I’ve been really busy this week with work related projects, but I still found 15 minutes or so to start cleaning some bits of old chemistry set glassware, starting with the test tubes.

Don’t you hate people that get toast crumbs in the butter? Well, the same things happen with old chemistry sets. The chemicals that are stored in the stoppered test-tubes get contaminated with other chemicals over time, or, they just just start to break down due to age and poor storage conditions. Bottom line, if you’re restoring a chemistry set, you are going to need to replace the chemicals.

One of the sets I have has a complete set of test-tubes, but the labels identifying the chemical that’s supposed to be in the test-tubes are in terrible condition.

Here’s a picture of one of the better labels.

It’s not bad, but the colour is washed out and it’s a bit grubby.

Isn’t the above label pretty. I wish I could take credit for it, but actually ChatGPT made it. I scanned the original label, gave it to ChatGPT and asked if it could make me a nice new one, and the result is what you see here, and I can easily rescale this and print it out on a sticky label.

The larger Merit kit I’m restoring should also contain a round, flat bottomed flask. It was probably broken as they were really fragile and I’ve never been able to find them on Ebay for sale. However, all is not lost. They are actually 50ml flasks and are available on Amazon. You can find a suitable one here:

Rocwing Graduated Flat Bottom Florence Flask made from Borosilicate Glass 3.3 (50ml) : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

It’s also more robust than the paper thin ones originally supplied in the kits.

Whilst on the subject of Amazon, I stumbled across this:

The colour is almost identical to the colour used to make the base trays in the Merit kits. I’m wondering if I can print my own tray. My 3D printer bed is limited to 250mm square, but I could print the tray in sections and link/glue them together. ChatGPT suggested using PETG as it’s better resistance to heat and chemicals. Oh, and I certainly didn’t pay £18 for a spool of this. Last week it was around £11 a spool… lucky I bought 3 spools… shop around !!!!