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Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
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ArthurSalenez
Golden Block Of Bud
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 551
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol?
#9961367 - 03/12/09 09:36 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Which gives the least chances for contamination?
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freespeech
disciple
Registered: 12/12/08
Posts: 1,745
Loc: PNW
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: ArthurSalenez]
#9961370 - 03/12/09 09:37 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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You need to flame to kill whatever's inside the needle. Alcohol only hits the outside. Flaming the needle hits all the microscopic crevices in the needle as well as the inside of the needle. Alcohol is not necessary - flame sterilization is.
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grewya
Gone Fishin'
Registered: 10/18/08
Posts: 4,257
Loc: Arlen Gun Club
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: ArthurSalenez]
#9961373 - 03/12/09 09:38 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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I do both. But if I were to choose one over the other I would flame sterilize the needle.
-------------------- Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids. - Joe Biden
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Holydiver
Stranger
Registered: 03/19/01
Posts: 5,156
Loc: The midnight sea
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: ArthurSalenez]
#9961375 - 03/12/09 09:38 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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I have -never- flame sterilized needles, only scalpals and instruments for tissue culture. Cotton ball + alcohol. (assuming you are working with a sterilized syringe, or got one from a vendor).
-------------------- To find a place to live between the negatives and positives.
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ArthurSalenez
Golden Block Of Bud
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 551
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Holydiver]
#9961394 - 03/12/09 09:40 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Thanks all. I'll do both then.
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oddiseus
The PsychofunkFirefly
Registered: 10/05/04
Posts: 456
Loc: Doldrums & Faultlines
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Holydiver]
#9961433 - 03/12/09 09:44 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Quote:
Holydiver said: I have -never- flame sterilized needles, only scalpals and instruments for tissue culture. Cotton ball + alcohol. (assuming you are working with a sterilized syringe, or got one from a vendor).
x2
-------------------- Though you can't go back and make a new beginning. You can start today to make a new end. Traveller, there is no path, paths are made by walking If Jesus was jewish...Why does he have a mexican name??
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TheMushMan
Stranger
Registered: 02/06/09
Posts: 291
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Holydiver]
#9961442 - 03/12/09 09:44 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Quote:
Holydiver said: I have -never- flame sterilized needles, only scalpals and instruments for tissue culture. Cotton ball + alcohol. (assuming you are working with a sterilized syringe, or got one from a vendor).
And you never mentioned if you've had contam problems.....
-------------------- Any spore prints I send are intended for microscopic research ONLY. Cultivation of magic mushrooms is illegal in most countries and nearly every state. Anything you do with prints from me is your own business and your own responsibility.
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Dragonaut
Registered: 06/24/04
Posts: 6,200
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Holydiver]
#9961450 - 03/12/09 09:45 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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I do both. Flaming is good to completely sterilize the needle. An alcohol wipe is good for cleaning off soot and debris from said needle, but not as effective as flaming for sterilization.
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ronjohn7779
Stranger
Registered: 10/28/08
Posts: 1,373
Last seen: 12 years, 9 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Dragonaut]
#9961493 - 03/12/09 09:51 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Quote:
Dragonaut said: I do both. Flaming is good to completely sterilize the needle. An alcohol wipe is good for cleaning off soot and debris from said needle, but not as effective as flaming for sterilization.
What he said. Also if your using a sugar based LC you're going to want to rub that caramelized sugar right off other wise it most likely will fall into your grains.
-------------------- "Lennox Lewis, I'm coming for you man. My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!" An American Hero Iron Mike!
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inski
Cortinariologist
Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 5,766
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Dragonaut]
#9961516 - 03/12/09 09:54 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Also, I think the alcohol percentage has something to do with how effective it is at sterilization, something to do with the speed at which the alcohol evaporates! inski.
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infinitechaos7
Mycophagist
Registered: 01/25/09
Posts: 168
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Dragonaut]
#9961517 - 03/12/09 09:54 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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I follow this rule of thumb...if I am reusing a needle I flame sterilize it at the beginning of my work, but only use alcohol cotton swabs between inoculations. My rationale is this: how likely is it that a contam will get inside the needle between inoculations when the only thing passing through that space is sterile spore solution or LC from the syringe. If the needle is a first-time use, then it's guaranteed sterile and no need for flame sterilization IMO.
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Dragonaut
Registered: 06/24/04
Posts: 6,200
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: inski]
#9961559 - 03/12/09 10:00 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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correct, inski. the extra water in lower percentage rubbing alcohol makes it evaporate slower, giving it more time to kill bacteria.
