(Part 2) Best lab flasks according to redditors

Ok man... here we go I got a plan for you. You should build a time machine and you could go into the future and spend that $50 on some trees when they were available...

The Plan

You need

• 2718 x 72" Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Annealed (Might just want to get an even 3000 for replacements and such)
  
  
  
• 200m of high voltage, high temp copper cable, silicon coat is ideal
  
  
  
• 7 x 5L Dewer Flasks with welded handles (And source of LN2)
  
  
  
• 32 x Concave Mirrors
  
  
  
• 32 x Optical Glass Lens Set, 50mm (Half Double Convex (20, 30, 50cm FL) and half Double Concave (20, 30, 50cm FL)
  
  
  
• A well stocked home depot
  
  
  
• An envelope
  
  
  

  The Time Machine
  

  
  
  Take the money you have NOW for the trees and place it in an envelope, and put the envelope somewhere safe. You will be taking this envelope into the future with you. Now, take all the other stuff and go build a time machine.
  
  
  One of the two things will happen
  
  
  

• You fail to build the time machine, but when there are trees around and for sale you can go retrieve those $50 from the envelope and buy them. Who needs a time machine when you got green anyways??
  
  
  
• You successfully build a time machine and become the first human to achieve time travel. Who needs trees when you a have a time machine???
  
  
  The way I see it, its a win win.

Cheapest I found on amazon SEOH Erlenmeyer Flask 5ML Borosilicate Glass https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JG2ZO0O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QLxeAb8DV7P9S

>[E]very chem lab should have a good number of 150-250 mL glass beakers on hand.

1. After looking up the differences (incl. price) between regular glass and borosilicate glass, when would borosilicate be mandatory?
   
   >Some large size glass test tubes will come in handy, and those are relatively cheap.
   
   
2. What would be considered "large size?"
   
   >Depending on what type of reactions you want to do, you may find it good to have petri dishes handy, either glass or plastic (they'd be good for crystallization experiments, certainly).
   
   
3. How many, and of what size, would be good for starting?
   
   >You should definitely have a few pipettes, either the cheap plastic 3 mL kind, or if you can afford it, nicer glass droppers (Pasteur pipettes are fun to use, albeit fragile and hard to clean).
   
   
4. Are the glass pipettes for strong acids, basis, or organic solvents? Are there any other benefits to glass pipettes?
   
   >You will definitely need a graduated cylinder, maybe a few, in different sizes, glass or plastic (definitely glass if you're planning on working with any strong acids or bases, or using organic solvents).
   
   
5. What sizes should I be looking for? I'm guessing polypropelyne is the preferred plastic type since that has the most available on Amazon. Is this Set of 7 Polypropylene Cylinders sufficient? What size glass cylinder would be the most common for home experiments with strong acids, bases, or organic solvents?
   
   >You will find a scale, accurate to at least a tenth of a gram, to be an invaluable tool.
   
   
6. Could you please recommend a specific scale, or at least a type? I'd like to spend as little as possible without getting a piece of junk. Is there anything available for under $100?
   
   >Some litmus or pH paper will be useful.
   
   
7. Most of these seem to be range limited. I found what appears to be a full range paper or a set of papers that provide full range. Would you recommend either of these?
   
   >Oh, and a thermometer, of course!
   
   
8. I thought this one was simple until I looked it up. What exactly am I looking for here? Infrared Thermometers seem like a good idea because they don't physically contact the sample, but I'd like some guidance with regard to a trusted brand.
   
   >If you want to dispense precise quantities of any liquid, a 25 mL burette will be your best friend, though it's certainly not necessary.
   
   8.a) This one seems relatively straightforward. Finally!
   
   >a volumetric flask, for making precise stock solutions.
   
   
9. Size? I've tentatively added a 100ml and 500ml to my list. Is Karter Scientific considered good quality?
   
   >A few Erlenmeyer flasks, for mixing things.
   
   
10. This set of Erlenmeyer flasks seems like a good place to start. Which sizes do you find yourself needing most often?
    
    >A volumetric pipette, for making equal aliquots.
    
