I don't know if anyone even has any suggestions on this, but I just bought a couple of Pipettes & a 3-way filler bulb for them & while checking them out (haven't used them in an extraction yet), I realized how much more control there is when using a real pipette than there is with a baster or even eye droppers.

The 3-way filler bulb attaches to any one of the pipettes (I got 2x-5ml & 1x-25ml) & has 3 ways to either fill, or empty the pipette incredibly smoothly.
I didn't realize how sophisticated it was...albeit in a simple way.

So I was wondering if any of the actual scientist's and/or biologist's on the forum might have a few tips on how to best use them?
I realize that they are a fairly simple lab tool.
But until learning to direct the flow of a liquid being poured, with a glass stir-rod to avoid spilling, I thought those had only one use too.

I already know about using them for a small, fine filter. Anything else?


The ones I bought, have a indention near the top of the neck, where the filler attaches, to hold a piece of cotton (so liquid doesn't jump up into the filler).
So I'm wondering how to get in there to clean the pipette's after use?
After checking out how the filler worked, with just water, I couldn't get in there to even dry it!!
Any tips there??


Next to my Seperatory funnel, these might be one of the most helpful tools I've bought!

WS

I remember how cool I thought those bulbs were when I first figured them out. Definitely a creative genuis whoever invented them.

Be prepared to screw up and suck stuff up into the bulb. I did it at least twice before I learned to stop myself

Yeah did that with the water while checking it out.

The pipettes I got have a place at the top, for putting a piece of cotton to try stop, or at least help to slow that kind of thing down.
But a small piece of cotton probably isn't gonna stop a totally emptied vacuum bulb.


Thanks!

WS

Yeah, those bubble pipettes are pretty useful. Just make sure you get glass pipette tips, since the disposable plastic ones are eroded and soften with naphthas, xylene, limonene (but not acetone and alcohols)

SWIM did find that acetone melted the tip of some disposable plastic pippettes. So he got some glass ones

To clean one, there isn't much as far as something mechanical to insert and scrub or to dry it out. Something that works well is to just fill it with a solvent to dissolve whatever gunk you have in it, let the gunk dissolve, empty, and then pull the bulb and air dry.

Since you have 2x5ml, you could use one for water based stuff, and one for non-polars. The problem will be, say, if you accidentally suck up some MHRB juice when you're trying to suck off the NP solvent. Then it gets a little messy in there.

I use pipettes all the time and I have many different sizes from 1 ml all the way up to 25 ml. I don't use that bulb though. I use a plastic pump like this one below. It's a lot easier to control, plus it has a fast release trigger. The knob lets you easily suck or blow out the liquid slowly and accurately. These are cheap, about $5-$10 depending on the size. I love the quick release trigger. That makes life a lot easier. These are one hand operable.

I was looking at those, but seemed like a bit more than I really needed, I'll have to check one out.
What I got are glass Mohr's pipette's, will that still work with one of those?
How exactly does the pipette attach to it?

Thanks guys!

WS

Yeah it’s made for glass pipettes, the kind you have.

You just push the pipette into the hole at the bottom.

There are three sizes. Each size works for a range of pipette sizes based on their capacity. For example, the large one works for 10ml-25 ml. The small one works with 1-5 ml, etc.

Cool!

WS

The best way to clean glassware is with a solution of ethanol/isopropanol (60-95%) and 1M sodium hydroxide. Just rinse it off with that after use and then rinse with deionized/distilled H2O. If you have something really gunky in it try a sulfochromic acid mixture, but beware of its carcinogenic potential.