|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
blacklabrat
Stranger

Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 77
|
Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! 1
#5566663 - 04/28/06 11:23 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
I would like to introduce my new little friend...........

SIR MIX-A-LOT.
OK, Right off the bat let me make it clear that I can take no credit for this. It is an idea that has been ripped off and inspired by several others who have done the DYI magnetic stirrer plate method. It works great, took me less than an hour to make and the best part...it didn't cost me a dime. FREE! Just scraped up a few items I had laying around the house.
Here's how it was done:

 ~ Started off by mounting the fan to a block of scrap lumber. Connected the fan to the transformer. Originally I was going to add a dimmer switch, but after testing I deemed it unnecessary.
~ Next, I took a canning lid and hot glue gunned it to the top of the fan. Place the magnet in the center of the canning jar lid. Tested placement by plugging unit on to make sure there was no wobble. Hot glue gunned it once the magnet was properly centered.
 ~Then I cut two blocks of lumber about 1/8" taller than the height of the fan/jar lid/magnet assembly. Mounted these to the side of the fan with glue and screws. Fixed a square of plexiglass to the blocks. This is the base surface where the LC jars sit.
Turned on to make sure that the fan was spinning freely.
Check. Everything is running quiet and smooth 
Now I need some stir rods................Hmmm. Ebay? Nah. Screw buying them! I was now determined not to shell out any cash for this project. After playing around with several ideas, many which were too loud, slow or would require me spending some of my precious beer money .....
I was reminded how sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective.

A small piece of wire about 1/4" long is quiet, effective and best of all CHEAP!
I tested it by placing a small piece of toilet paper in the jar w/ H2O and with in an hour it had broker it into small fibers.
Yeah yeah. I can hear it now."Isn't the wire going to rust?"
Eventually. But not before the LC is done. They are essentially disposable, costing you about 10 cents per 100!
And there you have it.
How well does it work? Check out the first pic!
It spins like Dorthy in a tornado. 
JUST ADDED
Need to warm up the temp of your LC? Try this:
Made one minor improvement to the Sir Mix-A-Lot magnetic stirrer.
I usually do my LC in temps around the high 80s. Currently temps in my neck of the woods are about 20 degrees too cold & I'd rather not put the stir plate in the incubator, so........................

My solution:
I removed the plexiglass base plate and temporally replaced it with a 4 quart lexan tub. The tub is outfitted with a aquarium heater set to 87 degrees and a thermometer. (I realize that the heater is a little too large for this particular application..going to get a smaller one this weekend) I can now dial in to the exact temp I need.
If you are not sure how to do this, or if you are unsure if the fan/transformer combo you have will work, don't ask me. I'm no electrician. Besides even if I was, you gonna trust an anonymous druggie electrician who posted some shit on the web with your life? I suggest you read up, use google, use the shroomery search function and take a trip to Radio Shack or a hardware store and ask them. You don't want to go burning your house down or electrocuting yourself. There ain't no fungus worth that!
Edited by blacklabrat (04/29/06 01:19 PM)
|
creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#5566836 - 04/28/06 12:19 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
fantastic!
i know your point was not to gather extra materials, but a piece of wire shrink wrap (can get it in small quantities at a hardware store or rat shack) will seal up that piece of wire nicely... slip it in, flame it up, watch it melt over the wire... voila, rust free low cost stir bar
|
DIRTYMAN
Jesusdon'tcomethrough thecotton.

Registered: 11/18/05
Posts: 18,558
Loc: CZ NIGGUH
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: creamcorn]
#5566945 - 04/28/06 01:01 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Awesome man!
-------------------- I'm racist. http://k-k-k.com/
|
bongtoke
Mushies


Registered: 11/14/05
Posts: 1,393
Last seen: 8 years, 10 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: creamcorn]
#5566950 - 04/28/06 01:02 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
i can make that right now.. iwish the directions wre better..what did you use to hook the fan up to..like how did u wire it?just twine the wires to the celly charger?
-------------------- GOTTA LOVE POO CAKES!!!
|
splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5566971 - 04/28/06 01:14 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
I think this is the coolest tek I have ever seen.
Five shrooms for you! I'd give you six if I could.
splif
-------------------- First Grow: Ecuador -> LC -> HPoo/Straw -> Monotub Build a Do-It-Yourself Magnetic Stirrer in thirty minutes with no money.
|
Premedman1
Assistant to the insistent


