|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
MichaelH
Stranger
Registered: 10/13/08
Posts: 4
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase?
#9072246 - 10/13/08 05:56 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Hello,
Im interested in a laminar flow hood to work with tissue culture. There are many DIY instructions but Im wondering if you can make a real laminar flow which works as effective as a professional one and save much money. Does anybody know the cheapest price for a small, new professional laminar flow hood?
|
MycoAu
5thKingdomCome


Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 1,047
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: MichaelH]
#9072285 - 10/13/08 06:01 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I'd go with a home built unless you've got a very large budget for hobbies. The cheapest professional/manufactured hood I've seen was about $500 (US) used, and that didn't include shipping (which is probably going to be several hundred at the cheapest rates and maybe into the thousands, depending on speed of delivery and method/route.
Yes, you can build a professional quality hood if you carefully choose your design, filter and are personally capable (or know somebody) of moderate craftsmanship.
|
veda_sticks
Cultivator




Registered: 07/29/07
Posts: 14,191
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: MichaelH]
#9072304 - 10/13/08 06:04 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
You do need to search. All the calculations have already been posted and explained in finite detail. It takes more than one sentence to explain the physics of laminar flow, and the relationship of static pressure to blower ratings, the plenum, etc. That's why we have the search feature. It's far easier for you to do a simple search than to ask those of us who know to type it all over again endlessly every single time the question gets asked. Anno also has some good info in the teks section on his site at www.fungifun.org RR
i did a little search for you
now search some more, id sugest the website linked from my quote
You can succesfully build your own flowhood. You can buy one premade but is obviously going to cost quite a bit.
You need a squirell cage blower and a good hepa filter and do some calcs to work out what blower you need for the hepa filter you get.
-------------------- PF TEK - writeup by EvilMushroom666 Lets Grow Mushrooms - RogerRabbit & RoadKills website with sample videos plus the full PF TEK video series. Alot of great information - BUY THE DVD Cakes can and will pin! - So you think cakes suck for pins. Your wrong Franks Simple Coir/Verm Tek Franks Proper Pasturisation Tek Franks Spawning To Bulk - Monotub Professor Pinheads RTV Injection Port Tek Foo Mans No Soak WBS Prep Tek
|
shitandstraw
Stranger
Registered: 08/15/08
Posts: 2
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: veda_sticks]
#9072649 - 10/13/08 07:16 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I was wondering the same thing about whether I could make one that was nearly as good as a proper one and I found this on ebay for only $75.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Envirco-Mac-10-HEPA-2-X-4-Fan-Filter-Units_W0QQitemZ260297862060QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260297862060&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
It's 4 feet long so could I have it horizontal on a bench and have it blowing sterile air directly at me over the workspace of the bench? Is it powerful enough and is it even what I'm after? Seems pretty cheap
First post by the way, been lurking for a few months, great stuff
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: shitandstraw]
#9072716 - 10/13/08 07:29 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
The series 1 from FP is a great hood for about $500. I've been using mine for nearly ten years now. You can make your own for about 2/3 the price if you have either a metal shop with tig welder for aluminum, or a nice wood working shop. If not, then for that 1/3 extra added to the price, you get a ready made unit. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: shitandstraw]
#9072723 - 10/13/08 07:30 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
That's not quite the same as a flow hood, but I believe a few people here use those systems successfully. I swear Menace has one like that and a member named Shroober also used one like that. That's a hell of a deal regardless just for the filter. I wish I had seen that before I built mine.
Anyway, I paid around $250 for mine including the wood and hardware.

I have a few more pics in my journal.
--------------------
Quick WBS Prep
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#9072738 - 10/13/08 07:34 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Shitandstraw, No. First, it's used, and they rarely remove good filters from clean rooms. They remove them when they begin to clog and the static pressure rises. In addition, it's intended for 277 volts, which is what you get phase to ground on a 480 volt wye system. They said they 'tested' it on 240 V, and it's a good thing they didn't test it for long or they'd have fried the motor. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
shitandstraw
Stranger
Registered: 08/15/08
Posts: 2
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#9072793 - 10/13/08 07:44 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
ok cheers Roger, first post and it gets replied to by the Mack daddy of the forum - marvellous! And cheers Fooman, looks like I'll be giving it a miss.
|
FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#9072803 - 10/13/08 07:45 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I missed the part about the voltage, but the seller claims that the filters are "like new". $125 isn't bad for a 2 x 4' HEPA if it is indeed as described, but people will tell you anything to sell you something.
--------------------
Quick WBS Prep
|
MichaelH
Stranger
Registered: 10/13/08
Posts: 4
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: FooMan]
#9079858 - 10/15/08 05:06 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Which is the best guide for building a homemade laminar flow? Which has worked for you?
|
MisterMuscaria



Registered: 05/13/08
Posts: 27,646
Loc:
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: MichaelH]
#9079870 - 10/15/08 05:20 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Hmm...I had planned to build one like yours, Fooman but that $75 one seems like a steal! Im not sure...I might still just build one.
|
dothedew69
Relearning



