Can I use a “regular” magnetic stirrer? *pic included*

[thefloatqueen]

I know TFP always mentions and recommends the Taylor Speedstir but I found a functional magnetic stirrer in my basement. It looks like a smaller version of one you’d see in a chemistry lab. Please don’t ask me why this is down there because I truly have no clue. I haven’t bought the Speedstir because I just can’t justify spending $45 plus shipping on it. Can I just use this darn thing and call it a day? LOL. See pic below. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Katodude]

Should work fine. Do you have some of the “beans”? Go ahead and try it out.

 

[kimkats]

What other treasures are down there?? You scored! Nice!

 

[Jcvader99]

I'd like to see that one running... it might spin the whole bottle around the surface instead of just the "pill".

If it doesn't work, ebay it for $50 and use the funds on the speedstir. It's worth more than $45 in my opinion after using it for a year.

 

[wireform]

I know TFP always mentions and recommends the Taylor Speedstir but I found a functional magnetic stirrer in my basement. It looks like a smaller version of one you’d see in a chemistry lab. Please don’t ask me why this is down there because I truly have no clue. I haven’t bought the Speedstir because I just can’t justify spending $45 plus shipping on it. Can I just use this darn thing and call it a day? LOL. See pic below. Thanks in advance!!


View attachment 117309

New that was a good $45 ?

 

[mguzzy]

Ooh.. those are nice.. you can control the stir rate too! .. So if you have a laboratory grade magnetic stirrer in your basement I would like to make your acquaintance, I sir, have a Geiger counter in my garage, just 'cause..

 

[TBSNPS]

OR; you could make one of these for cheap, if you have a 3" computer fan and a power supply, either battery or a wall wort. TFT test kits sells the magnetic stir bar for $4. I'm using a 6 Volt battery supply

 

[mguzzy]

I see, there ya be a sailor, aye

I tie my dogs leg to the kitchen table. When I'm ready to stir, I scratch my dogs belly and it get's his leg going, causing the the whole table to vibrate, and in turn stirs my sample.

 

[thefloatqueen]

Wow I’m amazed by these responses lol! I almost threw it in the trash hahaha. Thank you all for your feedback. It does not have the little white “pill” lookin thing lol. I’m not due to test anything but I’m gonna try it out for TA just for fun and I’ll report back. I see I brought out the chem geeks on this one! I’m definitely not one so either my husband has been doing some Breaking Bad activities behind my back (kidding!!!) or I accidentally took it from my parents house when I moved 10+ years ago. Who knows. But glad to know I found a free “speedstir” knock-off! I’ll report back soon!!

 

[thefloatqueen]

Should work fine. Do you have some of the “beans”? Go ahead and try it out.

Do I need the beans/pill looking thingys? I’m so new to this.

 

[kimkats]

You do need the bean as it is what mixes the water by turning around very fast. Look down at my siggy. Call the phone number on the website for the TF-100 test kit. She sells the beans. I am not sure how much she will charge to ship a bean or two. It is worth asking her.

 

[thefloatqueen]

Wait, ignore last question!! ??‍??‍ I am a little off today lol

 

[thefloatqueen]

You do need the bean as it is what mixes the water by turning around very fast. Look down at my siggy. Call the phone number on the website for the TF-100 test kit. She sells the beans. I am not sure how much she will charge to ship a bean or two. It is worth asking her.

I found beans for cheap on amazon. Are they the same? Which size should I choose?

 

[Katodude]

I bought 4 of them on eBay a while back for something like $10. If you found them cheap on Amazon go for it. Do yourself a favor and get more than one. 25mm x 8mm is the standard size. Make sure you get enough so you have one for each test and then at least one or two extra for when you lose one down a drain. (Trust me it happens).

 

[thefloatqueen]

Welp, it works! ??‍ yayyy saves me $45 lol

 

[thefloatqueen]

My “beans” came yesterday and I tested this morning both with the magnetic stirrer and without it. Results were the same. Pretty cool!

 

[jlt19]

Oooh, this just gave me a great idea! One of our closest couple friends are chemists. Duh me. He's a professor and she's in pharmaceuticals. Surely they have an extra something lying around I could borrow in exchange for unlimited pool time (which they basically already have anyway!).

 

[mguzzy]

Oooh, this just gave me a great idea! One of our closest couple friends are chemists. Duh me. He's a professor and she's in pharmaceuticals. Surely they have an extra something lying around I could borrow in exchange for unlimited pool time (which they basically already have anyway!).

ooh... yeah, flasks, beakers, real titration columns... see if they have an old mass spectrometer laying around and we can send all our samples to you for detailed analysis... you could be the envy of the pool chem world!

 

[s_dubb]

OR; you could make one of these for cheap, if you have a 3" computer fan and a power supply, either battery or a wall wort. TFT test kits sells the magnetic stir bar for $4. I'm using a 6 Volt battery supplyView attachment 117344

I already have the speedstir, but I want to make this. You have a link or video? This is awesome!

 

[JJ_Tex]

I found beans for cheap on amazon. Are they the same? Which size should I choose?

I have a bean for my self stirring coffee much, and they appear to be the same as the ones that came with my speed stir. I'll make to make sure I dont mix those up