    
11. Wow, these things appear to be quite expensive. What types of home experiments would it be difficult to do without a volumetric pipette? This one will probably wait until the need arises.
    
    >Oh, and if you just want your lab to be that much more mad sciencey, you could have a distillation flask and a few condensation tubes bubbling in the background. If you want to make a significant investment, you could get a magnetic stirring platform, maybe one with good heating powers. Also great for whisking up an egg, or keeping some batter moving while you make pancakes. Pricey, though.
    
    
12. I'll probably stay away from the distillation flasks and condensation tubes until I stumble upon an experiment that requires them, but the magnetic stirring platform looks like a much cooler way to make coffee in the morning. Is this stirrer from Hanna Instruments any good?
    
    
    Thanks a ton for putting together that list!
    
    EDIT: Formatting

This was from DL:

You guys convinced me to home brew. Especially after I just did some math on what my latest $2k purchase would get me.

Putting together the list, will be refining as I learn more.

• [Autoclave](http://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Classic-Electric-Autoclave- Sterilizer/dp/B002AR0NUI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0E5AJ7PQ2CHM1083QMPT) -- $899
  
• 2 x Autoclave Gasket -- $120
  
• Hormone powder
  
• Filtered Cottonseed USP Oil 4 Liter -- $255
  
• Benzyl Benzoate USP 1 Liter -- $60.75
  
• Benzyl Alcohol USP 1 Liter -- $45
  
• 3ml TERUMO Luer Lock Syringe w/o Needle (Qty. 50) -- $8
  
• 1 x 10ml EXEL Luer Lock Syringe w/o Needle (Qty. 50) -- $15.25
  
• 5 x B-D 25g x 1.5' (Qty. 10) -- $11
  
• 5 x B-D Needles 18g 1.5 (Qty 10) -- $11
  
• Alcohol prep pads/wipes
  
• Accurate scale to hundredths place
  
• Calibration weight
  
• 2 x Corning Pyrex 3 Piece Glass Graduated Low Form Griffin Beaker Set, 50ml, 100ml, 250ml -- $29.90
  
• 4 x PYREX Griffin Low Form 400mL Beaker Graduated Ea -- $34
  
• 4 x Beaker - PYREX GLASS 10ml -- $22.72
  
• 2 x SEOH Class A Volumetric Flask Borosilicate Glass 250ML -- $29.90
  
• 2 x Beaker Filters -- 150ml Nalgene MF75 Bottle Top Filter - 33mm neck (Qty. 12) -- $145
  
• Vacuum Pump -- 1.5 CFM Portable -- $275
  
• Melting Point Checker
  
• Sterile .20um syringe filter (For Tren) -- $162.88
  
• Crimper
  
• Vials
  
• Caps
  
• Glass stir rod
  
• Agar plates
  
• Latex gloves
  
• Alconox Detergent Cleaning Concentrate 4 lb. Container -- $30.30
  
• Scilogex 86143101 Model MS-H280-Pro BlueSpin LED Circular-Top Digital Magnetic Hotplate Stirrer with Ceramic Coated Plate, 100/240V -- $200
  
• 2 x Bel-Art Scienceware 371100138 PTFE Octagon Spinbar Magnetic Stirrer Bar, with Integral Pivot Ring, White, 1" Length, 3/8" Diameter -- $13
  
• 3 x jugs isopropyl alcohol
  
• Propolyene Gylcol 300
  
• Lockable Medical Storage Box -- $44.50
  
• Horizontal Laminar Flow Hood 48" x 24" -- $1,900
  
  
  Which Bottle Top Filter?
  ---------------------------------
  
• Millipore Hydrophilic PVDF Stericup-GV Bottletop Filter Unit, Radio-Sterilized, 0.22µm Pore Size -- $225
  
  Or
  
  
• 2 x Beaker Filters -- 150ml Nalgene MF75 Bottle Top Filter - 33mm neck (Qty. 12) -- $145
  
  
  Which Pipettor?
  ---------------------------------
  
• VWR Ergonomic High-Performance Pipettor -- $267.02
  
  or
  
  
• BRAND seripettor* pro Bottletop Dispenser - 1-10 mL -- #296.30
  
  Money is not an object. I'm not the type to do things cheaply or in a half-assed way. Lets set up the dream home brew lab now. I'll post pictures.
  
