|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
My First PF TEK 3
#27950311 - 09/14/22 07:29 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I finally have the materials together and decided to start on my PF TEK, while waiting to see if my agar plates do anything at all.
I have 24 jars. And "for science" I am going to do a comparison with BRF, corn meal, a corn meal mix, and regular flour. Mostly because I have them on hand, and want to put them to use/test.
12 are going to be BRF and 4 each of the others in a following batch.

I start my removing the lids on the jars, and put 4 starter holes in the lid.

I then use a 3/8 drill bit to widen the hole to be appropriate for the syringe.
After that I put all of those tools away where they belong so I will know where to find them next time.
I pulled 2 cups of verm and added 1 cup of water.

I check capacity, and got some drips when I squeezed.

Added 1 cup of BRF (Brown rice flour) I made. Check out how here

And broke out the jar funnel.

I was able to get 4 jars with the first batch, so I made a double batch to fill the remaining 8 jars.
I filled all of the jars to the band line

Then topped it off with vermiculite.

Put the lids and rings on

Put the foil on

Then loaded the Preasure cooker. I elevated the jars up away from the water by putting 4 jars full of water on the bottom with rings as spacer to restrict movement, followed by the plate that came with the cooker.

I vented for 15 minutes.

And put on the weight. This is the first time I used extra weight on the PC weight. I found it reduced the heat to maintain preassure, so it made the process more efficient.

After 90 minutes I turned off the heat and let the cooker cool overnight. Tomorrow I will be innoculating these with MS, and doing the test batches with other flour materials.
|
Cob
Ovoid fanboy


Registered: 07/01/22
Posts: 444
Loc: East Coast, USA
Last seen: 1 year, 4 days
|
|
Looks like you're doing everything right. Hopefully before long you'll have more plates and jars than you know what to do with, lol.
I'm already there and I've only been into this for three months, lol. It'll seem like it takes forever at first but be patient and you'll have myc before you know it!
--------------------
****FUGGIN' FROGZ**** Trade List
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
Re: My First PF TEK [Re: Cob]
#27950360 - 09/14/22 07:55 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
|
|
The initial wait is killing me lol.
I ordered another 500 plates for Agar in preparation for when things actually start growing. I am enjoying the hobby, and am hoping to run tons of tests on materials, and have many specimen on file to keep me busy and share with the community.
I ordered a second syringe from another vendor to try to ensure I have success. I just have this strange feeling the first one won't grow. Not sure why I feel that way though.
|
Cob
Ovoid fanboy


Registered: 07/01/22
Posts: 444
Loc: East Coast, USA
Last seen: 1 year, 4 days
|
|
Quote:
SymPlayTon said: The initial wait is killing me lol.
I ordered another 500 plates for Agar in preparation for when things actually start growing. I am enjoying the hobby, and am hoping to run tons of tests on materials, and have many specimen on file to keep me busy and share with the community.
I ordered a second syringe from another vendor to try to ensure I have success. I just have this strange feeling the first one won't grow. Not sure why I feel that way though.
Yeah I thought the same, took 32 days to see myc through the jar on my first Lipa Yai MS cakes. I've since made several more and they are perfect so far.
I'm with you on the experiments, I just enjoy playing with different things like substrates, etc. I've actually had great luck growing ovoid myc, a wood lover, on standard BRF cakes. So far so good, the ovoid myc are tearing it up.
--------------------
****FUGGIN' FROGZ**** Trade List
|
Jaksavage
Mycodelic



Registered: 11/19/21
Posts: 548
Loc: Left coast
Last seen: 9 months, 16 days
|
|
I am right there with you. 3 weeks and I finally see a bit of myc on a plate. Have a bunch of PF tek going. I just keep starting stuff and trying different techniques, spore print, swab, MSS. also PF tek, grain, agar. Doing lots of fun science. Good luck
--------------------
The Shroomery is the biggest library with the coolest librarians
|
CJD