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RedDevil420
Antichrist
Registered: 01/03/09
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 10 years, 7 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: inski]
#9961594 - 03/12/09 10:03 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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Just flame sterilize the needle, cooling it down with alcohol afterwords will create a negative pressure in the needle tip causing it to suck some air in and contams with it.
You want to insert it while it is still red hot, the carbon on the needle won't hurt a thing.
-------------------- I'm Just Making This All Up. Grains In Glass Jars With Professional Filters FTW. Coir Monotubs FTW. Sterile Technique FTW. Fan dry, Desiccant storage FTW. Ralphster's Spores FTW. Mushroom Cloud - Dirtball
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire
Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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.
Edited by Peterthinks (04/03/09 05:22 PM)
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veda_sticks
Cultivator
Registered: 07/29/07
Posts: 14,191
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: RedDevil420]
#9961665 - 03/12/09 10:13 PM (15 years, 10 days ago) |
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I think it really depends on how your syringes have been treated. I would certainly do it after the first jar, then each time before other jars.
If its a new syringe, then it may not be nessesary, but i like to be complelty sure.
You dont need to alcohol wipe your needle if you flamed it red hot, cant get more sterile than red hot, especially not white hot. I use a butane blotorch, that gets a needle white :-).
Its like glovebos's, some get away without using one, but most fail alot without it. Steam sterilisation and PC sterilisation with the pf tek, thers some that it just doesnt work for.
-------------------- 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
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RedDevil420
Antichrist
Registered: 01/03/09
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 10 years, 7 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Peterthinks]
#9961775 - 03/12/09 10:32 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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-------------------- I'm Just Making This All Up. Grains In Glass Jars With Professional Filters FTW. Coir Monotubs FTW. Sterile Technique FTW. Fan dry, Desiccant storage FTW. Ralphster's Spores FTW. Mushroom Cloud - Dirtball
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ArthurSalenez
Golden Block Of Bud
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 551
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: RedDevil420]
#9961893 - 03/12/09 10:54 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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thanks for all the info guys. I'm sticking to the needles that I get from sporeworks, the pin sized syringe needles are a waste of spores. They get clogged up very easily and I always add an extra CC or so to my jar, leaving it vulnerable to contams.
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Ganja420Boy
Heroic Doser
Registered: 11/15/06
Posts: 1,207
Loc: CoSmoS
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: ArthurSalenez]
#9961996 - 03/12/09 11:10 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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I allways flame it till red hot then cool it down with alcohol soaked cotton ball, I cool it down because if I dont it always melts my polly fill or silicone injection port.
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Vaelu
Strange Stranger
Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 274
Loc: Sin City
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Ganja420Boy]
#9962070 - 03/12/09 11:21 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Quote:
ArthurSalenez said: Which gives the least chances for contamination?
I use an alcohol flame. I'm pretty sure you can make one that will last long enough for knocking up jars with a shotglass and some 91% iso.
-------------------- "When the student is ready the teacher appears..."
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RedDevil420
Antichrist
Registered: 01/03/09
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 10 years, 7 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Vaelu]
#9962140 - 03/12/09 11:30 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Quote:
Vaelu said:
Quote:
ArthurSalenez said: Which gives the least chances for contamination?
I use an alcohol flame. I'm pretty sure you can make one that will last long enough for knocking up jars with a shotglass and some 91% iso.
Bad idea, the last guy who tried a shot glass had it explode in his face. Baby food jar is recommended.
-------------------- I'm Just Making This All Up. Grains In Glass Jars With Professional Filters FTW. Coir Monotubs FTW. Sterile Technique FTW. Fan dry, Desiccant storage FTW. Ralphster's Spores FTW. Mushroom Cloud - Dirtball
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Vaelu
Strange Stranger
Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 274
Loc: Sin City
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: RedDevil420]
#9962209 - 03/12/09 11:40 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Quote:
RedDevil420 said:
Quote:
Vaelu said:
Quote:
ArthurSalenez said: Which gives the least chances for contamination?
I use an alcohol flame. I'm pretty sure you can make one that will last long enough for knocking up jars with a shotglass and some 91% iso.
Bad idea, the last guy who tried a shot glass had it explode in his face. Baby food jar is recommended.
Scary... I got an 8$ alcohol burner off of ebay.
-------------------- "When the student is ready the teacher appears..."
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chunk911
Registered: 02/26/09
Posts: 37
Loc: Bay Area
Last seen: 10 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: RedDevil420]
#9962445 - 03/13/09 12:27 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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ye i could see how a shot glass could go bad
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Spongiform
Some Cow
Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: chunk911]
#10051490 - 03/27/09 06:23 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Jelly jar + paper towel. I use denatured alcohol from the hardware store for it, burns better then rubbing alcohol.
