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blacklabrat
Stranger

Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 77
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Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! 1
#5566663 - 04/28/06 11:23 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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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)
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#5566836 - 04/28/06 12:19 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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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
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DIRTYMAN
Jesusdon'tcomethrough thecotton.

Registered: 11/18/05
Posts: 18,558
Loc: CZ NIGGUH
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: creamcorn]
#5566945 - 04/28/06 01:01 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Awesome man!
-------------------- I'm racist. http://k-k-k.com/
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bongtoke
Mushies


Registered: 11/14/05
Posts: 1,393
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: creamcorn]
#5566950 - 04/28/06 01:02 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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!!!
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splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5566971 - 04/28/06 01:14 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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.
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Premedman1
Assistant to the insistent


Registered: 12/21/05
Posts: 2,376
Loc: South of Sanity
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5566987 - 04/28/06 01:19 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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.
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Snaggletooth
Stranger in a Strange Land


Registered: 10/24/05
Posts: 6,109
Loc: blinks stupidly
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: splifner180]
#5567254 - 04/28/06 03:19 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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
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Slooch
Lead Apprentice


Registered: 03/07/06
Posts: 246
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Snaggletooth]
#5567289 - 04/28/06 03:35 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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)
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: bongtoke]
#5567394 - 04/28/06 04:12 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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
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IGnosticAbhorI
Stranger-er

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

Cut off the head and push this inside

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


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: splifner180]
#5567841 - 04/28/06 06:24 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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.
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blacklabrat
Stranger

Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 77
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: IGnosticAbhorI]
#5568078 - 04/28/06 07:21 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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!
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Snaggletooth
Stranger in a Strange Land


Registered: 10/24/05
Posts: 6,109
Loc: blinks stupidly
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: blacklabrat]
#5568189 - 04/28/06 07:51 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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
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splifner180
Student


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 1,288
Loc: USA, East Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Snaggletooth]
#5568577 - 04/28/06 09:25 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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.
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time2
Stranger
Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 357
Last seen: 16 years, 2 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: splifner180]
#5569098 - 04/28/06 11:32 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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what's the canning lid for?
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fungiamongi2
pharmer



Registered: 03/10/05
Posts: 1,042
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: time2]
#5570022 - 04/29/06 12:23 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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
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blacklabrat
Stranger

Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 77
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: fungiamongi2]
#5570186 - 04/29/06 01:08 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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.
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IGnosticAbhorI
Stranger-er

Registered: 11/06/04
Posts: 4,899
Last seen: 8 months, 4 days
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: Snaggletooth]
#5570444 - 04/29/06 02:05 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Snaggletooth said: ]Commercial rods are coated w/ Teflon to reduce the "clanging" noise
Teflon is great ...in terms of plastic. 
-Gnostic
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time2
Stranger
Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 357
Last seen: 16 years, 2 months
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: IGnosticAbhorI]
#5570544 - 04/29/06 02:39 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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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
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Akamatsu
Seeker

Registered: 01/29/06
Posts: 285
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 1 month
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Re: Meet my free stir plate...SIR MIX_A_LOT! [Re: time2]
#5571821 - 04/29/06 08:45 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Mate, this is crazy. I had the EXACT same idea, awesome stuff!
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