containers for solids

[RosalieL]

Just wondering what you all use for sending out solid samples to classes? For example, today students are heating copper carbonate so they need little sample pots of that for each group. I generally use small specimen containers which are annoying to store in sets of 10, but today as I was filling them up I wondered (not for the first time) if hinged sauce containers would work, and if they would fit in the dropper bottle trays. Have any of you done this or have a solution for storing sets of 10 specimen containers? I do have some baskets from kmart that I purchased a few years ago and they work well but they don't sell them anymore and I only have 6 of them so the frequently used ones are in those (salt, sugar, bicarb etc).

[RosalieL]

While searching, I came across these - Do you think they would be too risky for flame tests? One of each chemical in each pot?

Screenshot 2026-04-24 at 2.36.57 pm.png

[bigmack]

I’ve got my commonly used solids in specimen containers now .
Agree it is annoying that you can't put them in a Dabco tray . Been thinking of hassling the Engineering Dept to 3D print me some "Dabco trays" that fit specimen containers

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Flame test solids are in smaller specimen containers with push on lids .

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I like those ones you posted Rosalie .
Not sure what you mean by being too risky ?

I guess they could melt just as easy as the ones I have if idiot students touch container with a hot wire loop .

Only issue I see is stability , if you knock one , you loose all the chemicals . Just also thinking , we use Calcium Chloride and it invariably absorbs moisture and needs cleaning and refilling . With the being part of a fixed group , would make it hard to just clean one chemical .

[RosalieL]

I like those ones you posted Rosalie .
Not sure what you mean by being too risky ?

I guess they could melt just as easy as the ones I have if idiot students touch container with a hot wire loop .

Only issue I see is stability , if you knock one , you loose all the chemicals . Just also thinking , we use Calcium Chloride and it invariably absorbs moisture and needs cleaning and refilling . With the being part of a fixed group , would make it hard to just clean one chemical .

Risky as in kids will not shut lids and lose the whole lot... or the plastic quality won't hold up to chemicals (from memory, none of them are particularly nasty)

I have also considered getting someone to 3D print a specimen container holder...

[RosalieL]

I have put in a purchase request for a pack of 10 strips of 15ml paint pots from Amazon ($18.79) and also a pack of 50x 25ml sauce containers with hinged lids ($11.69) . If it's approved and they fit the dropper holders I will let you all know! If they don't fit, they will still be useful for other things.

[bigmack]

Can’t go wrong at that price Rosalie .

Funny timing , earlier today I mentioned to engo teacher about it .
Nekminut

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Alas , couldn’t fit 10x holder on 3D printer bed . So made 8x holder as realistically , we usually only have eight groups due number of Lab benches.
He’s not happy that it takes 3hours to print so redesigning it . Got to love the dedication .

[bigmack]

Hot off the press

[RosalieL]

we have 9 benches per room plus the teacher bench so I try to have 10 of everything even though they're rarely all used.

[bigmack]

Well , not really Solids , but had a thought last night .
Oh yeah , they fit the 125ml dropper bottles from Westlabs

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Going to see what O’l mate can do to improve idea .
Going to ask him for STL files I can share with you all .
Hopefully he still has the 10 holder as well .

[RosalieL]

So good!!

[MrCooper]

You can find downloadable .3mf design files in my library here:
https://www.makeitjack.com/freebiedbt

I've got two versions for different sized bottles/jars, 38mm and 41mm.

Screenshot 2026-05-15 112159.png

I hope that's helpful!

Jack Cooper-White

[Anna Z]

You can find downloadable .3mf design files in my library here:
https://www.makeitjack.com/freebiedbt

I've got two versions for different sized bottles/jars, 38mm and 41mm.

Screenshot 2026-05-15 112159.png

I hope that's helpful!

Jack Cooper-White

Awesome, thanks