creative uses for 50mL conical tubes

[LunderKind]

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50mL conical tubes are so versatile. I've seen quite a few people take 50mL conical tubes from lab to use them for other, non-science-related purposes. The most interesting I've encountered, however, was someone who made the tubes into spice jars (and, of course, the styrofoamy thing became the rack). Surprisingly, this really didn't disgust me as much as it maybe should have. 😉

Who else is hoarding those tubes, and for what are you using them?

 

[xanthines]

I never took any home, but we used them as shot glasses sometimes. No, we didn't drink the HPLC EtOH!

-X

50mL conical tubes are so versatile. I've seen quite a few people take 50mL conical tubes from lab to use them for other, non-science-related purposes. The most interesting I've encountered, however, was someone who made the tubes into spice jars (and, of course, the styrofoamy thing became the rack). Surprisingly, this really didn't disgust me as much as it maybe should have. 😉

Who else is hoarding those tubes, and for what are you using them?

 

[j-weezy]

dry ice bombs

dangerous or exciting - you decide

 

[Inuranic]

I only use them to store dead tadpoles in the freezer. I did drink out of one for the whole "swirl this in your mouth so we can get your DNA" canned lab.

 

[LunderKind]

dry ice bombs

dangerous or exciting - you decide

hahaha...I've only tried the kiddie version of that with 1.5mL eppendorf tubes

 

[j-weezy]

hahaha...I've only tried the kiddie version of that with 1.5mL eppendorf tubes

uhm yeah... you ain't seen nothin' yet

 

[seraph524]

dry ice bombs

dangerous or exciting - you decide

omg im going to try it out right now

 

[Neuronix]

Note the lack of followup by the author of the last post...

 

[j-weezy]

Note the lack of followup by the author of the last post...

 

[Ariodant]

I don't have creative use for 50ml tubes, but our animal facility does have creative use for Chinese takeout boxes--as containers for intra-building transportation of pinkies!

So one day I was in an elavator with a FedEx delivery guy, holding my box of pinkies.

FedEx guy: Hmm...Is this your lunch?

Ariodant: I hope not...

 

[seraph524]

I don't have creative use for 50ml tubes, but our animal facility does have creative use for Chinese takeout boxes--as containers for intra-building transportation of pinkies!

So one day I was in an elavator with a FedEx delivery guy, holding my box of pinkies.

FedEx guy: Hmm...Is this your lunch?

Ariodant: I hope not...

Wait...pinkies??

And haha, I haven't had the chance to try the dry ice bomb yet...hopefully I can get some pictures and put it up here!

 

[LunderKind]

I never took any home, but we used them as shot glasses sometimes. No, we didn't drink the HPLC EtOH!

-X

shots at lab...awesome

Wait...pinkies??

And haha, I haven't had the chance to try the dry ice bomb yet...hopefully I can get some pictures and put it up here!

mouse babies, and where are those pics??

 

[seraph524]

lol give me some time...when its warmer...

its like -15 C outside right now...stupid michigan weather.

 

[apoptosisisfun]

When you're bored, ejecting micropipette tips onto unsuspecting victims is fun... they make excellent projectiles at close range

 

[gstrub]

Pot.

 

[seraph524]

mini-hydroponics

that or mini-aquariums

 

[LunderKind]

mini-hydroponics

that or mini-aquariums

ohohoh....for sea monkeys

I think OncDoc could use some 50mL-tube hydroponics right now

 

[AtheGre]

Pot.

Agreed. Those tubes are air-tight!

 

[kami333]

I just found out they make them with flip up caps, me wants!

Now I can open the top without spilling using only one hand😀

 

[j-weezy]

I just found out they make them with flip up caps, me wants!

Now I can open the top without spilling using only one hand😀

fail. that's what you learn on the first day of grad school.



j/k

 

[seraph524]

fail. that's what you learn on the first day of grad school.



j/k

You can open them with one hand without spilling? 😕

 

[Ariodant]

Yep. Learned that doing cell culture.

 

[Dodo23]

Yep. Learned that doing cell culture.

Me too. It becomes second nature after a while.

 

[AtheGre]

Me too. It becomes second nature after a while.

I remember when I first learned to do that. I felt like a monkey. You know, sans the opposable thumb.

 

[kami333]

Yep. Learned that doing cell culture.

That's cheating, most of the time you already have the cap loose. Plus if learning how to open them with one hand involves extensive cell culture time, no thanks

Now if they just made 1.5ml eppendorf tubes that didn't leak every time I did a chloroform extraction (the chloroform takes off the numbers I write on the tubes), my life would be complete...

 

[Dodo23]

Now if they just made 1.5ml eppendorf tubes that didn't leak every time I did a chloroform extraction (the chloroform takes off the numbers I write on the tubes), my life would be complete...

Word to that. Phenol-chloroform + leaky eppendorf tubes + vortex = disaster 🙁

 

[Ariodant]

That's cheating, most of the time you already have the cap loose. Plus if learning how to open them with one hand involves extensive cell culture time, no thanks

Now if they just made 1.5ml eppendorf tubes that didn't leak every time I did a chloroform extraction (the chloroform takes off the numbers I write on the tubes), my life would be complete...

Nope, most of the time the cap is as tight as you want your eppendorf tubes with chloroform to be😀 Getting them all loose before you start increases the chance of contamination.

What brand of eppen are you using? I do chloroform extractions alot and they rarely leak. (But I don't know the brand of my eppen anyway...)

 

[Picklesali]

dry ice bombs

dangerous or exciting - you decide

hahaha me too!

 

[Picklesali]

Word to that. Phenol-chloroform + leaky eppendorf tubes + vortex = disaster 🙁

again... hahaha me too!

 

[Neuronix]

Have you guys tried the locking eppendorf tubes?

 

[j-weezy]

Have you guys tried the locking eppendorf tubes?

for real...maybe my lab can just afford decent tubes? Never had this happen to me to the point where the writing came off

 

[kami333]

Thanks for the information about the locking tubes, I'm going to see if I can get some to try out at least.

My lab is probably one of the most well funded labs here but my PI is extremely "careful" with the money. He even wanted to switch to getting micro pipet tips in bulk (right now we get them in trays and refill the boxes ourselves), but we convinced him it wasn't a good idea.

I'm using VWR tubes right now.

 

[seraph524]

locking tubes? are you guys referring to those tubes with the little latch that you can bring down and under? i would imagine those to be a hassle when working with a large amount of tubes...

 

[kami333]

locking tubes? are you guys referring to those tubes with the little latch that you can bring down and under? i would imagine those to be a hassle when working with a large amount of tubes...

Didn't think about that.

Plus I just checked the prices😱

I do mice genotyping so I go through about 50-200 week, probably won't fly.

Maybe I should just look for a acetone proof sharpie instead (I already have an ethanol proof one)...

 

[seraph524]

There's acetone-proof sharpies? wow....what will they think of next? evaporation-proof alcohol?

 

[kami333]

Yeah, I found one link.