Swan-neck flasks

[Timtam]

Hi all,
Im in the Southern Highlands, NSW and was wondering if anyone knows where to purchase swan-neck flasks? These are to be used for the Modelling Pasteur's experiment year 12 Biology.
Thank you so much for your help Tammy

[Narelle01]

we used coiled clear plastic bunsen tubing, attached to a glass rod, inserted thru a rubber stopper with a hole. (cheap and easy!)

If this doesn;t make sense, i can photograph it...

[Labbie]

Yes please Narelle, I also think a new teacher is after the very same thing.

[Timtam]

Thanks Narelle01
we are using these, but the bio teacher would like the glass ones, if I can get them, still post a piccy for every one

[Narelle01]

here you go!

[rae]

Hi Tammie,
I'm at Oxley!!
We have made our own in the past. It's not hard and the kids can do it if they are careful.
Not much help I know but maybe one of your teachers has some experience bending glass and could help.

Lorrae

[sunray18]

we also use the plastic tubing - WORKS really well

[Jazz]

how do you sterilise plastic tubing?

[Narelle01]

it needs to be sterlaized?
I just send it out 'as is' , maybe they do it in the class???

[Labbie]

To sterliaize just use milton, good enough for babies etc, good enough for us. Cold water.

[lada]

They have to boil the broth for 15mins with the attached tubing, any nasties will be killed. No need to sterilise.
Lada

[Robdean]

Ours are similar - easy to make and easy to replace if needed.

[smiley]

I use the plastic ones from a home brew shop. You can buy them with bungs that fit. I sterilize them using NaOH sterilizer from the shop as well. It is essentially 4M NaOH, which is then used at 5mL/L. Beats the hell out of trying to bend glass, especially with short notice.

[BBB]

Hi, it's not all that difficult to bend glass tubing and fit it through rubber stoppers.
Just takes a little patience. Some artistic variation does occur between the swan necks but this does add to its individuality.
Keep a set and re-use each year.

[J]

Yes I have a set of artistically creative 's' bends. Every now and then a couple get broken so I have to be creative again. No problem.
J

[ellice]

I do the same as Smiley. We had good results this year.
Ellice