I like mine, but it does attract a few "wow, you're a dork!" comments. It's a hard world out there...
Benefits to the Speedstir for the Tf-100
- Thread starter grrltraveler
- Start date
Thanks for confirming that it is in fact always supposed to spin.... mine works great when it does.... when it doesn't.... not so great. I was actually lamenting the purchase, but judging from all the other reviews, I'll love it if/when I get it to work properly.
I bought it and it's good - not really for Ph because I prefer having the color chart right there. But it's been handy for everything else. Thanks!
If the stir bar does that hop thing instead of spinning, the batteries are getting weak.RCDuck said:
beezar said:
I've seen those and NEED to get one, I just wasn't sure it would do both the 25ml and the 10ml.
As has been said - the Speed-Stir is a MUST! (if you can afford it and are ordering from Dave anyway
)I just bought one of these (waiting for it to arrive in the mail/courier). I can hardly wait to make tiny Pina Coladas.
Well, I was one of the doubters conerning the need or usefulness of the "SpeedStir". But I finally broke down and ordered one when I ordered ned chemicals for my TF-100 kit. I did not use it when I first got it, I ccontinued mixing by hand. I was working on lowering my TA and testing my CH and was not getting the numbers I was expecting. So I got off my lazy butt and used the SpeedStir. This is a fantastic little helper! My TA and Ch both came in lower. The light and the constant mixing provides much better results than manual mixing. It is much easier to see the color changing with this device. If you're like me, you can get kinda sloppy conducting these tests over and over. This is a must have for your test kit. Try it, you'll like it. Mikey did! 
Duk
Duk
Richard320 said:
Changed from the supplied generic batteries to new Duracell batteries and it works like a charm!!! Now I can agree with everyone else that it is a great tool/toy.
waste said:beezar said:
I've seen those and NEED to get one, I just wasn't sure it would do both the 25ml and the 10ml.
As has been said - the Speed-Stir is a MUST! (if you can afford it and are ordering from Dave anyway
Yup, the Sample Sizer Measuring tool does both 25 and 10 ml. Just make sure you get the correct test tubes with it. And it really takes literally 2 seconds to get the perfect amount of water needed in the tube... no flicking, no water droppers, no refilling after you get rid of too much water. piece-o-cake
If you have the speed stir thing, the tube that comes with it is the correct one to use with the sample sizer thing.
As a cheaper Alternative I use a 25 ml syringe. You can perfectly add 10 or 25 ml and get it exact easily and quickly.beezar said:waste said:beezar said:
I've seen those and NEED to get one, I just wasn't sure it would do both the 25ml and the 10ml.
As has been said - the Speed-Stir is a MUST! (if you can afford it and are ordering from Dave anyway
Yup, the Sample Sizer Measuring tool does both 25 and 10 ml. Just make sure you get the correct test tubes with it. And it really takes literally 2 seconds to get the perfect amount of water needed in the tube... no flicking, no water droppers, no refilling after you get rid of too much water. piece-o-cake
n
Nice tip Rob. I've never tested without the speed stirrer, but using it is the bomb. Worth every penny for CH & TA I was having to use a lot of drops.
Greenhaw
Greenhaw
I am kinda of confused.
With TF100 I measure FC every evening - normally ~ 3ppm which I then add chlorine to get to 6ppm. If I do this I don't need to shock - TA is ~80-90 which I test every week or so. CH ~ 240 - so I don't test often.
How would the Speedstir help me - everyone seems to love it - but ~ 6 drops every evening of the FC test isn't really a big deal.
The tests I find a little harder to gauge accurately PH (using the TF100 block) and CYA (again TF100) wouldn't seem to get any help ):
With TF100 I measure FC every evening - normally ~ 3ppm which I then add chlorine to get to 6ppm. If I do this I don't need to shock - TA is ~80-90 which I test every week or so. CH ~ 240 - so I don't test often.
How would the Speedstir help me - everyone seems to love it - but ~ 6 drops every evening of the FC test isn't really a big deal.
The tests I find a little harder to gauge accurately PH (using the TF100 block) and CYA (again TF100) wouldn't seem to get any help ):
Vandergraff said:
The biggest plus of the speed stir is that you are sure to get accurate results. The speed stir will make sure your testing gets mix throughly and not have to worry if you mixed it enough by hand. Well worth the investment to me and many others here.
But on the other side if you feel your test are accurate and you dont mind holding tube in one hand, drop with other, shake with hand holding tube you will be fine. I thought the same thing and ordered it and I was like wow this makes things a lot easier to make sure I get accurate results.
Even though you only go through 6 drops, it could be different if your sample is not getting mixed enough.
It is one of those things you have to have to appreciate it. I have also heard from duraleigh (dave) on the board he thought it was a gimmick at first. He then started to sell them and tried it out and loves it.
Mine arrived in the mail yesterday (along with a new Borate drop based test - check in Chem 201 if you need a Borate test kit).
At first it didn't work - I tested the batteries and they were all 1.6 volts - more than enough. After removing and re-inserting the batteries several times, it suddenly started working. I hope there's not a loose connection or something.
One thing that I DON'T like, is that it auto stops after one minute. My calcium test takes much longer than that, by the time I add the 20 drops at the start, it's been over a minute...
Other than that, it made testing way easier.
At first it didn't work - I tested the batteries and they were all 1.6 volts - more than enough. After removing and re-inserting the batteries several times, it suddenly started working. I hope there's not a loose connection or something.
One thing that I DON'T like, is that it auto stops after one minute. My calcium test takes much longer than that, by the time I add the 20 drops at the start, it's been over a minute...
Other than that, it made testing way easier.
When I'm doing the ch or alk test, I'll turn the SpeedStir off and back on when I'm getting close to the endpoint so I don't miss it.
I recently picked one up and I love it! A friend of mine, fellow pool owner, was over one night while I was testing my water and has now decided that he needs one to go with his TF-100 
It's amazing how you don't know you need something till you try it out and then you can't live without it.