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DIY Test Tube Cleaner

test tube cleaning

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16 replies to this topic

#1 Offline rptraut - Posted November 27 2022 - 12:35 AM

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If you're having trouble removing wet cotton from test tubes, try using this type of tool.   I made mine from 14/2 electrical wire by making a hook on one end.  Bend the wire slightly so the hook follows the inside curve of the test tube.  That way you can slide it past the cotton, turn the hook under it, and pull it out.  I made a smaller hook on the other end for smaller test tubes.  

 

 

2022-11-26 002.JPG


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My father always said I had ants in my pants.

#2 Offline Ant-nig321 - Posted November 27 2022 - 8:03 AM

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Good idea,but i use a skewer which the ends are broken to a hook like you did in your post then i put the skewer in the test tube on to the wet cotton then i spin it which is then attached to the cotton then i pull it.

#3 Offline T.C. - Posted November 27 2022 - 5:16 PM

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Long tweezers work quite well for me.
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" Whatever You Are, Be a Good One "


#4 Offline Manitobant - Posted November 27 2022 - 7:08 PM

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Yeah tweezers is what i use. What I’ll usually do is first fill the tube with hot water (i find it loosens it up) then stick in the tweezers and twist the tube in the opposite direction while pulling at the cotton.

Edited by Manitobant, November 27 2022 - 7:09 PM.


#5 Offline rptraut - Posted November 27 2022 - 11:53 PM

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I never had much luck with tweezers, they always seemed to be too short and by the time I got them to the bottom of the test tube, I couldn't squeeze them hard enough to grab the cotton.  Tweezers were especially problematic with smaller test tubes.  For a while I used a small crochet hook, but I realized the hook was too small so I made the wire hook larger with a slight curve on it to slide between the cotton and the test tube.   I find it works especially well when the cotton is tight in the tube and a slight suction occurs when I pull it out.


My father always said I had ants in my pants.

#6 Offline AntaholicAnonymous - Posted November 28 2022 - 6:30 AM

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I use a wire that doesn't have a hook but I made it twist like a spiral so it grabs the cotton by twisting.

Basically a mix of what you do and what others do with a broken skewer.

#7 Offline dspdrew - Posted November 28 2022 - 8:13 AM

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618IY5MPwJL._SL1500_.jpg


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#8 Offline LowQualityAnts - Posted November 28 2022 - 8:29 AM

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That looks like a torture device.
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#9 Offline Flu1d - Posted November 28 2022 - 2:50 PM

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618IY5MPwJL._SL1500_.jpg

👀

Where can I buy something like this?

Edited by Flu1d, November 28 2022 - 2:50 PM.


#10 Offline rptraut - Posted November 28 2022 - 6:47 PM

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I went low-tech.  I even reused an old piece of wire.


My father always said I had ants in my pants.

#11 Offline Flu1d - Posted November 28 2022 - 6:52 PM

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What do people use as cleaner for TT's.. Dish soap or alcohol?

#12 Offline T.C. - Posted November 29 2022 - 1:46 AM

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What do people use as cleaner for TT's.. Dish soap or alcohol?

 

What's a TT?  


" Whatever You Are, Be a Good One "


#13 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 29 2022 - 3:01 AM

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What do people use as cleaner for TT's.. Dish soap or alcohol?


What's a TT?
Test tube. I use dish soap for mine.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#14 Offline aznphenom - Posted November 29 2022 - 3:19 AM

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What do people use as cleaner for TT's.. Dish soap or alcohol?

I do vinegar if I need a quick clean. Soap if I am soaking them to use in the future


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Wants (Please reach out if you have them for sale if you’re in the US): Acromyrmex Sp., Atta Sp., Cephalotes Sp., Myrmecocystus Sp (Prefer Mexicanus), Odontomachus Sp. (Prefer Desertorum), Pachycondyla Sp., Pheidole Sp (Prefer Rhea. The bigger the better. Not the tiny bicarinata), Pogonomyrmex Sp (Prefer Badius)., Pseudomyrmex Sp. (Prefer the cute yellow ones)

 


#15 Offline Flu1d - Posted November 29 2022 - 4:33 AM

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Thanks all :)

#16 Offline M_Ants - Posted November 29 2022 - 2:01 PM

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If you're having trouble removing wet cotton from test tubes, try using this type of tool.   I made mine from 14/2 electrical wire by making a hook on one end.  Bend the wire slightly so the hook follows the inside curve of the test tube.  That way you can slide it past the cotton, turn the hook under it, and pull it out.  I made a smaller hook on the other end for smaller test tubes.  

 

 

attachicon.gif2022-11-26 002.JPG

Ha, I made the exact same thing. Works great.


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

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#17 Offline rptraut - Posted November 29 2022 - 5:00 PM

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Hopefully we've saved new antkeepers from a lot of frustration.
My father always said I had ants in my pants.




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