Registered: 12/21/05
Posts: 2,376
Loc: South of Sanity
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5566987 - 04/28/06 01:19 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Nice writeup MacGuyver. Definitely something to look into. 5-UP
-------------------- Build a man a fire, he is warm for the night. Set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.
|
Snaggletooth
Stranger in a Strange Land


Registered: 10/24/05
Posts: 6,109
Loc: blinks stupidly
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: splifner180]
#5567254 - 04/28/06 03:19 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Finally, so many have asked about this and I have yet seen someone carry it out....
Very cool man, now make some think LC
--------------------
Atheist Chat
|
Slooch
Lead Apprentice


Registered: 03/07/06
Posts: 246
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Snaggletooth]
#5567289 - 04/28/06 03:35 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Where does the stir rod go? Inside the jar?
Im guesing it goes inside the jar (couldent you just use some hot glue to coat the stir rod? to prevent rust?)
Btw, thats cool. Im gona make that asap.
-------------------- Hey Just take some time and look at this pic here, below... Its a Smile Face ON THE CAP! WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? AND THE OTHER AN 8???!!!! IS this a SIGN?
Edited by Slooch (04/28/06 03:46 PM)
|
creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5567394 - 04/28/06 04:12 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
exactly how you'd do it. doesn't have to be a cell charger, any "wall wort" a/c adapter whose voltage matches your fan (almost always 12 volts) will work. if you don't have one, universal ones are cheap, and sometimes have a switch to adjust voltage. (less than 12v = fan will still spin, but slower = a variable speed control version!) cut off tip, strip wires, twist together with wires from the fan. its ok to be off by a little, eg a 11.5v or 12.4v or such adapter is gonna do just fine with a 12v fan. don't go beyond 12.5v or so or risk burning out the fan, and anything much less than 11v is gonna result in a slow spinning fan. if it doesnt spin or spins backwords, match the wires up the other way around. radio shack also has 120vac fans that will work on current straight from the wall: in which case get a cheapo extension cord, cut off female end, strip and twist up wires in similar fashion. (use of wire nuts and/or lots of electrical tape is a good idea, 120vac can be dangerous if your wires are exposed! the voltage from a DC adapter like a cell charger will NOT harm you, but if the wires touch eachother you end up with a dead adapter)... if wiring the AC variety without an adapter you can't get the wires "backwards" as it will work either way. reeeeal basic electronics here folks
|
IGnosticAbhorI
Stranger-er

Registered: 11/06/04
Posts: 4,899
Last seen: 8 months, 5 days
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: creamcorn]
#5567648 - 04/28/06 05:26 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Cut this to your preferred size.

Cut off the head and push this inside

Then just melt where you stuck it in.
Viloa. 
-Gnostic
|
splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: splifner180]
#5567841 - 04/28/06 06:24 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
I made my own just now. Works like a champ!
Peep.
Thanks for the idea, man!!
splif
-------------------- First Grow: Ecuador -> LC -> HPoo/Straw -> Monotub Build a Do-It-Yourself Magnetic Stirrer in thirty minutes with no money.
|
blacklabrat
Stranger

Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 77
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: IGnosticAbhorI]
#5568078 - 04/28/06 07:21 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
OK. Couple of things here:
1) Why does everyone keep on insisting to coat the stirring rod? Commercial rods are coated w/ Teflon to reduce the "clanging" noise and enable the rod to spin with less friction. The small piece of wire achieves both of these things. Also if you add any sort of coating to the wire, it places more distance between the spinning magnet and the stir rod, thus reducing the energy transfered. The whole reason this little fan works is that is rotating a tiny object (the size of a straightened staple) with very little drag. A commercial stirrer's motor is much bigger and stronger.
Another plus is that wire acts almost like a mini-blade, breaking the LC into even more strands.
RUST? It's not going to rust in the few days that the LC is going. And if it does...so what.
2) The whole reason I didn't go into too much detail is that this whole set up can be modified dozens of ways. Just here to give you guys some idea's...not spoon feed you. It better to understand the concepts of an idea, rather than blindly following instructions. The whole idea is to LEARN. I'm not going to give out advice on eletrical matters. I'm not an expert and there is too much at risk. If in doubt, make sure you get the OK on you specific setup from a professinal. Could be as simple as picking up the phone and calling radio shack, electrician or computer repair shop. Creamcorn is right. Lots of different AC adapters will work..But like he said, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND USING AN EXTENSION CORD!
Have fun, and remember....The don't be in such a rush to get to the destination..enjoy the journey!
|
Snaggletooth
Stranger in a Strange Land


