Search found 1045 matches

by bigmack
02 Apr 2026, 16:16
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: tube nozzle/tap connector for water
Replies: 1
Views: 315

Re: tube nozzle/tap connector for water

I remember going down this route a few years ago in NSW .
Found those same hose barbs . I’m pretty sure Reece's plumbing ordered them in for me . Was bloody expensive IIRC .

Have you asked Westlab ? They do full Lab fitouts so
I’m sure they would have the hose adaptors and standard aerators ...
by bigmack
31 Mar 2026, 10:41
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Test tube racks - Wood or aluminium?
Replies: 4
Views: 1292

Re: Test tube racks - Wood or aluminium?

What she said 100%

incidentally , I believe those metal racks would be Stainless steel .Aluminum doesn't last very long in a dish washer :-(
by bigmack
04 Mar 2026, 12:29
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Osmosis and diffusion
Replies: 32
Views: 47811

Re: Osmosis and diffusion

We just did that I believe Rosalie .
They put Glucose is one tubing and then thoroughly rinsed it and put in a boiling tube and only just cover it in water . Also needed about 5% Glucose solution to work .

Do the same with the starch in tubing .

Then as soon as they have added the water , they ...
by bigmack
03 Mar 2026, 17:14
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Autoclave / 'all american' electric pressure steam steriliser
Replies: 12
Views: 1815

Re: Autoclave / 'all american' electric pressure steam steriliser


An autoclave is a pressure vessel, you must have it checked and tested each 12 months.

That must be a Victorian thing Anna ?

Another ridiculous pile of compliance . For every Highschool pressure cooker there is possibly several hundred in the homes of the students that would never be annually ...
by bigmack
27 Feb 2026, 14:14
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Autoclave / 'all american' electric pressure steam steriliser
Replies: 12
Views: 1815

Re: Autoclave / 'all american' electric pressure steam steriliser

Can't say I've ever heard of getting them tested before . Now you mention it , I'm getting all worried about it .

In the good O'l days , we used a "normal" pressure cooker that had a pressure gauge and a safety valve on it .So long as it reached pressure , you knew you were good .
Now all these ...
by bigmack
27 Feb 2026, 08:53
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Chemtalk 20years old
Replies: 6
Views: 1734

Re: Chemtalk 20years old

RosalieL wrote: 27 Feb 2026, 08:19 PS bigmack - how did you just happen to work this out?? :clap3: :party:
Just happened to accidentally click on "Members" and as they were in Join date order , I took a punt :D
Members.png
by bigmack
25 Feb 2026, 22:15
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Chemtalk 20years old
Replies: 6
Views: 1734

Chemtalk 20years old

Well not quite , but not far off .
Friday 12 May 2006 first member voice joined .
:clap3:
IMG_3869.jpeg
by bigmack
25 Feb 2026, 08:53
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Specimen Supply – Sourcing, Pricing & Quality
Replies: 13
Views: 2622

Re: Specimen Supply – Sourcing, Pricing & Quality


New England Lamb Brains. Packaged in these neat red boxes with 4 frozen brains in individual plastic bags.


Yeah , that's the ones .
Hmmm , maybe I might contact them and see if they have a frozen truck going north [-o<


Next time try soaking them in metho for 24 hours. It firms them up a bit ...
by bigmack
24 Feb 2026, 15:10
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Specimen Supply – Sourcing, Pricing & Quality
Replies: 13
Views: 2622

Re: Specimen Supply – Sourcing, Pricing & Quality

Arrrrg
Our local Butcher seems to have changed his supplier of Brains .
I was warned by my Wife who works at another school around here that the brains they got were all mush and totally useless .
Now this is from the same place I get mine and they have always been good .

Well I just got some and ...
by bigmack
20 Feb 2026, 12:26
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Tablet press
Replies: 8
Views: 1223

Re: Tablet press

PeterK wrote: 20 Feb 2026, 10:54 Think that will move you up the watchlist. We buy all the precursors and then we are suddenly buying a tablet press. :D
:clap3:
by bigmack
18 Feb 2026, 11:58
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Microscope camera software - Digitech QC-3197
Replies: 2
Views: 889

Re: Microscope camera software - Digitech QC-3197

From what I can see , it was listed as suitable for Windows 2000, vista, XP ,win7.
I'm guessing that's why there is no support for it ....and probably why they were gifted to you .

Found it listed on Digitech website but the driver download just returns Forbidden 403 error .

http://www.digitech-i ...
by bigmack
12 Feb 2026, 22:06
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Audit time
Replies: 2
Views: 1765

Re: Audit time

A small point . MSDS were changed to SDS in June 2015
The change from Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) was mandated by OSHA, with the transition officially taking place by June 1, 2015. This change was part of the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of ...
by bigmack
06 Feb 2026, 16:09
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: balloons
Replies: 5
Views: 1276

Re: balloons

Was just in Woolies and they have 100 balloons back again :clap3:
IMG_3800.jpeg
by bigmack
05 Feb 2026, 10:09
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: balloons
Replies: 5
Views: 1276

Re: balloons

I get mine from Coles .Have 50 packs for $6 in store .
Balloons.png
by bigmack
03 Feb 2026, 14:07
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: same chemical - different sds
Replies: 6
Views: 1572

Re: same chemical - different sds

Just got Sodium Acetate Anhydrous from Westlabs ( home brand)
It also has a Chemwatch SDS and is Hazardous whereas the Chem supply brand is not hazardous .
by bigmack
03 Feb 2026, 08:37
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: party poppers
Replies: 3
Views: 1049

Re: party poppers

Can't say I've ever seen it before either .
Give them a broom ,goggles and let them have fun.
by bigmack
30 Jan 2026, 10:04
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: purchasing a dissolved oxygen meter
Replies: 3
Views: 867

Re: purchasing a dissolved oxygen meter

LOL , don't buy one ......unless you have a big budget and expect to keep spending to keep it working .
by bigmack
30 Jan 2026, 09:57
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: chemical register
Replies: 30
Views: 45554

Re: chemical register

I'm pretty sure I got my idea off Anna .
using excel .
Setup conditional Formatting on the SDS date cells .
I've got mine so they are green if in date , orange if a month off expiring and red if over 5 years old .
It was years ago I set this up and I've forgotten how I did it but this should help ...
by bigmack
30 Jan 2026, 09:03
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Is this Cornflour ?
Replies: 19
Views: 38368

Re: Is this Cornflour ?


finding a bulk supplier/catering supply company near you!


Funny you mentioned that . I tried our local wholesaler that the school has account with and they were actually a few cents more per kg for a bulk amount than buying it in 500g bags from Woollies.


Although then I'd probably be the ...
by bigmack
29 Jan 2026, 14:38
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Is this Cornflour ?
Replies: 19
Views: 38368

Re: Is this Cornflour ?

Lord
This year they decided that all 4 classes of yr 7 will do Ooblek.
120 ziplock bags with 1/2cup of cornflour in each . =D>
14 x 500g packets of the stuff

IMG_3753.jpeg