5 ms·

Flow hoods for the win! You probably know that, but it should be said in case someone reading does not. If you can't buy one, diy a decent one, then keep the

Flow hoods for the win! You probably know that, but it should be said in case someone reading does not. If you can't buy one, diy a decent one, then keep the air in your workroom as stagnant as possible and cross your fingers.

giantg2 5y ago
The problem with flow hoods is that most people don't want to, or can't, leave them on indefinitely. Once theyre off, the air will carry contaminates to the clean side. That's basically what I realized after a DIY using setup that looks like an open front glovebox with a HEPA filter blowing air through it.
- cwkoss 5y ago
  Yeah, I did a janky cardboard box and saran wrap glovebox when I tried to do my own innoculation... was a PITA to use, and contamination from that batch was worse than when I just went into a room with still air and crossed my fingers. (didnt have HEPA filtered air blowing, that sounds like a good idea)
  - wy35 5y ago
    A big plastic tub with two arm holes cut out would be a much better solution. And I hope by “glovebox” you mean a still-air box, because gloves attached to the box actually increase the contamination rate due to the box sucking in air when you move your hands.
    - cwkoss 5y ago
      yep, still air box is the correct term I think. It was a cardboard box with two armholes cut, and saran wrap stretched over the top. Put all my equipment inside, stuck my arms in to more or less plug the holes, then sprayed a bunch of rubbing alcohol all over the inside, then got to work. The ergonomics were horrible, my back got tired, and I'm pretty sure my arms didn't plug the holes very well and I assume they effectively were pumping air through the system by the end of it as I got sloppier. Definitely will do something better on any future attempts, haha
      - wy35 5y ago
        The easiest technique is getting a big plastic tub (>90 qts) from Walmart or Target, heating up a coffee can on the stove, and burning the arm holes in the side.

giantg2 5y ago

The problem with flow hoods is that most people don't want to, or can't, leave them on indefinitely. Once theyre off, the air will carry contaminates to the clean side. That's basically what I realized after a DIY using setup that looks like an open front glovebox with a HEPA filter blowing air through it.

cwkoss 5y ago
Yeah, I did a janky cardboard box and saran wrap glovebox when I tried to do my own innoculation... was a PITA to use, and contamination from that batch was worse than when I just went into a room with still air and crossed my fingers. (didnt have HEPA filtered air blowing, that sounds like a good idea)
- wy35 5y ago
  A big plastic tub with two arm holes cut out would be a much better solution. And I hope by “glovebox” you mean a still-air box, because gloves attached to the box actually increase the contamination rate due to the box sucking in air when you move your hands.
  - cwkoss 5y ago
    yep, still air box is the correct term I think. It was a cardboard box with two armholes cut, and saran wrap stretched over the top. Put all my equipment inside, stuck my arms in to more or less plug the holes, then sprayed a bunch of rubbing alcohol all over the inside, then got to work. The ergonomics were horrible, my back got tired, and I'm pretty sure my arms didn't plug the holes very well and I assume they effectively were pumping air through the system by the end of it as I got sloppier. Definitely will do something better on any future attempts, haha
    - wy35 5y ago
      The easiest technique is getting a big plastic tub (>90 qts) from Walmart or Target, heating up a coffee can on the stove, and burning the arm holes in the side.