Alice

Hydralyte.

Great work! Are you going to kill/clear the grass around the base of each plant so they're not competing for root space? Looks pretty arid so you might find that makes a noticeable difference to growth. I wish I had that much space... so good!

I would rather spend the extra $'s and get a unit that will last If you want something that will last then that one Torsten linked to is pretty solid, you wouldn't get as reliable a digi for that price. That design hasn't changed in 20 years but it works, we've still got a few of those about and they just keep going. The temp dials are surprisingly well calibrated but you'll still need a thermometer though if you want to know the exact temp, however most people don't really need super fine accuracy for just boiling or dissolution of reagents. The modern digis with external probe are more convenient in that regard. If I were in the market for home use I'd be looking for a decent second hand unit that's already proven itself in someones lab for a decade.

OK I have a bit of experience with this, I've used probably hundreds and currently have over 25 hotplates in my labs ranging from cheapo chinese brand to $6K programmable ramping 550 deg etc. The majority I've ordered personally and all have been tested in our labs against very decent thermocouples. In my experience the cheapo Chinese ones are really shit for a proper lab because they are generally not accurate (at all, like 40 degrees out in some cases), the stirrers get noisy and usually wobble, heat distribution across the plate is terrible, wiring is often shit so you end up resoldering connections and in general it really shits me to tears even looking at them. We now use mainly on particular brand digital hotplate stirrer and you pick them up for between $700 and $2K (usually about $1200 I guess, always on sale somewhere) depending on quantity you buy and promotions they're running at the time. They rock. However, unless you are using them day in day out then just get the cheap ones, use a thermometer to measure the real temperature and save your hard earned pennies for some decent glassware instead. If it's just for tinkering around then it will be fine.

Thanks guys. Had a pretty busy day in the lab, then out to dinner with the family, had some nice wine and good schnitty, then home to play some guitar and have a whisky. So a pretty fine day really

I know where you're coming from. I've been exactly there. I keep busy. Very busy. Doesn't matter what you do or are doing, could be work, hobbies, researching some latest obsession, playing guitar, mowing the lawn, washing the car, riding your bike, whatever. Just keep busy, always. This may seem like a simplistic response, but that's how I do it. It's weird, but somehow this keeps me simultaneously distracted from yet engaged in life, lol.

Looks great, nice and quiet and a cool house too. I look forward to more updates!

"If you think by drawing a penis you are not voting, you’re actually wrong. If you number boxes correctly and draw a penis, your vote will be counted." Ah god damn it, I could have drawn a penis.

Woman successfully sued Microsoft over sneaky tactics used for Windows 10 update

Congratulations!

That Mayan calendar is awesome! I love the geometric pieces as well. Beautiful work.

Hey Zedo, Great idea and nice signs. Can we see pics of your cnc router/dremel setup? Homebuilt?