Just starting to make yeast starters. Noticed the cell count is much higher if a stir plate is used. Stir plates run from $70 to over $200. What do you use? Want one that runs quietly.
Currently use a 3 L wine jug with a cap drilled and grommeted for an airlock. What would be the benefit of getting a 3 L flask, assuming the stir bar will remain centered in the concave bottom of the wine jug? Any thoughts on what size stir bar to get?
Use the stir bar that comes with it. It works great in my 5L Erlenmeyer.
Dave
You want max growth with a starter which, among other things, means maximum oxygen exchange. For that reason, it’s better not to use an airlock for a starter. Just cover the top with sanitized aluminum foil.
I have one. Like it. Dan backs up his product.
Another vote for Stirstarters. I use it with both 2 & 5L Erlenmeyer flasks.
i use a stirstarter as well.
I just put my DIY Stir Plate project to use tonight.
Under $30 bucks from start to finish.
Pictures?
Stirstarter, good product, good price, great service.
The only thing i don’t like is having to carefully balance my 5L flasks, but it works like a charm.
Another user of the stir starter here. Although I did feel kind of foolish after I opened it up and saw that it’s a pretty simple build. Also got a Midwest Supplies yeast starter kit but I find that the best thing I like about it is the foam stopper as the flasks and the DME can be found anywhere.
Fan 4.05 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JPNE7A/ref=ox_ya_os_product
Flask 14.56 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BLOHVK/ref=ox_ya_os_product
Stir Bar 7.33 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VBW5HW/ref=ox_ya_os_product
Rare earth magnets @ Wally World 4 each in a blister pack for 3.79
8X10 piece of acrylic at Lowes 1.79
I had the hardware and the 12VDC power supply on hand.
The acrylic is enough for two.
The fan with four magnets creates a good vortex in a 1L flask.
For those interested in a StirStarter, Bell’s carries them for $40. They have 10% Off Site Wide right now…
That brings the cost down to $36 + shipping.
Or, if you get a StirStarter directly from StirStarter, there’s a free stir bar offer toward the bottom of HBF’s Top Finds Page…
Also 1 Liter Erlenmeyer for - $9.99…
Nice!
FYI: I recently played with PWM (pulse witdth modulation) for fan speed control and it works much better than using voltage to control fan speed. But it does require a few more parts and soldering skills.
I saw that Dan has a larger model that a 5L sits nicely on.
Good to know, if I wear out the two original units I use currently I’ll upgrade.
Build yourself a stand for your 5L flasks - something that is the same height as the top of the stirplate but with a hole in the middle that you can put the stirplate in. A little bit of plywood and some scrap 2x4 should be all you need. It will support the edges of the flasks and not interfere with the stirplate.
…AND I could rationalize buying a jigsaw!
555 circuit or something fancy? I’ve been thinking about rebuilding mine, just for something to do.
;D Sure - or you can build a few small pieces that are not attached to each other and just arrange them around the plate when you’re using it.
