DIY stir plate question

kbuzz · Jun 9, 2011

If I find something to encase it in, does anyone see anything wrong with using the second rare earth magnet from a hard drive as the stir bar?

Was thinking I could encase it in a food grade plastic or something...

Thoughts?

Chrisl77 · Jun 9, 2011

I got my stir bar off ebay for under $10 including shipping. All the hard drive magnets i have seen are very wide and have a curve in them. I dont think they would make a good stir bar even encased in food grade plastic. Most of the ones on ebay also have a pivot ring to reduce friction.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-1-inch-PTFE-magnetic-stirrer-bar-stir-bars-mixer-/300527372813?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f8d3ca0d#ht_2290wt_817

zepolmot · Jun 9, 2011

That ring also helps in keeping the noise down

adam01 · Jun 9, 2011

Stir bar - $3.75 + 2 (shipping) = ~6 bucks

Erlenmeyer flask - ~$20

Cost of second Erlenmeyer flask - $20
+ $1000 for the pain of your wife calling you cheap...

See ebay + fisher stir bar

BrewBeemer · Jun 10, 2011

adam01 said:
Stir bar - $3.75 + 2 (shipping) = ~6 bucks

Erlenmeyer flask - ~$20

Cost of second Erlenmeyer flask - $20
+ $1000 for the pain of your wife calling you cheap...

Wife at times a pain in the AZZ about your hobby brewing costs, PRICELESS!

Hang Glider · Jun 10, 2011

kbuzz said:
If I find something to encase it in, does anyone see anything wrong with using the second rare earth magnet from a hard drive as the stir bar?

Was thinking I could encase it in a food grade plastic or something...

Thoughts?

even encased in something, I don't think you'll get a spin - I think the two will "lock" on each other through the glass - preventing the motor from spinning, unless the motor torque finally takes over and throws the magnet.

Those things are just too strong. Stir Bars - are they magnets themselves, or just rods of steel, reacting to the spinning magnets on the motor?

lowlife · Jun 10, 2011

They are magnetic. At least mine are. I have several of them and they all stick together.

JoeyChopps · Jun 10, 2011

Mines not magnetic I think they all come non magnetic but after lots of time around a magnet field they become magnetic......at least I think that's how we made a compass in boy scouts

Hang Glider · Jun 10, 2011

So, perhaps encasing a 16d nail (cut to length inside of plastic tubing, silicone the ends, o-ring around the center - might make you a stirbar, Kbuzz

Catt22 · Jun 10, 2011

Magnetic Stir bars have a magnet embedded inside the Teflon covering. The stir bars can be damaged by overheating or sometimes by subjecting them to a strong shock (as in dropping one on a hard floor). Ideally, the magnetic stir bars should be stored in pairs stuck together magnetically to preserve their strength.

DIY stir plate question

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