Registered: 10/24/05
Posts: 6,109
Loc: blinks stupidly
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#5568189 - 04/28/06 07:51 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Commercial rods are coated w/ Teflon to reduce the "clanging" noise
Oh they make noise, I will for now on place an appropriate rubber tubing over the stir bar, like the one Blue Helix has posted... http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/5564387#Post5564387
--------------------
Atheist Chat
|
splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Snaggletooth]
#5568577 - 04/28/06 09:25 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
I did put some heatshrink around my 1" piece of solid wire. I'm not concerned about rust (could always get a stainless steel nail for like 2c) but I felt the surface would be a wee bit smoother.
When I ran the setup before, the metal stirring rod seemed to ocasionally "stall" in place, like it was trying to "pick up" the rotation of the magnet. Now, with the coating, the rod never stops spinning and I achieve (what I like to call) a full-on sucking sound in a full pint jar reliably.
splif
-------------------- First Grow: Ecuador -> LC -> HPoo/Straw -> Monotub Build a Do-It-Yourself Magnetic Stirrer in thirty minutes with no money.
|
time2
Stranger
Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 357
Last seen: 16 years, 2 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: splifner180]
#5569098 - 04/28/06 11:32 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
what's the canning lid for?
|
fungiamongi2
pharmer



Registered: 03/10/05
Posts: 1,042
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: time2]
#5570022 - 04/29/06 12:23 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I think he attached the canning lid right to the fan blades, then mounted the magnet to that
-------------------- gonna bring her a kiss, make those blues run
|
blacklabrat
Stranger

Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 77
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: fungiamongi2]
#5570186 - 04/29/06 01:08 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Exactly right fungiamongi2.
I first attached the canning lid to the fan blade with super glue, making sure that it was absolutely centered. I then played around with the placement of the magnet making sure that it spun with out wobbling. As soon as I had the placement correct I outlined the magnet w/ a sharpie, and secured with glue.
Its not really necessary, just the way I happened to do it...Just check out splifner180's sir plate project. Either way will work. The important thing is to just make sure everything is centered.
|
IGnosticAbhorI
Stranger-er

Registered: 11/06/04
Posts: 4,899
Last seen: 8 months, 5 days
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Snaggletooth]
#5570444 - 04/29/06 02:05 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Snaggletooth said: ]Commercial rods are coated w/ Teflon to reduce the "clanging" noise
Teflon is great ...in terms of plastic. 
-Gnostic
|
time2
Stranger
Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 357
Last seen: 16 years, 2 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: IGnosticAbhorI]
#5570544 - 04/29/06 02:39 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Ahh I see... I'm making one now. It will be pretty cool looking.
I'm using this fan:

and having it some cool colors
|
Akamatsu
Seeker

Registered: 01/29/06 
Posts: 285
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 1 month
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: time2]
#5571821 - 04/29/06 08:45 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Mate, this is crazy. I had the EXACT same idea, awesome stuff!
|
alleyesonme_7
Game-on
Registered: 11/18/04
Posts: 140
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Akamatsu]
#5730126 - 06/09/06 10:05 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
this is a Great tek works Great
i just made mine
looks very nice
if any of you can;t find strong magnets
looks of ebay they have some really nice ones some cheap ones that can lift 49lb that would get your twister going in the jar
-------------------- My first Grow "Not all who wander are lost" - J. R. R. Tolkien Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan "We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything." - Blaise Pascal
|
Ascension
Stranger

Registered: 01/13/05
Posts: 156
Loc: Still trying to work it o...
Last seen: 17 years, 7 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: alleyesonme_7]
#5732268 - 06/09/06 09:34 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
This is brilliant, So simple but effective, Im bumpin it back to the top so people who missed it can see it.
It should be made a sticky!
|
splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Ascension]
#5732596 - 06/09/06 11:09 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Ascension, you can always put threads/teks you really like in your sig.
splif
-------------------- First Grow: Ecuador -> LC -> HPoo/Straw -> Monotub Build a Do-It-Yourself Magnetic Stirrer in thirty minutes with no money.
|
ALHOFF177A17
DoWn RU?

