Here are some common items you might see that you should avoid. If you´re looking for a large fruiting chamber, the way to go is a 66-70qt tub with holes drilled in it. The best design for this is the ez-dial tub in my opinion.
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26140339

max-yield bin: NOT featured in hak.
 also not featured. you may see one of these. you have been advised.
It´s come to my attention that there are a lot of uneven or un-level tubs coming across the cultivation forums and other parts of the website that are perhaps unwieldy and a little bumpy looking. thats ok, it's not the end of the world.. I figured Id do a write-up on how to spawn a tub properly in case there´s someone who doesn´t know how to do it the right way. This can be useful and I have incorporated some vital points into this so its worth reading in my opnion. i´m sure there are a million of these teks, and they are probably for the vast majority, simple as all hell. This one uses special materials and has extra steps. 
ok so here is how i spawn a tub. I wouldn't normally do a write-up about this, as it is fairly straightforward and possibly the easiest, least risky part of the entire process. There are, certain thing to watch out for. This is meant to be a step-by-step guide to make your life easier an is the most recent additional in my series cult haks to help dial your shit.
Supplies you will need:
- 66qt ez-dial or comparable tub
- coco-coir + verm hydrated to fc (field capacity) and mixed perfectly even
- cutting board (thick, something that is very sturdy)
- thick wooden block
- paper towels (wet and dry)
- adhesive packing insert
- 8x5/large index cards
- pen or sharpie.
- painter´s tape
- dry q-tip
- micropore tape
- clean surroundings
- pair of flip-flops (clean)
- clean spawn!
I usually perform this task in my kitchen because of the amount of space i have and the ease of clean up. I empty all of my coir into an empty 66qt bin or larger and mix it up. From here I shovel it into the ez-dial, which is conveniently place adjacent to the other tote so as to prevent dirt and grain spills. I keep the lids flush in between the bins standing on either side of the bins.
I use a 2.57qt tin cffee can for my tool. Alot of peple use a measring cup ro uart jar, but this is inexpensive an these are 2.57qt. You will have to conduct math to be sure but the voume of a cylinder is pi(r²)(h). I just use this because its easier and bigger than a regular measuring cup. I make sure its really clean first (no coffee grounds whatsoever)
I ususallly use 3-4 jars of spawn so around 4 mycoqurats. I dump 6 can fulls of coir into the tub for a total of 15.42qt or most lkely slightly over (I would probaby say it´s cloas to 17), which gives me I use a 1:4, 1:5 ratio. I usually use an 8-10qt tio kaer. This usually gives me a 3.75-4.25¨ sub when Iḿ done.
 My sub is about 3.5¨ here
Here is a tub of pearly gates I am getting ready to spawn. I have my clean spawn jars right here, which by all appwarances and good scent are good to go imo.
   I already shook one of the up to test, just to clarfy.
I dump all my spawn in the tub vigorously, being careful not to spill grains (especially millet, which gets fucking everywhere.) I wash my hands and forearms, but it is not necesary.

This is the first key part. I use a strong wooden cutting board to compress the shit out of my substrate. I don´t use a liner for this reason. i find if I do a good enough job compressing the sub, i will only get 5% or less side-pins on average, which is good. I have found that light can trigger early pinning. (I am making this claim with unsubstantiated evidence based on personal opinion and anecdotal experience.) I place the cutting board toward one end and place the wooden block on it.

leaning on it with all my weight, i stabilize myself on the fridge or something else, and physically jump up an down lightly on the block, like a coiled spring. I move the pair of flip-flops (clean) around slightly as I´m doing this so it gets the whole board even. I usually spend about 5 minutes compacting the board. Next, I do repeat thisprocess two more times. One in the center, and one on the far side.
I do this because my board is shaped perfectly for 1/3 of my tub and it fits end to end. I just got lucky. If your board or tool it´s not that or otherwise oddly shaped, just figure it out. its not hard. If the sides bow out a little bit thats ok. I smooth the edges and pack them down with my finger and then the narrow side of the board. once your sub is paced and packed down it should look something like this:

Now I add my top layer with the same coffee can, emptying it about 4 times.

Then I do the exact same shit to that I did to the first layer. I compress the absolute ever-loving shit out of it and then some extra and then a little more, but lightly and steadily and slowly. just do it that way, i promise it will work. I do this unless I am not doing a top layer or a traditional casing with penis envy or something else. Take all the painters tape off and clean poke with a dry q-tip. We put the painters tape on earlier so the dirt wouldn't spill. Although it is slight it is annoying to sweep and can get on the bottom of your foot and dirt or a grain could get tracked by foot somewhere unwanted...
After that we come to the second key part. Label you work, track your data.
 (I put this one on beofre I mixed the spawn) And there ya go:


I pull the stickers off the jars an place them on an 8x5 index card folded in half. i place this in an adhesive package insert (sticks on one side) that i NEVER have to remove. I leave the top piece of plastic on so I can remove an change the card when its time. I write the date, spawn ratio, jars used, etc on the label too. see pi for xample. The labels I use I highly recommend. They are on amazon. here they are:
https://a.co/d/ieziAtS
they dont ever come off, dont smear or wear, run through pc fine, and fine sharpie holds forever on them. I write my a2g date and culture id and stick it on the jar when i inoc. I pull that label when I go to spawn and use for my insert.
Anyway. This is how I do my boxes. It´s not that different from how most people do theirs. It´s not revolutoinary It´s not rocket science. I´s amost bronig. It might be boring. The two key things to take away here are the makeshit springboard compressor tool, as well as the ahesive shipping label for a right looking id insert. its cool, that is. nothing more nothing less. hope you enjoy! Its a hak! Deal with it!
  
#1 in the hood g
Edited by fiddle_head (02/13/24 02:35 AM)
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