Registered: 08/10/22
Posts: 378
Loc: The Magic School Bus
Last seen: 29 days, 11 hours
|
|
That sounds like a cool experiment your doing. I got lucky with my plates & had early success. Made my T3s & went to grain about an hour ago. Hoping my sterile technique was up to par on inoc. What variety did you go with on your next syringe?
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
Re: My First PF TEK [Re: CJD]
#27950855 - 09/15/22 07:20 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Jaksavage said: I am right there with you. 3 weeks and I finally see a bit of myc on a plate. Have a bunch of PF tek going. I just keep starting stuff and trying different techniques, spore print, swab, MSS. also PF tek, grain, agar. Doing lots of fun science. Good luck
That is the best part of the hobby! I have been testing everything I can get my hands on.
I successfully made a spore print from a white button mushroom from the grocery store. Just for fun.
Still waiting for my first mycelium. I have some agar plates that have what I think is the start of mycelium. If I hold it to the light just right I can see what looks like a spider edge around a spot.
Quote:
CJD said: That sounds like a cool experiment your doing. I got lucky with my plates & had early success. Made my T3s & went to grain about an hour ago. Hoping my sterile technique was up to par on inoc. What variety did you go with on your next syringe?
I went with more PE. I am trying to ensure I can get to a fruiting with PE. Once I have that I will start expanding into more varieties and skills. With the new syringe already being a live LC I think it gives me a strong change at success. It also let's me play with some LC TEK, and my new stir plate.
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
|
I just inoculated my PF cakes.
All went mostly well. I did run into a problem that I didn't see discussed in any of the TEKs. That is needle clogging.
I constantly had small pieces of vermiculite that would get caught in the syringe and clog it.
I don't know if I just have small verm, or if it was just a large needle.
It was very annoying, and resulted in me wasting a noticeable amount of MSS to unclog it multiple times.
I would love to hear some thoughts on that, and see if anyone has advice/can relate.
|
Jaksavage
Mycodelic



Registered: 11/19/21
Posts: 548
Loc: Left coast
Last seen: 9 months, 16 days
|
|
My verm is chunky. No clogging.
|
Smellyhobbit
Actual Retard



Registered: 04/01/22
Posts: 12,840
Loc: Hole
Last seen: 18 minutes, 26 seconds
|
|
No matter what verm I use, coarse or fine, my needle will randomly clog. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, it seems.
I read through your writeup. Love that you’re doing PF tek. It’s a great performer! I would suggest you get your jars out of the pressure cooker ASAP next time and take the foil off. As things cool, water condenses on the underside of the foil and can drip into your verm layer, potentially compromising it. We want to keep that verm dry and unmolested. The updated PF tek page here is perfectly serviceable, but the shroomery wiki has a newer writeup that goes into more granular detail if you want to read it. Link in my signature.
I also am of the opinion that if you can squeeze water out of the substrate it’s way too wet. This tek is very forgiving, but over hydrated substrate is one of the bigger causes of stalled/dead jars.
Just some thoughts! I’ve had great success with PF tek even making sizable mistakes, so I’m sure you’ll be fine 👍
-------------------- A Love Letter to New Growers A Guide for New Growers Need Spores? - Sablabs.org Just because your tub contamed, doesn’t mean your attitude has to contam as well.

|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
|
Quote:
Smellyhobbit said: No matter what verm I use, coarse or fine, my needle will randomly clog. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, it seems.
I read through your writeup. Love that you’re doing PF tek. It’s a great performer! I would suggest you get your jars out of the pressure cooker ASAP next time and take the foil off. As things cool, water condenses on the underside of the foil and can drip into your verm layer, potentially compromising it. We want to keep that verm dry and unmolested. The updated PF tek page here is perfectly serviceable, but the shroomery wiki has a newer writeup that goes into more granular detail if you want to read it. Link in my signature.
I also am of the opinion that if you can squeeze water out of the substrate it’s way too wet. This tek is very forgiving, but over hydrated substrate is one of the bigger causes of stalled/dead jars.
Just some thoughts! I’ve had great success with PF tek even making sizable mistakes, so I’m sure you’ll be fine 👍
Awesome to hear. Once I added the flour I wasn't able to squeeze any more water out, so I am guessing I was where I was supposed to be.
I looked at the wiki as well. I like pictures with my words, so the post was easier for me to follow. I am happy to help contribute to the wiki, add pictures tips and hints etc. Not sure what the rules are to contribute there
I will keep the note about removing the jars sooner in mind. I had a couple drops of water on the lids as I removed the foil in the SAB. I wiped them off with a clean microfiber damp with ISO. Did the same if the syringe dripped (the clogs caused some back preasure it seemed)
I am excited to see how I did with PF, time will tell.
I think I am starting to get mycelium growth on the agar plates I inoculated 4 days ago and I don't see any obvious (to a noob) contamination so I have backups for my backups, which is exciting. But that is Off topic.
|
The Tao
Read more, post less.


