I’ve been wanting to upgrade the storage in ChemHacker central for a while – but I haven’t found a good, sturdy storage unit that is large, can handle holding a lot of weight, and is chemically resistant.

Until now.

I found this old Faygo-labeled shelving unit in a nearby alley:

After a (lot of) cleaning, here it is holding tools and a wide assortment of chemicals in the underground ChemHacker Lab:

Now that I have Faygo-themed shelving, perhaps I should look into teaching Juggalos some f’ing Science?

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I have a confession:

I <3 aluminum foil and can’t do chemistry without it.

When I first saw researcher friends using it, I was dumbfounded: what’s up with all the aluminum foil in your labs?

I’ve since become a convert: it’s a cheap, clean, impervious to spills, versatile, multitasking material that no lab should be without. Go out and buy a few rolls right now.  You’ll save money and frustration after only one use.

Here are only a few reasons why you should have a roll at hand in your chemistry lab:

  • Need a smooth, clean, spill-proof surface? Hey, presto! Just roll some out onto your workbench. When you’re done working, cleanup is a snap! Crumple it up, and toss it into the recycling bin. A sheet of aluminum foil won’t let spills touch your bench, is clean, and is a nice smooth surface.
  • Weigh boats.
  • Temporary container. (mine look exactly like my weigh boats)
  • A quick funnel.
  • A smooth surface to pour out a material for setting into a sheet.
  • A place to rest a stirring rod or magnetic stir bar without contaminating your entire work area. Read the rest of this entry »
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