Plastic pipettes are eyedropper-like fluid transfer tools. They’re often graduated along the stem, with mL and half-milliliter markings. Plastic pipettes are disposable, but can sometimes be reused depending on what you use them for.
You’ll often see them sized based on the stem volume, but they can hold additional fluid in the bulb.
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Maybe you’ve seen pipettes before, even if a long time ago in high school science class, or maybe it’s new to you. I’m sure some of you use them regularly, and if so, what do you use them for?
I haven’t used pipettes of any kind for a few years now, but they came in very handy when I worked in a research lab. Disposable plastic pipettes aren’t very accurate, at least compared to glass ones, but they’re inexpensive and quick and easy to use.
I just ordered a 100-pack from Amazon, for some playtime projects I have in mind for my son, but will stash a few into my toolbox.
For playing around, I think we can use these for food coloring and water “experiments,” and maybe adding vinegar into baking soda reactions.
For tool-related use, I’ll try using them for precise cutting fluid application. I’ve been using gel-based cutting fluid and a brush, but want to back to an applicator for certain tasks. Sometimes I just need a little bit, but a lot of the applicators I’ve seen are sized for machine shop use. The same with dispensing bottles – they deliver way too much fluid at a time.
They can also be used to hold alcohol, which will make my life easier when cleaning small parts. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before! In a lab, I always had alcohol in a large dispensing bottle. But for home or workshop use, the small amounts I use, and how infrequently I use it, would lead to too much evaporation and fluid loss.
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The pipettes I ordered are made from low-density polyethylene, which stands up pretty well to a range of chemicals, but be sure to check a chemical compatibility chart.
The temperature range is said to be -50° to 90°C.
Price: ~$5.50 for 100
Buy Now(via Amazon)
The brand is Karter Scientific, which I had not heard of before, but they sell a variety of laboratory supplies. I’m hoping that the pipettes are of better quality than the no-name pipettes sold for “home makeup” use.
Chris
I have ordered that 100 pk as well. I use them for mixing DIY e-liquids, and occasionally for cooking. They can be rinsed out and used many times over.
Sometimes I will mark certain ones with tape that are only used for alcohol or other liquids. They’re a nice alternative to syringes since they draw up liquid better.
Other shop uses:
1. Drawing up excess wood glue squeeze-out around joints.
2. Dispensing liquid pigment or dye for tinting stains and glazes.
3. Applying lubricant, solvent or 2-part Epoxy precisely.
4. When empty, can be used as a gentle blower to clear dust from small parts without blowing them away.
5. Great for pushing glue deep into holes for dowels, tenons or biscuits.
6. If you are looking to keep material in them, a small wire nut works to seal off the end.
Rock Hound
I teach high school sciences. SO, I use them regularly. I buy they by the case and usually buy the sterile, individually wrapped ones.
ca
I’m a molecular biologist and use pipettes daily!
Jeff
Thought about buying something like this for spot applying Round Up to weeds in the lawn.
Wayne Ruffner
I’ve used Nalge 1oz dropper bottles to apply very small amounts of stuff. They store really well (a little captive cap) which I think is their appeal – a whole ounce, stored, precise application. You can find them at REI, etc.
They use the same overall bottle top design as their leakproof tops, but these are designed to leak just a little, I guess.
A different take on a similar solution…
fredly
They’re fantastic for applying cyanoacrylate adhesives
JMG
I have not used any recently, but when I was required to use a specific catalyzed finish on a contract, they were a requirement for measuring the acid based catalyst. Nasty stuff, and I avoided using those finishes whenever possible, and finally stopped bidding on any contracts that absolutely required their use without substitution. The health risks from accidental exposure to the chemical agents were just not worth any form of monetary gain from the work.
Farid
Thanks Stuart.
The Amber Glass bottles with eye droppers also come in handy. One example:
https://www.amazon.com/Amber-Glass-Bottle-Dropper-15ml/dp/B0085W96U0/
I originally bought a dozen or so 1-oz for around $7 for my son to use with his chemistry set and quickly discovered other uses. For example, I use one to keep a small amount of tapping fluid and another near the drill press for cutting oil. It’s easier to apply where I need it on the small jobs I do, and if spill one, there is a lot less to clean up. I also keep a small Nalge squeeze bottle with fine tip filled with 99% Alcohol in for electronics cleanup.
Stuart
I’ll keep the eyedropper bottles in mind, thanks!
Where did you get the 99% alcohol from? The best I can find locally seems to be 91% of isopropyl.
Farid
I bought several bottles just about 4 or 5 few years back when Meijer still sold it. I am down to my last bottle.
We get it a work as well in gallon containers (through Technitool and other industrial suppliers). I recently found out that Micro-center has it for a decent price. http://www.microcenter.com/product/451968/Technical_Grade_Isopropyl_Alcohol_999_-_32oz
Hope that helps.
Stuart
Thanks, I’ll give that a try, or at least know what to search for.
I used to order high purity ethanol by the gallon as well, but from suppliers that don’t deal with individuals.
Farid
One more source: Technical grade at McMaster-Carr:
https://www.mcmaster.com/#isopropyl-alcohol/=161fxk7.
The description might make sound more like Denatured Alcohol, but the SDS shows it at <=100% Isopropyl.
firefly
I have a few of those glass dropper myself. They work very well. I got them at the Container Store. Made in USA. They are sold individually there at a much higher cost.
Jimmie
I used to have a couple disposable pipettes but I eventually replaced them with a few syringes. I have a couple from an old inkjet printer refill kit and a couple from the vet. The inkjet ones are larger…15ml and are graduated in 1ml increments. The vet syringes hold 5ml and are graduated in 0.2ml increments.
I use them around the house for various things where using a squeeze bottle would be inefficient. I’ve used them for things like measuring pigment and re-gluing staircase balusters. The one in the kitchen gets used for transferring liquids into containers too small for funnels (like homemade saline for nasal spray bottles).
Marc
Great for balsa RC airplane building when using thin super glue, fine control
James B
I use pipettes with graduated 1oz dosage cups for transferring inks and dyes for staining leather projects. Same for mixing color for airbrushing.
Using the little dosage cups with pipettes helps conserve expensive materials, and prevents cross contaminating when I use one brush for multiple colors.