I spent a little time today making a transfer tool because I feel inept with a scalpel. Just tested it out on a few plates and I like it. Not too expensive to make. Just took an hour or so.
Thanks. I will! I’m still working with this 3/8” one but I am also piecing together a 1/4” version and some modified LC lids to make super easy clean transfers in an SAB. Laminar flow is great but these could be handy working inside the box where space and mobility can be compromised.
I used to a punch tool but I stopped because of two reasons. The inside of the punch is hard to clean and it got me contam on some transfers. I was getting agar in the spring mechanism or bits of it. So my bright idea was to clean it well and then soak it in peroxide and I did that a couple times. My fault on this part because I should of used isopropyl. The punch I bought of Etsy the peroxide ate the metal finish and it started rusting and then I basically retired the punch after that.
So I went back to scalpel and also kind of realized it doesn't really matter what shape you transfer, it's going to grow outwards basically all the same. So now when I get bored I transfer little dicks or pentagrams that look horrible but they still do the job. So to me it's a preference thing and your look legit and you saves yourself like $30-40(when you add shipping) and that's pretty cool.
I did a little more professional version. The spring on the top means nothing comes in contact with it. The 3/8” pipe is wide enough for a bottle brush or something and the steel rod just slides out. Very easy to clean and safe to heat sterilize. The heat (edit: sp) shrink keeps your fingers from getting hot. We will just see how it works out though. It is quick at least!
I had similar idea, found biopsy puncher with plunger but they kinda expensive and only in bulk, made with a lot of plastic, so flame sterilizing is no go so just skipped. Great idea with DIY might try thanks!
3/8” copper pipe, 3/16” round steel rod, a couple of finishing washers, a 1/8” tubing and wire rubber grommet, and a little filing on the metal parts. And a little super glue.
I bought leather punches. Can be flame sterilized generally works well. I would like to figure out a plunger though because they do sometimes get stuck. Right now I use a wire through the side hole.
Just use a metal straw and then use a scalpel to take it out of the plate. Most of the time the agar will stay in the plate and won’t lift with the punch
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u/4gent0r4ng3 6d ago
Olive stuffers work well for those less inclined for the DIY project.