An Inexpensive~lectrodeStorage and Conditioning Device The storage of glass, calqmel and combination electrodes in a way that maintains their condition ready for use is always a bother. If stored in open beakers, the water soon evaporates and one finds himself watering the stored electrodes like plants in a greenery. Although storage and conditioning racks are available from cnmmercial sources, a simple and inexpensive device can be essily constructed from medicine vials and sheets of gum rubber. RUBBER TMEF, Each vial provides a storage place for one electrode. To prevent evaporation the vial is covered with a thin sheet of gum rubber in which a circular hole has heen cut of such a size that will allow easy penetration of the electrode yet provide a tight seal around the electrode shank. T h e covers are attached to the vials by copper wire. T h e size of the vial needed for a standard size electrode is not iiOl*GE IOLYTloN critical, but one measuring 1.6 em high and 2.8 cm in diameter is available and POt""%E,"ANE convenient to use. The hole for a standard size electrode should be about 0.6 cm POAM in diameter as measured before the rubber is stretched over the vial. T h e hole is easily cut with a laboratory cork borer. T h e sheets of gum rubber can be cut from Gooch rubber tubing which is thin and highly elastic. T o protect the tips of the electrodes a cushion of polyurethane foam can be epoxied to the bottom of the vial. In use, the vials can be held vertically by clamps or by a wooden rack made by boring holes in a block of wood. Alternately, the vials may be laid horizontally once the electrodes are inserted.
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Ahilene Christian University Abilene. Texas 79601
Lee M. Daniels J o h n L. Bradford
Volume 53,Number 4, April 1976 / 225
