PSA: Just because someone is head of a software engineering department doesn't make them qualified to operate hot plates

[Demon-Xanth]

Picture a stirring hot plate. Two knobs, one labeled "heat", one "stir". And a light beside them to indicate that each one is on. These knobs are labeled from 0-10. We've been using it to keep a plastic beaker of water and some stuff agitated for two years without any problems. Didn't heat it up at all. Well, apparantly last night, the head of software had the setup in his office, and left the stir set to 0, and the heat set to 10. Anyone want to guess what I got to clean up this morning?

...I should've taken pics.

 

[The Stigenator]

oh my!

someone's in trouble.

 

[axelfox]

Are you the janitor?

 

[dabuddha]

I don't get it. What do you mean by stir?
(never used a hot plate before)

 

[amish]

that blows.
but...why didn't you just take the heat knob off so dumbasses can't turn it on?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The stir portion is a magnetic coupled setup that uses magnetic stirring rods in the beaker.

<-- technician in the electronics engineering dept.

 

[Pepsi90919]

a stirring hot plate?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

http://www.2spi.com/catalog/misc_lab/shaker3.shtml <-- the top picture

 

[Bootprint]

He's software damn it, what do you expect when you give him a hardware problem.

 

[kranky]

Agitated for two years? When was it going to be done?

 

[JonnyStarks]

So are those two years down the drain now?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It wasn't in contant use. It was just a mixture of corn starch and water, the corn starch settles if not agitated.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: Bootprint
He's software damn it, what do you expect when you give him a hardware problem.

Dang, you bet me too it.
:beer: for you

 

[SilverTorch]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
a stirring hot plate?

welcome to High School Chem

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
a stirring hot plate?

pssstt... Demon Xanth, is Pepsi90919 your boss? Shhhh.... he might find out you meant him.

:laugh:

Pepsi#, did you skip chemistry class? I was unfairly advantaged though as pop was head of the department. We had the pill style magnets, the paddle style magnets, and even a long stirrer with a magnet in it to remove the magnets. That was in the 70's! We even had one at home. Great fun for the bored kids.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Heh, my boss isn't the one who made liquid plastic. Just the one that noticed it first.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
http://www.2spi.com/catalog/misc_lab/shaker3.shtml <-- the top picture

From your link:
Product description:

Die cast aluminum case provides durability and long life
Porcelain-coated stainless steel top gives excellent corrosion resistance.
1" (2.54 cm) long topside drip edge protects internal components in case of accidental spillage.
Compact low profile design fits on the most crowded lab bench.
All units include an integrating ring stand holder to accommodate a 0.5" (12.5 mm) diameter support rod.
Accommodates up to 20 lb. (9.1 kg) loads
Recommended for use with glass vessels only.

Next time RTFM.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: SilverTorch

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
a stirring hot plate?

welcome to High School Chem

We never used stirring hot plates in high school chem, or college chem either.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
It wasn't in contant use. It was just a mixture of corn starch and water, the corn starch settles if not agitated.

wouldnt the water evaporate? cornstarch + water is cool stuff

 

[Demon-Xanth]

djheater: We weren't using it to heat, just stir. The person above screwed up and used it to heat. Unintentionally. I hope.
Hardcore Robot: We just add water when needed.