What to do with empty yeast vials

I know everyone here, that uses white labs yeast, has empty vials laying around. What are some interesting ways you reuse them?

They make great airtight containers for waterproofing matches.

I use them for spice jars mostly.

Also make uhhh....smoking utensils out of them for friends (I do not partake anymore).

I've been saving them,thinking I'll put washed yeast in'em after they settle in jars.

You can make them into tap handles. There's a guy on HBT who machines pieces that all you have to do is drill a hole in the lid of the yeast vial and place the machined piece inside and glue it.. It's already threaded so you're all set. Here's mine.

If I find his post I'll attach it.

ismedeiros88 said:

You can make them into tap handles. There's a guy on HBT who machines pieces that all you have to do is drill a hole in the lid of the yeast vial and place the machined piece inside and glue it.. It's already threaded so you're all set. Here's mine.

If I find his post I'll attach it.

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Great Idea...I like it.

dressing, sauces or condiments that I need to take to work for lunch

Goindh

That's who makes those machined pieces, send him a PM

I clean and sanitize them, then pour a little bit of each starter back into the vial before I pitch.

I also use one to store my hydrometer. I have a little 1.06 hydrometer that fits perfectly inside a vial, which I can then just toss into my kitchen drawer.

supermoth said:

I clean and sanitize them, then pour a little bit of each starter back into the vial before I pitch.

I also use one to store my hydrometer. I have a little 1.06 hydrometer that fits perfectly inside a vial, which I can then just toss into my kitchen drawer.

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How successful have you been creating a new starter from the vile you filled? Do you use more than 1 vile to create your next starter?

NTXBrauer said:

How successful have you been creating a new starter from the vile you filled? Do you use more than 1 vile to create your next starter?

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I've been doing two-step starters. What I end up with in the vial looks like about one quarter of what you'd get in a new vial from White Labs. I figured that would be around 25 billion cells, so I worked out the details on yeastcalc.com. It's a little more work to make the starter, but it's a lot easier than washing yeast and it is nice for storage (and to have the original strain label!).

I freeze yeast glycerin slurry in them for future starters.

I use them as tap handles. I made them myself by ordering large ferrules. Then a trip to the hardware store to get a stainless bolt and washer. Drill a hole in the cap and you can fill it with whatever you like.

I have one stuffed with artificial hop comes and a few others filled with grain. They are nice and I like them very much.

save 'em and trade them in for schwag:
http://www.whitelabs.com/customerclub

outside92129 said:

save 'em and trade them in for schwag:
http://www.whitelabs.com/customerclub

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FYI you only need the labels for that...

You'd need a case of them to get anything really cool though. I'd like the hoody myself!

My stoner friends like them as they make good travel containers.

I make a large starter and fill them with some of the yeast to freeze in the hope of building a yeast library and save a bit of cash...which I'm already throwing away in more brew stuff.