Registered: 09/12/19
Posts: 1,705
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 27 minutes, 38 seconds
|
|
Quote:
SymPlayTon said: I just inoculated my PF cakes.
All went mostly well. I did run into a problem that I didn't see discussed in any of the TEKs. That is needle clogging.
I constantly had small pieces of vermiculite that would get caught in the syringe and clog it.
I don't know if I just have small verm, or if it was just a large needle.
It was very annoying, and resulted in me wasting a noticeable amount of MSS to unclog it multiple times.
I would love to hear some thoughts on that, and see if anyone has advice/can relate.
It isn’t necessarily the size of the vermiculite, remember you’re also inoculating into BRF which is finer than the vermiculite. Push the needle all the way in the hole and pull back a tiny bit while keeping light pressure on the plunger. It usually clears the plug. Don’t push down harder on the plunger or you’ll end up delivering half the syringe at once. Are you using your thumb on the plunger? What gauge is your needle?
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
Re: My First PF TEK [Re: The Tao]
#27951392 - 09/15/22 01:23 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
The Tao said:
Quote:
SymPlayTon said: I just inoculated my PF cakes.
All went mostly well. I did run into a problem that I didn't see discussed in any of the TEKs. That is needle clogging.
I constantly had small pieces of vermiculite that would get caught in the syringe and clog it.
I don't know if I just have small verm, or if it was just a large needle.
It was very annoying, and resulted in me wasting a noticeable amount of MSS to unclog it multiple times.
I would love to hear some thoughts on that, and see if anyone has advice/can relate.
It isn’t necessarily the size of the vermiculite, remember you’re also inoculating into BRF which is finer than the vermiculite. Push the needle all the way in the hole and pull back a tiny bit while keeping light pressure on the plunger. It usually clears the plug. Don’t push down harder on the plunger or you’ll end up delivering half the syringe at once. Are you using your thumb on the plunger? What gauge is your needle?
I am keeping my thumb on the plunger, but also trying not to push too hard for the stated reason.
The needle quage is 18 I believe. The one that came from the sponsor.
|
The Tao
Read more, post less.


Registered: 09/12/19
Posts: 1,705
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 27 minutes, 38 seconds
|
|
18 gauge are what I use. Give it a try next round of inoculating.
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
Re: My First PF TEK [Re: The Tao]
#27951441 - 09/15/22 01:50 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
The Tao said: 18 gauge are what I use. Give it a try next round of inoculating.
I will definitly be trying that.
I have some 23G that came with a pack of syringes.
I think I will buy a few different sizes and test different TEKs at some point. I have a feeling there are lots of "it depends" with syringe needle sizes.
|
NoCopsPlzThx
P. Coolbeansis
Registered: 08/04/22
Posts: 107
Last seen: 2 months, 13 days
|
|
One thing I ran into this run. You can see it if you check out my log thread. So, I got a fairly fine verm. Not a powder or anything but it's small granules down to powder sized. That was pretty damn nice for the cakes, gave a really quick, even, colonization phase.
The issue...as the cake colonized and especially during consolidation it constricted. When the cake did this, my dry verm layer fell down into the sides of the jar. Some areas were so subsided, there was hardly a millimeter left protecting the cake.
Also, the dry verm took on moisture from the substrate and a lot of my dry layers were partially colonized. That part might be totally normal, but I found it alarming because it seemed to me that would easily allow the non-established mycelium to be attacked. That is just a feeling though. All my jars came out without contam beyond some minor bacterial from spore syringe and none involved the verm layer. In fact, the cakes doing the best right now were the ones who began eating lots of dry verm.
TLDR: If you can use coarse verm for your dry layer, it would be better than finer stuff.
Edited by NoCopsPlzThx (09/17/22 02:35 PM)
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
|
I might have to check more garden centers for coarser verm for the top layer. I have a couple that are only open earlier in the day that I might have luck at. The normal stores have packed up most of their garden center already.
|
SymPlayTon
Noobinstien

Registered: 09/03/22
Posts: 420
Loc: In a state of confusion
Last seen: 7 months, 3 days
|
|
One week update on my PF Tek grow.

10 of 12 jars are showing signs of life.
2 still look blank, but noo early to give up on them.
There is a mix of growth amount from a small dot of mycelium to an entire side covered. I am documenting the growth rate of the jars to compare fruiting amounts. I am ok with slower and more fruit. But if faster and the same fruit, faster is better.
I will keep this updated as it goes.
|
NoCopsPlzThx
P. Coolbeansis

Registered: 08/04/22
Posts: 107
Last seen: 2 months, 13 days
|
|
|
The Tao
Read more, post less.


Registered: 09/12/19
Posts: 1,705
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 27 minutes, 38 seconds
|
|
An entire side covered in one week from a spore syringe? Can you post a picture?
|
|