  What to buy?
  
  

I'm building a 4 station stir plate using a PC fan controller. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074BQ4K77/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0X1LDbA9JG433

I'll post pictures on this sub when it's finished.

Here's a link for an Erlenmeyer Flask (2000 ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074DB1S5H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_E21LDb4MTW30A

Here's 3 Piece Airlock With Silicone Grommet, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KLXXLLN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x31LDb4YR7YA6

This is the best sanitizer for fermenting food and beer. San Sanitizer (32 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA86OVG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_F41LDbEJ7APQ7

Honestly Amazon might be your best bet. Here's a listing hold 250ml (plus more in the neck area) and are $7 a piece. They're made of plastic, not sure if it's food-safe stuff, but I will say I didn't find them until I searched for "erlenmeyer toy" instead of just "erlenmeyer" so maybe look into it before getting them/using them to serve.

Or there's this listing which is 12 erlenmeyer's same size, for 46 which works out to just under $4 per flask. So if you want 6 or less, the first ones will cost you slightly less. This gives you some extras, and they're made of glass instead of plastic.

I took a look through Michael's website since a few people mentioned it, but I couldn't find anything there in the erlenmeyer style, only the graduated cylinder style.

I agree with /u/notsweetenough that a 2L flask is way too big. If you a variety of other items at the table, you can get away with 250mL or 500mL flasks.

One issue I can see is that real lab ware can be pretty pricey. The first inspo photo you posted (which I love!) could easily be over $100 in lab ware alone. There are some sets on Amazon that are affordable-ish. If you want a mix-and-match thing going on, you could get this set. I would envision the larger 1L and 500mL flasks filled with fairy lights, and the smaller flasks with flowers in them. To save on costs, I would split them between two tables (with the 1L + 250mL on one table and the 500mL, 150mL, and 50mL on another). Likewise, there are equivalent beaker sets if you want to mix-and-match flasks and beakers.

If you wanted a more uniform theme, like in your second inspo photo, something like these 250mL Erlenmeyer flasks might work.

If it were me, I would probably go with mix-and-match sized flasks and beakers, with the largest ones holding the lights and smaller ones with flowers. I'd also have a separate table number with whatever science-y reference you want (plant, animal, elements, etc.). If the two candles didn't feel like they were enough, I would add on some 50mL beakers as bud vase, or colored wired balls (like in inspo #2), or fake succulents.

Honestly, Erlenmeyer flasks aren't all that expensive and they're totally reusable! I bought this kit for a Redditor a few months ago and while some came cracked, Amazon refunded me for the broken ones and he said the rest are great!

$30 is a bit high for 12 flasks but he said they're all great and the stoppers fit nicely. And 50mL is perfect for mixing small batches.

Plus, kinda weird, but chicks dig dudes with Erlenmeyer flasks. Not kidding you.

A glass funnel like this to hold the paper

http://www.amazon.com/Funnel-Short-stem-Glass-100/dp/B0017U6H36/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1394639219&sr=8-5&keywords=glass+funnel

plus a vacuum flask

http://www.amazon.com/American-Educational-Clear-Borosilicate-Filtering/dp/B005QDPKU6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1394639307&sr=8-4&keywords=vacuum+flask

or a 2-Neck flask

http://www.amazon.com/Chemglass-CG-1520-14-1000mL-Boiling-Standard/dp/B005WX3K02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394639522&sr=8-1&keywords=2-neck+flask

to hold the coffee and let the displaced air escape. It wouldn't work as nicely as a chemex but if you like the look of labware in your kitchen go for it.

Note: I didn't take the time to find the right size funnel and you would want a bored rubber/cork stopper to put on the funnel.