Registered: 01/23/02
Posts: 241
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: alleyesonme_7]
#5732637 - 06/09/06 11:26 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
If anyone needs one of these HD magnets I will be happy to trade. Just don't know how well it will make it through the PO mail sorter...
-------------------- www.DoWnClothing.COM
|
Psychoslut
The Mother Fucking Bear-o-dactyl

Registered: 12/10/02
Posts: 20,917
Loc: all up in ya
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5733362 - 06/10/06 07:11 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
bongtoke said: i can make that right now.. iwish the directions wre better..what did you use to hook the fan up to..like how did u wire it?just twine the wires to the celly charger?
http://jnaudin.free.fr/html/vtxlab.htm
--------------------
[quote]KristiMidocean said: Good now thats clear.WHO FUCKING CARES. If I am fat u all keep pointing it out like its suppose to be a secret.LIke u really have nothing better to do then make fat jokes. If o know its like I do I know yall can come up with NEW AND BETTER SHIT . This shit is old and boring . I left in the first place cause this shit got boring not because of the fat jokes . Fat jokes dont bother me but seriously its old[/quote]
|
Roadkill
Retired Shroomery Mod


Registered: 12/11/01
Posts: 22,674
Loc: Montana
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#5733619 - 06/10/06 09:43 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Very nice write up!~

I'll be adding this thread to the Archives...
in a few weeks after everyone has an opertunity to view it here in the Mush Cult.

tc
-------------------- Laterz, Road Who the hell you callin crazy? You wouldn't know what crazy was if Charles Manson was eating froot loops on your front porch! Brainiac said: PM the names with on there names, that means they have mushrooms for sale.
|
JoeMama
Registered: 04/28/06
Posts: 154
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Roadkill]
#5743315 - 06/12/06 07:43 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Too f-ing cool man. I just finished my LC stirrer as well. One thing that I would like to add for the noob (like me)
When you take you HDD apart you will retreive *2* magnets. When you mount them on the cooling fan USE ONLY ONE OF THEM!! I know its tempting to play high school physics and mount them both to 'balance out' the load, but what this does is exactly that. (Inside the jar with the stirrer) In my experiment, the rod/nail/tack (cut off) just sat there not knowing what to do. Between the 2 magnets it never had a chance to spin one way or the other, and it just sat and vibrated. Take 1 magnet off and VIOLA! Instant vortex! BRILLIANT!! -Me
|
majlo
crazy


Registered: 04/20/06
Posts: 168
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: JoeMama]
#5744712 - 06/13/06 01:16 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
place one on top of antoher, works for me...
UNTIL I'LL MAKE ANTOHER ONE..heheeheheheeh
-------------------- Come see our country, but don't stay too long
|
g0pher
sir?


Registered: 07/18/05
Posts: 425
Loc: Uranus
Last seen: 15 years, 1 month
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: majlo]
#5767198 - 06/19/06 08:22 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
GREAT IDEA!
I just made mine and just put it to work, here are some pictures...

The "case" is a little fan guard i yanked from an old PC, and i took a dremel to it to level out the plastic fins to flatten them out.

Here I added little rubber feet so it doesn't slide or make any noise when turned on. Hot glued and taped the wires to the underside 

The little black "cup" on the side is the top to a pen cut in half and hot glued to the side for storage of the stir rod. The rod came from an old cd-rom i had around, i took it apart and its the little rod that spins the cd inside, its about 1 inch long and works just fine.

In action, although i did fill the water level a little too high, so it doesn't make the vortex all the way to the bottom.
I'm not worried to much about making this water proof since its going to have jars that are going to be covered any way.
Thanks again for your great idea!
--------------------
ALL POSTS ARE FICTIONAL
|
19741974
Stranger

Registered: 06/18/06
Posts: 148
Last seen: 17 years, 3 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: IGnosticAbhorI]
#5767282 - 06/19/06 08:55 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
This is probably a dumb question. allthough i am a newbee. What am i looking at here? what does it do? I have all those parts. Does it grow shrooms, or just stir water to enhance a trip while on shrooms? HA HA that last part was a joke... or was it. maybe add some food coloring with glitter. No really though, i have to know. Thanx and gone.
|
dreadful
Lush


Registered: 05/27/06
Posts: 24
Loc: SF bay area
Last seen: 17 years, 4 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: 19741974]
#5767386 - 06/19/06 09:38 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
It's for something called liquid cultures, or LC's. An LC is made by inoculating a jar of some fluid that can support mycelium rather than a jar of brown rice flour and vermiculite or something. By growing the mycelium in the LC for a while, you can get a bunch of it, suck it up into syringes, and use it to inoculate other things (like jars of substrate or even more LC's).
The contraptions depicted here stir the fluid in the LC to help the mycelium spread evenly throughout it as it grows.
-------------------- It's a grim kind of celebration, a dance on razor's edge ... -- Scott O. Moore
|
2FiNiTe
ConsideratlyKilling Me