It's also great for making camping stoves or if your power ever goes out, you can still cook a meal or make coffee.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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balleman3
Consumed
Registered: 12/22/08
Posts: 88
Last seen: 7 years, 17 hours
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: RedDevil420]
#10051575 - 03/27/09 07:15 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Most of the time I just leave my syringe standing in the shot glass of alcohol. Just squirt out a couple drops before you punch thru the jar lid. two drops will clear any alcohol that may have entered the tip but that doesn't even matter. I don't even wipe the alcohol off the needle before I punch thru, If any contams are going in they will be covered with alcohol. when you pull out there is a little wet spot on the tyvek just slap a piece of micro-pore over it while its still wet and your done. 2C's is a lot. Its not like its going to shoot up into the syringe and mix killing all your spores. I have never had a jar not colonize normally this way. Just because everyone dose things a certain way doesn't mean its the only way. This is just the easiest-fastest way for me to knock up 120qt jars. Don't be shy with the alcohol, I keep all surfaces wet thru the whole process. I would rather have everything covered with alcohol than one little flame in my glovebox. you could probably dip your needle in shit this way and not have contams.
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SyntheticSkies
Stranger
Registered: 02/07/09
Posts: 198
Loc: 3Fl0rida5
Last seen: 8 years, 8 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Peterthinks]
#10051595 - 03/27/09 07:22 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Peterthinks said:
Could you use anything else; say a lighter or maybe a candle?
-------------------- L i f E i S b U t d R e A m . . .
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Spongiform
Some Cow
Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: SyntheticSkies]
#10051660 - 03/27/09 07:48 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Candles will leave lots of soot.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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SyntheticSkies
Stranger
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Spongiform]
#10051700 - 03/27/09 08:00 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Fuk... Where can i find an alcohol burner?
-------------------- L i f E i S b U t d R e A m . . .
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veda_sticks
Cultivator
Registered: 07/29/07
Posts: 14,191
Loc: UK
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: SyntheticSkies]
#10051707 - 03/27/09 08:03 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yes a lighter works fine. it just takes soooo much longer to get the needle red hot and can be tricky to keep it red hot. A candle doesnt burn hot enough and leaves way too much soot.
If you have a butane lighter that burns with a blue flame those work great, or as previously mentioned a small butane torch works bloody good. As does a gas powered soldering iron with a blotorch attachment.
Quote:
SyntheticSkies said: Fuk... Where can i find an alcohol burner?
a few of the vendors will sell them, so does evil bay
-------------------- 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
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balleman3
Consumed
Registered: 12/22/08
Posts: 88
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: veda_sticks]
#10051720 - 03/27/09 08:06 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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You can get a little disposable oil candle from wall mat drill a hole in it and fill it up with alcohol thats what I did when I used one
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Green2whitethumb
Lumberjack
Registered: 02/27/09
Posts: 533
Loc: Somewhere Over the Rainbo...
Last seen: 9 years, 7 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: SyntheticSkies]
#10051809 - 03/27/09 08:25 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
SyntheticSkies said: Fuk... Where can i find an alcohol burner?
Sporeworks $9.
-------------------- Welcome to Costco.....I love you. ***All communications from this avatar are fictitious and should be treated as such.
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Spongiform
Some Cow
Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Green2whitethumb]
#10052321 - 03/27/09 10:11 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Buy a 50 cent jar of baby food, clean it out, poke some holes in the lid, put a rag or paper towel in it, add alcohol - pull part of the rag/towel through the lid to make a wick, light 'er up.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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MycoMario
:D
Registered: 03/26/09
Posts: 134
Last seen: 14 years, 6 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Spongiform]
#10052329 - 03/27/09 10:12 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Spongiform said: Buy a 50 cent jar of baby food, clean it out, poke some holes in the lid, put a rag or paper towel in it, add alcohol - pull part of the rag/towel through the lid to make a wick, light 'er up.
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thefinalhours
Student
Registered: 12/15/07
Posts: 252
Last seen: 13 years, 7 months
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Re: Is it necessary to flame the needle? Can I use rubbing alcohol? [Re: Spongiform]
#10052335 - 03/27/09 10:13 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Spongiform said: Buy a 50 cent jar of baby food, clean it out, poke some holes in the lid, put a rag or paper towel in it, add alcohol - pull part of the rag/towel through the lid to make a wick, light 'er up.
I use one and damn it works!
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