05:03 AM)
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Forrester
aspiring sociopath


Registered: 02/05/13
Posts: 9,351
Loc: Northeast USA
Last seen: 23 days, 22 hours
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Quote:
father_fungi said: Drawback to cotton is that it's "food" for mushrooms and probably contamination alike. As long as they stay dry and are replaced after each use I don't suspect this will be an issue.
So why not use polyfill instead of cotton, since it's not food for mushrooms or bacteria and doesn't soak water into it?
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here. ------------------- Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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father_fungi
Mold Farmer



Registered: 12/13/21
Posts: 245
Last seen: 1 month, 14 days
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Re: FF Spawn Jar Lid Tek [Re: Forrester]
#27600264 - 12/30/21 07:16 PM (2 years, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
Forrester said: So why not use polyfill instead of cotton, since it's not food for mushrooms or bacteria and doesn't soak water into it?
That's would certainly eliminate that potential issue! Once upon a time I was in possession of a bag of synthetic "cotton" balls. I don't recall what specific material they were made of, but they were terrible! Perfect for this application, but terrible at absorbing anything. I've hunted for them for this particular application but haven't been able to find any.
-------------------- Agar and Liquid Culture Formulas Equipment, Teks, Etc FF Lid Tek
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micelio
Song of Silence


Registered: 04/22/14
Posts: 1,547
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Cotton Is a terrible choice for a filter. when wet from the pc cycle cotton will wick bacteria right into your grain.
There's a good reason that they use polyfill. It doesn't wick water...
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reax
Stranger

Registered: 01/03/21
Posts: 161
Last seen: 5 months, 8 days
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Re: FF Spawn Jar Lid Tek [Re: micelio]
#27600393 - 12/30/21 08:41 PM (2 years, 28 days ago) |
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Mind if i ask what SFDs gave you trouble? Were they cellulose or PTFE? If you were using cellulose ones, then simply switching over could solve the problem at hand...i think.
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father_fungi
Mold Farmer



Registered: 12/13/21
Posts: 245
Last seen: 1 month, 14 days
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Re: FF Spawn Jar Lid Tek [Re: reax]
#27616509 - 01/12/22 06:11 PM (2 years, 15 days ago) |
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Quote:
reax said: Mind if i ask what SFDs gave you trouble? Were they cellulose or PTFE? If you were using cellulose ones, then simply switching over could solve the problem at hand...i think.
The first ones I purchased from Fungi Perfecti (It was like 20 years ago). I don't recall how many times I used those, but I would soak them in bleach before reusing them. The most recent ones I was making from a heavy fabric stiffener (sorry I don't recall the proper name for the material). It was about 1/16" thick and looked almost exactly the same composition of the commercial ones. I cannot find the roll of it I had, but I believe it's polyester. They worked without issue the first 2 or 3 rounds and then I would start having issues. When I quit reusing them and just cut new ones for each use the problem went away.
-------------------- Agar and Liquid Culture Formulas Equipment, Teks, Etc FF Lid Tek
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father_fungi
Mold Farmer



Registered: 12/13/21
Posts: 245
Last seen: 1 month, 14 days
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-------------------- Agar and Liquid Culture Formulas Equipment, Teks, Etc FF Lid Tek
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