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madsickpenguin
newbie
Registered: 08/29/04
Posts: 234
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pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin
#3122913 - 09/11/04 04:15 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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I innoculated 14 pf jars this morning. I've read from two different sources on the pf tek. One of the sources says to alcohol flame sterilize the needle before use and also after innoculating every 2 jars to prevent cross-contam. The other one does not say to sterilze unless the needle touches something else.
What method should I use?
Also I'm still getting a soot residue on the needle after flaming it even though I'm using alcohol. Am I doing something wrong this sterilization technique?
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Citric


Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 4,490
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-------------------- Self Healing lid tek ** Update 10.17.17 **
Mini casing pictures: Pins to harvest
Cup O' Shrooms
Magash: I noticed my contams were in the shape of fingers
Hyphae: Yes "Loss of moisture from the substrate" is not a casing trigger.
My final Grow!
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Spudz76
Got mycelium on the brain...


Registered: 02/08/04
Posts: 391
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: Citric]
#3123050 - 09/11/04 05:15 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Very good idea for the sponge trick!
Also if you're getting soot you may have too much wick showing on your alcohol 'lamp', pure alcohol burning should not make soot and perhaps some of your wick is burning off.
I use a propane torch, and others use butane torches, with much success. My propane torch will turn a needle cherry red in seconds. If you have a gas stove you could use the flame from that also. Stick to the blue/lower portion of the flame as well to avoid so much soot if you are still having trouble. Also soot is probably not a big deal, it's just carbon.
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kilgore_trout
Stranger
Registered: 10/17/03
Posts: 1,607
Last seen: 16 years, 6 months
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: Spudz76]
#3123124 - 09/11/04 05:43 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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i do the sponge thing too, or put 99% alch onto a polyfil filter an noc through that. flame, swab, and then noc through alch'd materiel for every single jar.
it might be creating soot bc the wrong kind of alch is being used. rubbing alch is the wrong kind. you need denatured alch, make sure this is what youre using. the soot prob isnt a problem though, and swabbing the needle with alch will take off the soot and cool the needle.
-------------------- "I didnt fight a secret war in nicaragua so you could walk these streets of freedom bad-mouthing lady america in your damn mirrored sunglasses."
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: kilgore_trout]
#3123137 - 09/11/04 05:46 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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I use a soaked cotton ball and just swipe with that.
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madsickpenguin
newbie
Registered: 08/29/04
Posts: 234
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: Gr0wer]
#3123772 - 09/11/04 08:48 PM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Those are all excellent ideas. Much appreciated!
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fastfred
Old Hand



Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 6,899
Loc: Dark side of the moon
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: madsickpenguin]
#3125175 - 09/12/04 04:38 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
madsickpenguin said: One of the sources says to alcohol flame sterilize the needle before use and also after innoculating every 2 jars to prevent cross-contam. The other one does not say to sterilze unless the needle touches something else.
What method should I use?
Also I'm still getting a soot residue on the needle after flaming it even though I'm using alcohol. Am I doing something wrong this sterilization technique?
You should sterilize the needle after every inoculation. That's standard lab practice. Taking shortcuts is a good way to get contams. You can probably get away with doing it, but it's not a good idea.
If you are getting soot you are probably holding the needle in the flame. You should hold the needle just above the top of the flame. This is the hottest part of the flame. Holding it in the flame will result in soot.
-FF
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Anno
Experimenter



Registered: 06/17/99
Posts: 24,168
Loc: my room
Last seen: 4 days, 16 hours
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: fastfred]
#3125192 - 09/12/04 04:54 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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>You should sterilize the needle after every inoculation.
Overkill.
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Anno
Experimenter



Registered: 06/17/99
Posts: 24,168
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: fastfred]
#3125194 - 09/12/04 04:56 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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>I'm still getting a soot residue on the needle after flaming it even though I'm using alcohol
What kind of alcohol? You should use ethanol. Propanol will give you a dirty flame.
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fastfred
Old Hand



Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 6,899
Loc: Dark side of the moon
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: Anno]
#3125227 - 09/12/04 05:29 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Red HEET is a decent source IMO because it's often cheaper than 90% rubbing alcohol and doesn't have any water in it.
-FF
Edit: Bad advice deleted. Damn it, I hate when I'm wrong.
Edited by fastfred (09/12/04 05:46 AM)
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Anno
Experimenter



Registered: 06/17/99
Posts: 24,168
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: fastfred]
#3125234 - 09/12/04 05:37 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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>IPA (rubbing alcohol) is the standard alcohol for alcohol lamps
Actually this is not true. "Denatured alcohol" (=ethanol with aditives that make it non consumable(bitter)) would be the "standard", if you want to talk about standards.
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fastfred
Old Hand



Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 6,899
Loc: Dark side of the moon
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: Anno]
#3125244 - 09/12/04 05:51 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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Seems like you were right and I was wrong Anno! Thanks for correcting me.
I guess I got the wrong idea becasue when I was a kid, back when they had dangerous chem sets, I got a chemistry set for christmas and it advised filling the alcohol lamp with 90% rubbing alcohol. I suppose that they said this because IPA is safer to use than ethanol as it's less flamable/explosive and burns cooler (I think).
That said, red heet does work OK. Anyone know if methanol (yellow heet) works well?
-FF
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Anno
Experimenter



Registered: 06/17/99
Posts: 24,168
Loc: my room
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Re: pre-innoculation syringe sterilizatoin [Re: fastfred]
#3125272 - 09/12/04 06:30 AM (20 years, 4 months ago) |
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I made a few photos:
On the left ethanol, on the right propanol.

And this is methanol, it has the cleanest flame:
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