Registered: 08/27/08
Posts: 624
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: MisterMuscaria]
#9079884 - 10/15/08 05:30 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Changed my mind, Foo your hood looks great. How did you connect the fan? Oh I get the pic now, connected to the top then the air flow is forced out through the filter. Awesome foo, thanks! Any way I can get the exact size of the wood pieces used? I don't have a table saw and would have to have home depot cut the pieces for me thanks!
Good guide to building a flowhood.
Edited by dothedew69 (10/15/08 05:53 AM)
|
FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: dothedew69]
#9081986 - 10/15/08 03:07 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
dothedew69 said: Changed my mind, Foo your hood looks great. How did you connect the fan? Oh I get the pic now, connected to the top then the air flow is forced out through the filter. Awesome foo, thanks! Any way I can get the exact size of the wood pieces used? I don't have a table saw and would have to have home depot cut the pieces for me thanks!
Good guide to building a flowhood.
Top & bottom = 22" x 24" Sides = 22" x 13.5" Back = 12" x 24"
3/4" press board was what I used for wood. A nice hardwood wood be better, but much more pricey. The hole in the top was only 5" in diameter to help decrease the air flow, which I think is still a bit more than 100ft/min. The hood has worked flawlessly so far though. I would recommend getting a speed controller and making the hole wide enough for the fan to fit into, or else you'll need to use a ton of glue to keep it in place like I did.
I wouldn't have had to make the box so deep with the 6" fan, but that 8" model was a big bastard and I had to adjust the dimensions accordingly. It was really easy, but time consuming. What really sucked was having to wait for the silicone to dry overnight before being able to use it.
If you have Home Depot cut it for you, make sure they cut the wood straight. The guy that cut mine did it crooked as hell even with that fancy-ass machine and I ended up having to recut it myself. Make sure to keep a strip on scrap wood 2-4" wide and 24" long for the fan to sit on.
If you have any other specific questions about it, feel free to PM me.
--------------------
Quick WBS Prep
|
dothedew69
Relearning



Registered: 08/27/08
Posts: 624
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: FooMan]
#9082039 - 10/15/08 03:21 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Awesome thanks foo!
|
MichaelH
Stranger
Registered: 10/13/08
Posts: 4
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: dothedew69]
#9085201 - 10/16/08 04:48 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Lets say you build a professional laminar flow yourself. Is it nearly fool-proof to get sterile cultures with this or is it still hard work and you have to accept some contamination rates?
|
MisterMuscaria



Registered: 05/13/08
Posts: 27,646
Loc:
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: MichaelH]
#9085204 - 10/16/08 04:51 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
What kind of wood is the best to use? Does it really matter or do certain types of wood hold contams?
|
dothedew69
Relearning



Registered: 08/27/08
Posts: 624
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: MichaelH]
#9085283 - 10/16/08 06:03 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
MichaelH said: Lets say you build a professional laminar flow yourself. Is it nearly fool-proof to get sterile cultures with this or is it still hard work and you have to accept some contamination rates?
A properly built flow hood will eliminate 99.97 or 99.99 (depending on the filter) of everything from the air giving you sterile air. I don't think it is fool proof it should take some practice. Watch the RR videos, www.mushroomvideos.com, he uses a flow hood and will make comments on how to use the flow hood to keep contamination out. But because of the static pressure the air that comes through is from the entire filter. So your work area will be sterile it's just the jars, the scalpul, the syringe, everything else may not be sterile. I am not sure if this is the exact answer, this is just my understanding. RR or Foo to the rescue?
As for the wood, foo used MDF wood (medium density fiberboard which is used in subwoofer enclosures) but it was more cost effective to use that over a nice piece of solid wood. I do know that MDF loves moisture though as I have used it for years in building sub enclosures. I don't know what effect that would have but Foo I assume has had no trouble. Anyways MDF is the cheapest, easy to cut. If you want a prettier flow hood try solid wood, maybe pressure treated wood.
Edited by dothedew69 (10/16/08 06:08 AM)
|
FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: dothedew69]
#9087727 - 10/16/08 05:47 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Nothing is foolproof. You need to be careful how you work in front of the hood. Sloppy work = sloppy results. The area in front of the hood should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. Items should be placed in front of the hood in the order of their sterility. For instance, if you were transferring tissue from one agar dish to a new one, the new one should be further upstream to avoid possible contaminants blowing towards it. Your hands should be the furthest downstream and never reaching over plates or open grain jars. You will still need to sterilize your tools between inoculations and transfers just like any other time. All the hood does is provide relatively sterile airflow in a small area. The benefit is an "open air" feel by not having to work in an enclosed box.
--------------------
Quick WBS Prep
|
passenger56
Stranger
Registered: 05/06/09
Posts: 2
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#10296318 - 05/06/09 11:03 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
|
yougotgot
Stranger

Registered: 05/07/09
Posts: 11
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
|
Re: Laminar flow hood, self-made or new purchase? [Re: passenger56]
#10315414 - 05/10/09 12:25 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
love to see some pic's
|
|