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RedBeerd
Stranger



Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 379
Loc: Dirty south....
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Preserving Fresh Fruit
#9474372 - 12/21/08 06:54 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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So, I was thinking about some ways to preserve some fresh mushrooms, but not for later consumption.
I was thinking it would be cool to display different strains of fruit in like a liquid suspension, ready for the china cabinet, or whatever. I just think itd be a cooler way to display your collection than like "Hey, check out my tubes of myc with sharpie labels"
I was thinking perhaps formaldehyde? My girlfriend suggested ethyl acetate, because thats what her friend uses to preserve bugs. I was thinking maybe some sterile KARO with no GE port maybe? What do you guys think?
PS, this probably isnt the best location for this post, so, apologies.
~Red
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SuchSmartMonkeys
mycologically driven individual



Registered: 10/26/05
Posts: 1,154
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: RedBeerd]
#9474389 - 12/21/08 06:57 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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why karo? seems like this would just give it nutrients to grow on. That would be really cool if that was possible. I would keep the most pretty from each grow...
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RedBeerd
Stranger



Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 379
Loc: Dirty south....
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Karo cause I guess you can keep them for later eating in honey. But yeah, I think it'd be cool lookin' especially if you had a really diverse collection.
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MycoAu
5thKingdomCome


Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 1,047
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: RedBeerd]
#9474438 - 12/21/08 07:05 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Why not use a formaldehyde solution as in so many other biology/anatomy displays use?
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Slappy McCrackin
Dawg



Registered: 04/12/08
Posts: 469
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: MycoAu]
#9474470 - 12/21/08 07:11 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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epoxy. mix up a bunch, pour it completely over the shroom in some kind of form. clear mushroom paperweight.
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Shroominit
Part Time Mycologist



Registered: 11/29/08
Posts: 4,662
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: MycoAu]
#9474486 - 12/21/08 07:14 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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They have that clear gel stuff that dries hard for 'liquid suspension' displays. Like gel candles almost, but the real stuff is cheaper because it can't be burned like the candle type.
The question of all these (save maybe formaldehyde) is will they keep, or will the mushroom deteriorate.
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Shroominit
Part Time Mycologist



Registered: 11/29/08
Posts: 4,662
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Quote:
Slappy McCrackin said: epoxy. mix up a bunch, pour it completely over the shroom in some kind of form. clear mushroom paperweight.
Does that work for sure? I'll try it out as soon as mine fruit if it does.
Also epoxy block probably takes a good while to cure because it's only touching itself and the container. Additionally, you would probably want to wait 1/2-2/3 the pot life before placing the mushroom, so that the epoxy has congealed a bit.
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RedBeerd
Stranger



Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 379
Loc: Dirty south....
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: MycoAu]
#9474515 - 12/21/08 07:18 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've never worked with clear epoxy, only the concrete/rebar stuff, but could it also be too solvent or "hot" for it?
Edit: Otherwise some great ideas though guys. Also could you explain what that clear gel stuff is?
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Edited by RedBeerd (12/21/08 07:21 PM)
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Slappy McCrackin
Dawg



Registered: 04/12/08
Posts: 469
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: Shroominit]
#9474517 - 12/21/08 07:18 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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epoxy doesn't need air to "dry". it's a chemical reaction. It can cure under water. two part epoxy. when you make your form, line the inside of it with clear film, like shipping tape almost. sticky side to the form, not the epoxy. it will cure in 24 hours then remove form and plastic.
you'll have to suspend the shroom with some fishing line or something so it's not all smoooshed to one side.
just a thought !
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Shroominit
Part Time Mycologist



Registered: 11/29/08
Posts: 4,662
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I have worked with epoxy hundreds of times and I understand the chemical reaction. The point is when you make solid objects (say a 4x4x4" cube) the edges will take a lot longer to cure than if you just epoxy-dipped a mushroom.
The question I was asking is will the mushroom itself stay in tact.
RedBeerd, I don't think it would have any negative effect on the tissue in a chemical manner, especially if you wait until the pot life starts. Clear/tabletop epoxy gets warm but not hot maybe *110*F and I don't see it as being acidic/basic/caustic. Not sure though, I will test it out if nobody knows.
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MycoAu
5thKingdomCome


Registered: 07/18/07
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Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: Shroominit]
#9474563 - 12/21/08 07:26 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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The heat shouldn't really be a problem, but there might be reactions with chemicals in the mushroom's skin. This might cause decoloration or discoloration, but there is no way to really know for any given mushroom until you've tried it.
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Slappy McCrackin
Dawg



Registered: 04/12/08
Posts: 469
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: MycoAu]
#9474595 - 12/21/08 07:29 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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sorry, I misunderstood. I believe the fruit would stay together well. sealed in an airtight block. should last forever. I really like this idea too. I'll have to try this soon myself. If you do this, could you let me know how it works out? I'd love to see.
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RedBeerd
Stranger



Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 379
Loc: Dirty south....
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Yeah, by "hot" I meant caustic or chemically 'hot', but I'd believe shroominit when he says he doesn't think it would be...
I also think the brick or form pour might be the way to go... You could just dremel away the excess if you wanted to make it more aesthetic.
Quote:
Shroominit said: They have that clear gel stuff that dries hard for 'liquid suspension' displays. Like gel candles almost, but the real stuff is cheaper because it can't be burned like the candle type.
The question of all these (save maybe formaldehyde) is will they keep, or will the mushroom deteriorate.
Still curious what you think this stuff might be.
~Red
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ABC
Stranger



Registered: 11/16/08
Posts: 1,439
Last seen: 1 year, 9 months
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: RedBeerd]
#9474691 - 12/21/08 07:45 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Traditional preservative fluids (Borrer et al. 1989), as every taxonomist and collection curator knows, include:
70–80% ethyl alcohol, Hood’s solution (19 parts 70–80% ethyl alcohol to 1 part glycerin),
MUSINGS
Kahle’s solution (8 parts 95% ethyl alcohol, 3 parts formalin, 1 part glacial acetic acid to 16 parts water),
KAAD (1 part kerosene, 7-8 parts ethyl alcohol, 2 parts glacial acetic acid to 1 part dioxane), and
FAA (1 part formalin, 8 parts ethyl alcohol to 2 parts glacial acetic acid).
idk, i found this after a quick google search http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=html&cd=4&url=http%3A%2F%2F74.125.45.132%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcache%3AIRfMwBZhKQcJ%3Awww.entsoc.org%2Fpubs%2Fperiodicals%2Fae%2Fae-2004%2Fwinter%2FMusings.pdf%2Bpreserving%2Blive%2Bspecimens%2Bfor%2Bdisplay%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26cd%3D4%26gl%3Dus&ei=M_5OSeavGYiU9gStlo2jDw&usg=AFQjCNHkxPBpTwV4DUbcLT_t9xjRK-zYEA&sig2=VUtZ0D-Fzj2UdvpNfIzPTA i dunno if it's the right thing, but it looks like it.
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RedBeerd
Stranger



Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 379
Loc: Dirty south....
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: ABC]
#9474774 - 12/21/08 08:00 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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The meat of that article explains using instant hand sanitizer as a preserving agent, as it's constituents are similar to those recipes above.
The lady was successful in preserving some insect specimens for over a year in instant hand sanitizer of different brands.
Anyone feel like trying this one out for us? I don't have any fruit right now or I would...
~Red
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Shroominit
Part Time Mycologist



Registered: 11/29/08
Posts: 4,662
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: Shroominit]
#9474852 - 12/21/08 08:15 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Just an LC on hand, I will be fruiting it when it grows a little (so like a week give or take)
I really want to try it, but can't just yet. The "stuff" I was talking about I guess is just called "Gel Wax" and they have high density versions of it that will hold heaver objects.
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Slappy McCrackin
Dawg



Registered: 04/12/08
Posts: 469
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: Shroominit]
#9474862 - 12/21/08 08:17 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'll try the epoxy on some small fruits coming on. this is a great project idea.
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Shroominit
Part Time Mycologist



Registered: 11/29/08
Posts: 4,662
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Unfortunate that my gallon tubs of epoxy turned yellow =/ I guess I can still try it with some yellow ones. I will see if I can't get my hands on a fruit and try it out this week.
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Slappy McCrackin
Dawg



Registered: 04/12/08
Posts: 469
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Re: Preserving Fresh Fruit [Re: Shroominit]
#9501880 - 12/27/08 11:58 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Update:
I currently picked a small cap fresh from the fruit and tried to preserve it for show purposes. Here's what i did.
Small molds (look like reese's cups) Polyester casting resin 1 small fresh Golden Teacher cap
1. I poured 1/3 of the mold full of casting resin. Let it cure about 8 hrs. 2. placed the cap on the hardened resin 3. filled over the cap into the mold with more casting resin. 4. Let sit 24 hours until cured. (The cap wants to float to the to top)
conclusion:
the casting resin cured crystal clear and bubble free.  the resin cup popped right out of the form.  the cap though untouched by hands has bruised heavily.  after about 3 days, the cap has heavy mold building around it. 
I suspect because there is moisture in a fresh fruit, trapping it in resin is not enough to keep it from rotting. It is possible that the small amount of heat put off by the curing resin is enough to bruise fruit.
Question: If a fruit can be freez-dried, will it possibly be able to be used in this manner?
anyway, I said I'd try this and I did. I would like to be more successful, any ideas?
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