What should I get, how much and what size?

What I already plan on getting:

2x 1000mL erlynmeyer flasks
1x 1000mL separatory funnel (still have no idea what the difference between PTFE and glass stopcock is.)
1x 50 Pyrex Beaker
1x 125 Beaker
1x 250 Beaker
1x 600 Beaker
2x 1000mL Beaker
some glass stirrers
some glass pipettes
some glass droppers


Do I need anything else? all are borosilicate glass, and I have a choice between PTFE stopcock or ground-glass stopcock. Is one better than the other? I can get both for the same prices pretty much.

Im not going to be doing any soxhlet or anything like that.. so i figured this is a pretty decent set up. I will try and find a cheap-o hotplate to use as well

sounds like a good starter set

go with PTFE stopcocks whenever possible. ground glass stopcocks requires stopcock grease, which can contaminate the sample when using organic solvents.

I would add to your list the following (and I appreciate that 2 items are not glass):

1.A Buchner funnel, sized 90-110mm;

2.A Buchner flask with a minimum capacity of 1000ml;

3.A hand-operated vacuum pump with tubing.

I agree with the benzymes post regarding PTFE; a glass stopcock can stick with a force you wouldnt believe and even when mobile it can be hard to spin it in both directions.

The two buchner items are plastic that is OK to use with solvents/acids/bases correct? I assume so since they are used in labs.. Here is what I found for the entire setup: Here

As for the vacuum pump, what is the use for that? I have heard that one can use an old "food saver" vacuum sealer in place for this (with a little electric work, and some finagling). Would this be for expelling solvents quicker from a mix?

a hand vac is useful for vac filtration. for extraction purposes, this is fine.

for other applications, i suggest a diaphragm pump. a decent diaphragm pump (one which will continuously pull 25"Hg or more) will run upwards of $100; but this is a good investment for the serious hobbyist. it will do it all...filtration, desiccation, sublimation, distillation, and vac chromatography.

I think a nice selection of mason jars, a one gallon glass jug with a small neck, a turkey baster, and a medicine dropper are all one needs for the home lab. That's just one Pokey's opinion of course.

Pokey the Underequipped

Oh.. a food dehydrator comes in really handy at times as well.

turkey basters will not hold up well to organics like methylene chloride or acetone.
spend the 30 ducks and get a sep funnel

I have a super turkey baster. It has faithfully served me for many, many successful extractions. Also, I always want the stuff on top. How would a seperation funnel help me? Not being cheeky here, I really don't see how one would be good for me as it's the 100 ml of d-limo I'm after, not the gallon of toxic mimosa.

Pokey the LabRat

gallon of toxic mimosa?

even hippy solvent can degrade plastics, such as LDPE and polystyrene.
more effective solvents like methylene chloride and toluene will certainly do a number on kitchenware for the birds.

Well the stuff I want is on top, so a sep funnel is of no use to me, I think. You're the scientist, teach me! And I don't use hippy solvents. I order the most deadly d-limo I can find. And I love lye. PH 14 FTW!

While I have your attention, I was wondering why DMT fumarate changes so radically when recrystalized with water. It is white and almost chalky after a good acetone wash, then when dissolved in some distilled water and evaporated it changes color and texture. It turns amber or brown and is quite sticky and the chunks are very hard.

I realize this I am completely hijacking this thread, but I've been so curious....

Pokey

fumarate salts have antioxidative properties, but like anything else with such properties (think of a glass of green tea), it may change color with prolonged exposure to air. salts with multiple proton acceptors are hygroscopic.
fumarate actually happens to hold its crystalline resolution better than other salts when rinsed with acetone, filtered, and stored.

Thanks Benzyme!

Pokey the Satisfied

LOL.......

Pokey, I'll second that. I got most of my stuff at the local salvation army\goodwill store. I'm getting outstanding results every time with my set up.

Nothing says, I'm up to no good, like a nice complete home lab set up.

The money you spend on all the equipment could instead be spent on enough bark so that you could do an extract that would last you the rest of your life.