Anybody growing mushrooms willing to talk???

Purpfarmer said:

When I mix the spawn bag with the substrate in the monotub shouldn't the monotub be sealed until fruiting is ready?? I ordered a monotub but they only sent me filter disks for the holes. Don't I need to keep those holes sealed until I see pins?

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I haven't done monotubs yet but you should be good with the filter discs. I use the cheap 6 quart boxes with the Snap-on lids and they're not airtight at all. It's kind of a fine line between fruiting and incubation. With my boxes once I get full surface colonization all I do is unsnap the lids and drop the temperature a little bit when I see pins and then when they grow Too Tall I put a tub upside down on top for a dub tub. I've also put them straight into fruiting conditions right when I've spawned them and didn't notice much of a difference. Mainly I keep them snapped and closed to try to keep out any contaminants that may flow into their before I get full surface colonization which fights off contaminants a lot easier. So again you should be good with the filter discs especially because they're filtering the air coming in. I'm thinking the only bad thing would be that you're going to lose more moisture from your substrate without it being sealed up tight but you could just over hydrate a little or you could just mist it. But again I've never done a monotub just giving you my two cents only because no one else is answered back yet.

I’ve never sealed the monotubs I’ve done. They always had filter holes and fruited great.

Yeah air is good the whole time provided you can keep conditions on point.

Right even when colonizing I'm sure they release CO2 and needs some Fae

I got a few jars going I will let them go for a little while to gain some Mass. I was wondering when I pull syringes up I'll be doing it in my Sab should I pressure cook the syringes first before I do it even if they're new?

7L!fTeD24 said:

Right even when colonizing I'm sure they release CO2 and needs some Fae

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My tec explanains that. You WANT co2 into 5000 or more ppm. But if your o2 level gets too low they go into stasis.

7L!fTeD24 said:

I got a few jars going I will let them go for a little while to gain some Mass. I was wondering when I pull syringes up I'll be doing it in my Sab should I pressure cook the syringes first before I do it even if they're new?
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If they are still in the wrapper don't bother

Trying to build a scalpel attachment to hook up to the noc saber. Tried using blades from a cheapo disposable razor (with the internal cross member parts snipped out to make it more like a flat wire loop with one sharp side), but they were a little flimsier than expected. Heats up red hot so quick they almost melt, lol. No way to regulate the current on the e-cig mod I chose either, to keep from warping the blades. They snap in half easy too, when I need to be able to bend the blade itself to fit in the terminals of the atomizer head. Each blade is different looking in the stack too. Pretty sure I want something more solid to cut and poke with... I thought it would be cool to re use old razor blades, ah well.

Looks like I might be able to heat up a #11 blade no problem, and gonna buy a pack to test.

Might have to dremel it out a little more to look kinda like these blades in the pic below, and get equal amount of current running through the whole thing.


I take that back.. #25 blades look the most hollowed out already, and will need less modification. This is what i'm thinking, for the areas I'll cut and notch to make it work:



Then simply bend the 2 ends and screw them in, so the blade points straight out instead of sideways, just like my inoculation loop coil.

Steel magnolia from dirty south mycology.
I have been thoroughly impressed by his liquid cultures.

Figured id post this one, as well as a recommendation for DSM, this is really heavy, probably about the weight of a softball.

That’s a chunky fruit! The steel magnolia was originally created by a former member from here. The guy that runs DocsDankSeeds.

I’m starting some cubes and also pans for the first time. Been a while since I’ve done cubes but might as well jump back in.

My scalpel blades showed up. Just hacked one up to fit the RBA coil head. They cut like butter with the dremel, all clamped up good of course.

#11 turned out to be the perfect size too. Glad I didn't go bigger. Even the angles and everything match up to the RBA terminal posts, like it was f'ing meant for it. I knew they would too. I trimmed it enough to fit for a test run. Had to heat the blade to bend the tabs 90 degrees to fit in, so they don't snap.

Negative on the first test...

The problem, is all my mods register it as a shorted out atomizer. Too much metal. Gonna have to cut and hollow it out a little more, until I take enough material away so it will even register like a wire coil at all, with the proper resistance, etc. Shouldn't take much I hope.. I might need to use a more powerful vape mod unless I really trim the blades up good, not sure yet. When I get home later I'll get it right, and hopefully see a red hot scalpel blade, instantly with the push of a button!



^ Gonna trim more material away like this.

Drop That Sound said:

My scalpel blades showed up. Just hacked one up to fit the RBA coil head. They cut like butter with the dremel, all clamped up good of course.

#11 turned out to be the perfect size too. Glad I didn't go bigger. Even the angles and everything match up to the RBA terminal posts, like it was f'ing meant for it. I knew they would too. I trimmed it enough to fit for a test run. Had to heat the blade to bend the tabs 90 degrees to fit in, so they don't snap.

