Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Sun, 11/18/2007 - 14:16
Forums

When I started my job, I inherited a 20-30 year old glove box.  My intention was to use it for synthesis of titanium complexes but it had no freezer, no cold-well, and no small antechamber.  After rebuilding it, making it air-tight, I constructed a styrofoam box and plumbed copper tubing through the back of the box from a cold water chiller.  The "freezer" would hold 4 °C on a good day.  After 2 years of use, I convinced my chair to buy me a half of a glove box, and I paid for the rest with the remainder of my startup funds.  Our first crystal structure was obtained within 2 months later.

 

Throw it out.

Nancy Williams / Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College
I also inherited an ancient glove box.  I bought a new one, and use the ancient one for the junior teaching lab, for which it is adequate.  If you don't have space for the teaching lab glovebox, throw it out.  If you do, it's a great training model.
Sun, 11/18/2007 - 14:36 Permalink
Hilary Eppley / DePauw University
The inside of the one I inherited was covered in all kinds of unindentified compounds (as well as being completely nonfunctional). I got a new one and decided that the old one wasn't worth trying to salvage. I have no idea how much it cost to dispose of it! Scary thought.... I say throw it out!
Mon, 11/19/2007 - 06:13 Permalink