71
UV Sterilization Box for DIY Supplies
submitted over 9 years ago by Pixels_On_FireMixologist
Comments
Sort
14 points
 
by t33kay33over 9 years ago

Uv only sterilizes what the light hits. Won't clean inside syringes or bottles. Uv light is used in labs but only as a secondary line of defense after an air filter. They are used to prevent contamination, not to clean tools. Ejuice creation doesn't really create the sterile conditions that allow the breeding of pathogens like say agar Petri dish work (growing cultures).

6 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

For what its worth, I am building an acrylic glove box with a hepa filter and transfer chamber to eliminate my equipment from touching non-filtered air with the UV as a 2nd defense. Overkill, maybe. Fun to build? Yes

5 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

My concern is more that while laying around between uses, they are vulnerable to all sorts of contamination from the air alone. I couldn't imagine anyone suggesting it is better to not add a line of defense to keep things clean.

3 points
 
by jkermanover 9 years ago

I absolutely recommend that! You could be having a false sense of security, and have more dangerous habits thinking you have somehow cleaned your equipment an appropriate amount. Or that you somehow have created a sterile environment!

UV kills some types of harmful bacteria, but it absolutely does not sterilize anything in any way. Its totally inappropriate to use any word stronger than maaaaaybe "disinfect"

If you want sterile, you are going to need an autoclave.

EDIT: I see above referencing using this method as a substitute for boiling water (which also does not sterilize anything, and is only marginally useful) So I think im 100% correct in my theory, and Highly suggest you take a closer look at your lab technique. I'm really happy you care about the topic and are putting work into it.

1 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

Ugh If I change my post title to "UV maaaaaaye "disinfect" Box for DIY Supplies" I think it will get downvoted.

I feel like you know what your talking about. I saw that post history - you are familiar with creating and maintaining sterile environments ;) Fingers crossed you are my reddit secret santa.

-2 points
 
by JoatMasterofNunover 9 years ago

> boiling water (which also does not sterilize anything...

Um, you got a source for that? Because I'm pretty sure boiling water is a sterilization method.

1 points
 
by bmiggidyover 9 years ago

But he's got a sign showing how powerful his box is.

1 points
 
by vapingatfiftyover 9 years ago

> Won't clean inside syringes or bottles.

UVA radiation has 50% or better penetration through glass.

9 points
 
by t33kay33over 9 years ago

You realise pg is a disinfectant?
Edit ooooh the downvotes. Guess I should have asked this question in a private msg?? Lol

5 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

I didn't, but after a google it checks out. Looks like PG/water mix can disinfect the air. So vaping is helping to clean the air around us. How nice

3 points
 
by t33kay33over 9 years ago

Pretty cool huh? They use it in hospitals to clean the air. They guy who figured this out did experiments on chimpanzees keeping them in room of pg fog for six months. The chimps were fine. Pretty fucked treatment of animals but a pretty solid test.

9 points
 
by PalefaceVaperover 9 years ago

To bad none of us were around to mix up a nice banana flavored PG fog juice for him, those chimps would of probably been more satisfied participants.

3 points
 
by o0turdburglar0oover 9 years ago

> six months

It was actually 18 months, almost at the saturation point. Both rats and chimps.

Source

2 points
 
by Tlxsessover 9 years ago

Yeah, I found a 55gal drum of pg at my hospital. So tempting to pump some into a bottle for my diy...

5 points
 
by dontgetaddictedover 9 years ago

Yeah man.... I do good to rinse my bottles out some days.

4 points
 
by Twitchy993over 9 years ago

For safety you could add a switch that cuts the circuit when the lid is removed. First thing that comes to mind is an HVAC float switch. Have that trigger a higher current relay if the current is too much for the switch itself. Probably cost less than $20 for a little piece of mind.

1 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

Great advice.

2 points
 
by Twitchy993over 9 years ago

I use a similar circuit for a small alarm on my vape box and on one of my unregulated box mods so only when the cover is removed it displays the battery voltage.

2 points
 
by BeardyBrahover 9 years ago

Awesome mate, very inspiring!

3 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

Thanks. Only around $60 total to sterilize everything. No more boiling water!

2 points
 
by dfmckayover 9 years ago

How hot does the ballast get?

1 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

Not hot at all really. The light does put off some heat, but not enough to worry about melting. I run for maybe 10 min at a time and when I pop open the box, everything is just a bit above room temp.

2 points
 
by surfishermanover 9 years ago

Feel much better about my online purchases now .

1 points
 
by BigCommieNatover 9 years ago

Ok, I'm totally stealing this idea, but for brewing.

With ejuice you're working with some amazingly hydroscopic ingredients, infection isn't what I'm worried about, contamination is. A thorough rinse before sessions should suffice, and if you REALLY want to kick it up a notch - a second rinse in distilled water. Ain't nothin biological wrong with juice - it's the chemicals you need to watch out for.

3 points
 
by catdumplingover 9 years ago

You realize everything that exists is made of chemicals, right?

2 points
 
by BigCommieNatover 9 years ago

right - but not everything is made of machine oil, or other lubricants you don't want to breathe... things that won't be dealt with by UV light

1 points
 
by DrMclovensover 9 years agoThe Mad Alchemist

the only problem I have with this post you ask?

jumping on board with others about how it isn't doing what you think? saying it's unnecessary? complaining that "just picture posts are against the rules"? oh contrare! I love the post, my one complaint though?

...seriously pisses me off that you didn't wear sun glasses and maybe close your eyes and snap a picture of that light for me to see in all it's glory -__- hahaha!

0 points
 
by dsfkjsdover 9 years ago

I like how you can use this to break down plastics allowing them to leech out hormones and feminize your customers.

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/

6 points
 
by Pixels_On_Fireover 9 years agoMixologist

Both the tub and the bottles I use (the ones that aren't glass at least) are made from Polypropylene which does not contain BPA.

Heating up plastics in general can release some nasty stuff - So I like avoiding boiling plastics to sanitize and use glass whenever it is an option.

Using plastic in general is never going to be "healthy" but if I had customers (I don't) I would love to know that I am slowly making them into women.

0 points
 
by NudeNicotineover 9 years ago

<3

Very innovative!

Site copyright © 2025 DIY Compendium. Data courtesy of Reddit.