Try:

1. dealextreme.com / dx.com (same place) or focalprice.com for infrared thermometers (their prices include shipping, and yeah, when you look up iphone cases, you'll be upset if you've ever bought one in NA at a mall stand) - the dealextreme.com place has a ton of electronics stuff, arduino-esque stuff too if you're wanting to get fancy
   
   
2. food-grade vinyl tubing at plastics/marine/hardware store; there are different types so ask until you're comfy with what you pick; if you ask at your local head shop, about the glass ends available for this sorta thing, there are several. For my Arizer (something like that), there are a bunch of glass fittings (compatible with other glass fittings I've seen) -wait, here's a link http://arizer.com/store/8-extreme-vaporizer-parts (I just picked up a $20 kit at my local shop with the whip, glass mouthpiece, Elbow to connect to the cyclone bowl, um...the screens for same...and another glass stirring tool... I believe that the 'connections' of the cyclone bowl, and so on are standard scientific-type connections; if you check out science-supply sources, you can find a range of glass 'bowls' you can use that connect to them; if you're in the US, you can even get them shipped to you cheaply...the nice thing, they're certified to not react, to deal with heat to a certain temperature, etc. and aren't going to melt/gas plastics, etc., when you're using them. This may allow you to heat directly on the glass itself (just drop to the bottom?) - think 'lightbulb vape' but not likely to kill you....
   
   here's an example - http://www.amazon.com/Chemglass-CG-1512-09-1000mL-Single-Evaporating/dp/B005WVRHFS/ref=sr_1_82?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1348542044&sr=1-82
   
   For that, it takes a standard glass connector (I think similar to that found in the Arizer packages) - but you should be able to get one with two holes, if you want (or a 2 way connector than plugs into the top to allow airflow etc. (you could actually put this on top of a cheap hotplate to get it going (scientific ones are $150+, but hell, you just need evenly distributed heat). If you really want to get fancy - check out these: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D318083011&field-keywords=20%2F40+joint&rh=n%3A16310091%2Cn%3A%2116310161%2Cn%3A317970011%2Cn%3A318049011%2Cn%3A318083011%2Ck%3A20%2F40+joint
   
   Anyway, I've not followed through with my plans, but that's some of the stuff I found when I researched it a couple years back.
   
   edit: oh there are also mason jars, of course, which tend to put up with heat fairly well. I did a quick test the other day, just punching two holes in the metal lid, and tossing some pot at the bottom of the jar - I held the base (with the pot) over the edge of my gas stove's flame, and presto, vapor ... I'd do some checking to see how much heat/the limitations for this stuff.
   
   edit2: if you're really temperature picky, invest in a calibrated hotplate - then you'll know exactly what you dial in is what you'll get. Hmm...now I'm wondering if something like this: http://www.amazon.com/1800-Watt-Portable-Induction-Countertop-8100MC/dp/B0045QEPYM , with a mason jar sitting on an old cast-iron pan (or does it need to be steel?) may just work...the conductive stovetop heats the pan, which heats the glass (this is where a flat bottomed boilign flask would be best, since the heating would be even), which heats the pot, which you then enjoy :D
   
   edit3: Depending on your 'container/bowl', would a simple flatiron (be it for clothes, hair, or craft (the tiny ~1inch square ones)) be sufficient to heat things up? (without all the noise of a heat gun?) ; you can also look into mesh/fibrous materials that you could heat that don't actually come into contact with your pot - (grab some inexpensive copper wire, roll into small ball with air spaces galore that fits at bottom of your cyclone bowl, attach the ends to a 9v battery and presto - a heat source, not in contact with your pot, that you can suck heated air through (that get's heated) to vape? And yeah, I'm at 7 after experimenting with the bong I just made out of a container for 2kg of Whey protein powder, some spare tubing, and a metal bowl/shaft I had lying around unused. HEll, there's enough room there for a bag of ice, and space to spare, I dont' think I'll use my 'real' bong ever again - this capacity was perfect, and it's so easily cleaned. Tomrorow I'll have to get some silicone to create better seals...thanks for prompting my creative energies tonight.

If you're talking about 500 ml then they're not that expensive on Amazon either.

5L is a different story.