Negative on the first test...

The problem, is all my mods register it as a shorted out atomizer. Too much metal. Gonna have to cut and hollow it out a little more, until I take enough material away so it will even register like a wire coil at all, with the proper resistance, etc. Shouldn't take much I hope.. I might need to use a more powerful vape mod unless I really trim the blades up good, not sure yet. When I get home later I'll get it right, and hopefully see a red hot scalpel blade, instantly with the push of a button!

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^ Gonna trim more material away like this.
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The problem you may have is the lack of delicate utility. Your handle likely needs to be thin and easily manipulated.

Thick and heavy instruments will cost time and dexterity at the scalpel point.

Man I’m so low tech I still just use a torch to flame between cuts. Propane tanks last for weeks no problem.

The vape mod i'm using is mostly made from carbon fiber, so most of the weight is just the 18650 battery. It's lighter than it looks, and actually feels really easy to manipulate the blade end. I'm still not even a noob yet, and haven't cut into any agar.. but, I feel like I could draw a decent picture it if was an ink pen. I'm holding a #3 scalpel handle at the same time side by side, and both feel easy to handle for precision cuts..

I could see maybe fumbling it though, due to the thicker size, and it sticking in my foot. I don't drop vape mods that often though, especially not stick shaped ones. I have even smaller recharchable ecig pen style batteries, but doubt they would have enough juice to heat a blade like I want. My inoculation loop coil though, maybe..

I really can't tell you guys it even works yet, because I appear to be the first one to ever make a self sterilizing electronic scalpel for mycology purpose. It was either this way, or build induction coil, which I still might make one too. Heck, I might even quit having too much fun tinkering around with gadgets, and grow some mushies someday, lol.

I'm gonna make a circular agar punch attachment for it next, that has a built in pick coming off the side that also gets heated at the same time, for for poking in and picking up the puck after cutting it. Imagine the time saved by not using multiple tools, and flaming them every time. I might never even need a scalpel blade for much..

Hmm.. I could run extended wires to a smaller handle, and remotely mount the vape mod device itself on the table. Then just screw my different attachments to the end of the handle as needed. Kinda like adding the extension on the bulky dremel tool that I was doing precision work on a small #11 blade with, lol. Probably be easier, and less sketchy.

I would run an extra small set of wires for a button on the handle too. Or maybe even a foot switch down below.

I got a box full of old vape mods that look beat up and ugly, but I could pull the guts out and rebuild one into a nice looking 200w digital unit! I'm not sure if it would work though, because the extended wires coming from the 510 terminal might register as being the actual wire coil...

Drop That Sound said:

The vape mod i'm using is mostly made from carbon fiber, so most of the weight is just the 18650 battery. It's lighter than it looks, and actually feels really easy to manipulate the blade end. I'm still not even a noob yet, and haven't cut into any agar.. but, I feel like I could draw a decent picture it if was an ink pen. I'm holding a #3 scalpel handle at the same time side by side, and both feel easy to handle for precision cuts..

I could see maybe fumbling it though, due to the thicker size, and it sticking in my foot. I don't drop vape mods that often though, especially not stick shaped ones. I have even smaller recharchable ecig pen style batteries, but doubt they would have enough juice to heat a blade like I want. My inoculation loop coil though, maybe..

I really can't tell you guys it even works yet, because I appear to be the first one to ever make a self sterilizing electronic scalpel for mycology purpose. It was either this way, or build induction coil, which I still might make one too. Heck, I might even quit having too much fun tinkering around with gadgets, and grow some mushies someday, lol.

I'm gonna make a circular agar punch attachment for it next, that has a built in pick coming off the side that also gets heated at the same time, for for poking in and picking up the puck after cutting it. Imagine the time saved by not using multiple tools, and flaming them every time. I might never even need a scalpel blade for much..

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Your little hole punch could be extremely useful. It is tedious and annoying to draw little circles that must connect in order for agar, ESPECIALLY light, soft agar to come away from the plate.

Anstrument that picks up the little plug and then easily deposits that plug on another dish AND sterilizes itself would be marvelous.

The real trick is to ensure a low profile. I use all 45 degree angle instruments. I find clay or wax tools (for making jewelery) the best. I don't have to lift the dish lid very high in order to work the plate.

I was looking into these cheap knock off "dental tissue punch" kits on ebay, etc. Got 4 packs with multiple sizes, for like $10-15, which seems like a good deal. Can buy single ones too, whatever size you want. Almost as cheap as buying a pack of angled SS drinking straws..

I'll probably get a set as backup, incase my electronic all in one punch and pick tool contraption idea fails, lol.

I wonder if one of these cheap knock off dental amalgam carrier tools would work?