Registered: 06/12/06
Posts: 1,635
Loc: New England
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#5767593 - 06/19/06 10:59 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
In the first pic, thats called vortexing, very bad for anything your trying to mix. It sucks the atmosphere in and can contaminate your sample. Chemistry 101 lol just thought u should know.
-------------------- "Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living." General Omar N. Bradley
|
splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: 2FiNiTe]
#5769325 - 06/19/06 06:53 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
2FiNiTe writes: "In the first pic, thats called vortexing, very bad for anything your trying to mix. It sucks the atmosphere in and can contaminate your sample. Chemistry 101 lol just thought u should know. "
Man, I hate to flame the noobs but one out of every hundred decides to create an account and jump into a thread, dick swinging.
1. The correct stirring rate barely creates a dimple.
2. We cover the hole with polyfill or tyvek. And contaminants can get through neither.
3. I have three LC jars, all of which have been on my stirrer for 8 hours out of every day (and one 24/7) with no contamination whatsoever.
It's annoying (but taken for granted) that new people will ask questions when they could have just read the 8 kabillion posts already written on the subject. But for the love of FUCK, don't show up and start handing out bad info to satiate your need to feel knowledgable.
splif
-------------------- First Grow: Ecuador -> LC -> HPoo/Straw -> Monotub Build a Do-It-Yourself Magnetic Stirrer in thirty minutes with no money.
|
MFKDGAF
Stranger


Registered: 09/01/05
Posts: 194
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
|
Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#6006456 - 08/28/06 09:38 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Hey I'm in the process of making my own right now i have the fan running with a jar lid on top and then my magnet, but for some reason it isn't creating a vortex in the jar. Anyone have any suggestions?
|
ArJunaSpore


Registered: 12/01/10
Posts: 74
Loc: Hydes Ferry, TN
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
|
|
Thanks for this post. I was just about to dump at least $80 at Amazon for a magnetic mixer when I came across this post. It took me all of 45 minutes to make mine and it works like a champ.
I made one with one of two magnets I pulled from a crashed 320GB SATA hard drive. and an 80mm computer fan. I do a lot of electronics stuff so I have some cool power supplies which allow me to regulate voltage/current, I hooked one up to the stirrer and I can go from about 40-700 rpm.
Here is a video of the working prototype.
I picked up a magnetic stirring bar from Fungi Perfecti for $6 and it works like a champ with this plate.
I can spin as slow as a little under once a second for a real gentle stir and if I crank it up to about 18 volts it goes so fast that the vortex reaches the bottom of a quart size container.
This idea works great. Thanks.
Now I am going to design a variable power supply and mount the whole works in a small housing of some type and fit it in a thermal-regulated box of some kind for growing cultures.
ETA: I was also able to make this work using only a small nail with the two ends ground flat in place of the magnetic stirring bar. It was a bit fickle and the container had to be real close to the magnet, but it was workable. The thinner the nail the better. Too large a nail and the force of the magnet will not be able to maintain a hold on the nail against the force of pushing the water. The magnetic stirring rod works much, much better.
Edited by ArJunaSpore (12/27/10 02:11 PM)
|
Harley.Hammerhead
Informed Passenger.


Registered: 12/09/10
Posts: 403
Loc: The cold north.
|
|
Dam man, Both the Ops post and this guys posts are totaly inspiring.... i came on here for one last xmas eve check and found this, TOTALY worth the check, im guna have to go down and make one of these for xmas, since i allready have all the parts 
Edit: i have the name for it to, inspired by your name, DJ-SPINSTER is born, Merry Xmas and a happy new year!
--------------------

Edited by Harley.Hammerhead (12/25/10 12:09 PM)
|
windowpaine
pyschonaut


Registered: 12/05/10
Posts: 14
Loc: NC, USA
Last seen: 12 years, 9 months
|
|
Awesome. I'm about 100% sure I have everything for this already, too. Definitely a stir plate in my future.
|
ArJunaSpore


Registered: 12/01/10
Posts: 74
Loc: Hydes Ferry, TN
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
|
|
|
3n1gm4
3N!9M4T!C



