Construction of an Inexpensive Desiccator One of the problem facings. department which is converting its freshman laboratory from a traditional course to one which has a quantitative orientation is the cost of making this transition. The cost of the cheapest dessicator on the market is approximately $10.00. To eliminate this expense, I have designed a. small dessicstor from available products a t a. cast of approximately $0.20. This desiccator is made from a straight-sided jar and small pieces of electrical conduit. The jar is approxim&dy 3'/r in. in diameter and 3'/4 in. high, is equipped with a metal screw cap (FLin683/400 Finish and the 83/400 white metal caps-P/O lined), and can he supplied by the H. Smith Bottle Supply Co., 1038 Arlington Street, Orlando, Florida 32805. The electrical condnit is thin-wall l ' / ~ i n .od aluminum which can be out into 11/,-in. long segments with a. tubing cutter. The cost of 8 IOLft section of this conduit is $2.00. The cost of a gross of the jars and caps is $16.00. To construct the dessicator, place three oi the conduit segments into the jar and then put about in. of a desiccant into the bottom of the jar. This arrangement then allows for the storage of three s i ~ 0e crucibles in a configurb tion which almost defies tipping.
R. K. BIRDWHISTELL UNIVERSITY OF WESTFLORIDA PENSACOLA, FLONDA 32504
Volume
44, Number 7 I , November 1967
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667