I found an instructables on it, which I really only used to find the right items.
I got the 500ml Erlenmeyer flask from amazon & size 20 cork from ebay.

The indestructibles label downloads require a pro account, so I googled the images I needed.
I just modpodge'd the labels on & filled it with lemon dish soap & glitter. I glued the cork in with E6000 for good measure.

Buy the correct flask and you will have less problems.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Reusable-Borosilicate-Non-Sterile-Erlenmeyer/dp/B009NWHDG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480522665&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+straight+neck+culture+flask
The steel caps are great, but you can be cheap and use aluminum foil.

Personally I use screw cap culture flasks, but only because this lets me grow up a batch of yeast at home and easily transport them to a friends to brew.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ES3QY6E/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1398285087&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40

This is the one I got. Bought it before there were any reviews. Oops

u/IceManTraining

​

Your rx isn't that large. Put that inexpensive cold finger condenser on this 500ml https://www.amazon.com/Laboy-2-neck-Reaction-Stopcock-Joints/dp/B010BA2VLE

Forget the isopropyl it is not a part of this reduction. Stick to how this rx was designed. Use THF. Small scale under the radar. If it gets away (or when) you will survive. It not like you can call 911 for help. BTDT

The lithium-ammonia-ammonium chloride method is the addition of the benzyl alcohol, in our case ephedrine OR pseudoephedrine free base in THF to a solution of lithium in ammonia, and then the resultant mixture is rapidly quenched with ammonium chloride. The ben­zyl alcohols yield exclusively the corresponding aromatic hydrocarbon in our case D-Methamphetamine

I don't know how to post a picture on here. The illustrations are what stands out because they show exactly what we hunted through those citations praying to see. A reaction that reduces the OH to H and there are tables showing that this reduction does exactly that with out over reduction.

Ok last century this was ground breaking. You needed to acquire a full blow hazmat suit and respirator. You also needed to steal ammonia cylinders from a farm or freezer repair shop. The farm supplier would not sell it to you in CA. Feed stock was easy. This was bucket chemistry at it's best. Lying the cylinder on its side, you add your Ephed or pseudo free base in THF to the bucket. Prepare your lithium strips and place them in solvent. You then put on you full hazmat suit and respirator. The ammonia comes out liquid from the tank on it's side. Every bit of your body is encased in the hazmat suit. You would find out very fast if it was not when you open the valve on the tank. The ammonia hose goes right in the bucket. Call it using an excess of ammonia because you a put enough in there to get the job done as it is spitting, hissing and putting off a ghastly deadly cloud. You added the lithium to the bucket and stirred it until it the Li devolved. Put the lid on the bucket gave it 10 minutes. Pulled the lid and sprinkled in the ammonia chloride with stirring. Then you walked away leaving the ammonia to evaporate. Absolutely poisoning the work site. The narco swine used to demonstrate this reaction using a glass baking pan wearing their full hazmat gear. It doesn't take much meth to Marques test orange.

I digress. There is no longer an abundance of ammonia cylinders to be had and pseudo is tight. This reaction can be done on a very small scale in a home made fume closet. Of course you will be very careful to assemble your $200 worth of glassware (see online book store) that you have no leaks and and the reaction proceeds exactly as planned. But do it in the damn fume closet anyway. Scaling back the reaction to use your government allowed 7 grams go pseudo per month and it will fit nicely in the 500 ml reaction flask above. Taking due diligence building you fume closet it will handle it.

https://www.amazon.com/HMA015501-Vacuum-Take-Off-Adapter-Joints/dp/B018924NEY

https://www.amazon.com/Laboy-HMF010301-Single-Bottom-Boiling/dp/B018927Q0W

Lol!

That one was just a joke.

I bought this really long link right here

https://www.amazon.com/Bottom-100mL-Tubing-Rubber-Stopper/dp/B01LX4NEWD/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539478646&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=100ml+flask+rubber+stopper&psc=1

This was only pyrex flask at 2000 mL I could find from them, but the shipping brings it over $30.

I got tired of comparing base price plus shipping and just ordered myself this