Registered: 01/13/11
Posts: 2,727
Loc: The Downside of Up
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
|
This is Genius I have two hematite magnets that are shaped like footballs, they are called Buzz magnets because when you throw them into the air they hit together making a buzzing sound, if anyone is still looking at this thread will you look at this link and tell me if you think they would work? They stick together just like in the pic and will even hold each other to an inch thick table and when you spin one on one side of the table the other spins the same direction. Plus they are oval shaped so it would give less contact with the bottom of jar for less drag and a much better stir because both ends are raised.
http://www.shopping.com/Toysmith-Buzz-Magnets-Jumbo/info
I could glue one of these to the middle of the fan motor and place one in the jar. Would hematite mess with the LC? Only problem is it might be noisy but you could fix that with some wire shrink wrap.
-------------------- http://www.shroomery.org/6257/Magic-Mushroom-Dosage-CalculatorLOL when you zoom in to try to read my sig pics you will get lost in the crystal forrest of ghanni!
   
|
ArJunaSpore


Registered: 12/01/10
Posts: 74
Loc: Hydes Ferry, TN
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
|
Re: Thanks for this [Re: 3n1gm4]
#13908810 - 02/05/11 03:34 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
|
|
I would expect one of those would work quite well for this. I have the exact same magnets and I think they would be plenty strong. Just one would be needed. My design above actually turned out to be a bit too strong. I had to make a couple spacers out of wood to reduce the magnetic pull for some of the containers I use or else it caused drag because it pulled so hard. If you use magnetic stir rods instead of a nail or other steel wire it does not take much magnet on the stirrer to turn it. Good Luck
|
3n1gm4
3N!9M4T!C



Registered: 01/13/11
Posts: 2,727
Loc: The Downside of Up
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
|
I made one and it works how much of a vortex I need?


-------------------- http://www.shroomery.org/6257/Magic-Mushroom-Dosage-CalculatorLOL when you zoom in to try to read my sig pics you will get lost in the crystal forrest of ghanni!
   
|
ArJunaSpore



Registered: 12/01/10
Posts: 74
Loc: Hydes Ferry, TN
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
|
Re: Thanks for this [Re: 3n1gm4]
#13970258 - 02/15/11 08:49 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
3n1gm4 said: I made one and it works how much of a vortex I need?
Very nice, look cool. You don't need much vortex as you call it. That looks like it has plenty of speed to chop up myc as I do with my LC's before sucking them up into a syringe.. I worked harder trying to get mine to go slow for a constant slow stir.
|
3n1gm4
3N!9M4T!C



Registered: 01/13/11
Posts: 2,727
Loc: The Downside of Up
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
|
Quote:
ArJunaSpore said:
Quote:
3n1gm4 said: I made one and it works how much of a vortex I need?
Very nice, look cool. You don't need much vortex as you call it. That looks like it has plenty of speed to chop up myc as I do with my LC's before sucking them up into a syringe.. I worked harder trying to get mine to go slow for a constant slow stir.
I used two of these instead of HD magnets They spin best at the lowest speed. They were spinning as fast as they would go in the pics. http://www.officeplayground.com/Buzz-Magnets-P169.aspx
-------------------- http://www.shroomery.org/6257/Magic-Mushroom-Dosage-CalculatorLOL when you zoom in to try to read my sig pics you will get lost in the crystal forrest of ghanni!
   
Edited by 3n1gm4 (02/15/11 08:55 PM)
|
linkamathingy
Aspiring Mycologist


Registered: 10/27/10
Posts: 1,235
|
Re: Thanks for this [Re: 3n1gm4]
#14038916 - 02/27/11 09:38 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
i built mine today!
a tip to those figuring this out: it's best to isolate the magnets from extra metal when you're salvaging them.
this messed with me for a bit, so much metal attached to magnets taped to the fan made it look bulky and hard to calibrate for least wobble.
it also greatly improved power once i had isolated the magnets. i wasn't getting a dimple vortex or hardly any power with the spare metal blocking magnetic fields...
Pretty good tutorial for the DIY stirrer: http://www.instructables.com/id/Magnetic-Stirrer/#step1 Salvage the magnet!
-------------------- SCIENCE!!! If NIST didn't even investigate whether explosives were used, how can we trust their investigation? It's a rule whenever explosions are heard. Though I Laugh EyegasmArt.com anonymous: without name Anonymous: a group with a name don't be fooled, have a revolution on your own terms.
|
|