Unfreezing Standard-Taper Joints Srparating frozen standard-taper ~ o i n t sis a problem cunrtantly faced by students, faculty, researchers, stockroom personnel, and technicians. The cmnmonly used mrthod fur freeing fruzen joints, heating the external part of the ioint, vftrn results in breakage uf the equipment and or hums and ruts for the person attrmpring the procedure. When a stoppered flask contains avolatile liquid, the procedure may be too dangerous to try. Aprocedure not widely known works almost every time, that is, tosoak the joint inacarbonated soft drink. The joint usually separates in five minutesor less. In the spirit of research, I have tried ordinary carbonated water, which works just as well. Owing to the rules of mvwarkplace I havemot tried beer or sparkling wines hut those might work as well R q e r Smld The Unlversily of Nevada, Lar Vegas LBs Vega+ NV 89154
Volume 67
Number 10
October 1990
875
