All things shrooms

[Aqua Man]

Little preview of the progress. I hoped to at least have the filter box assembled tonight but at the rate I'm moving, the whole box probably won't be assembled till Wednesday evening.

First coat of polyurethane applied to what will be the outsides of the box. Debating doing two or three coats. With how expensive this plywood was, I'm looking for longevity here.

One more cut needs to be made on one of the large panels for the blower inlet, but I'll do that after the finish is cured.

View attachment 13802

Once i get a flowhood im going to look at doing some hybrid crosses on agar…. But i need to get my ass a good microscope since it has to be done from spore before they mate. Lots of PE crosses out there like tidal wave (think its a PE/B+ cross) that really keep the potency up and are much easier to grow.

After getting back into this im thinking i may pick that genetic up next

 

[tobh]

Once i get a flowhood im going to look at doing some hybrid crosses on agar…. But i need to get my ass a good microscope since it has to be done from spore before they mate. Lots of PE crosses out there like tidal wave (think its a PE/B+ cross) that really keep the potency up and are much easier to grow.

After getting back into this im thinking i may pick that genetic up next

That's exactly why I'm building one man. Agar work is really where the magic happens, and you can't really do it effectively in a SAB. Sure, I've poured over 50 plates in my SAB and have had success, but my contam rate in the SAB is over 60%. With the flowhood and fully developed aseptic techniques, I'm hoping for less than 2% contam rates.

Plus, you can use the clean room for tissue culturing and other work that requires extremely clean air.

 

[tobh]

TBH I could've bought one that's about 1/4 the size I'm building for what I've invested. Granted, I've had to buy tools to do the job as well, which adds cost. All in someone could match my build for ~$800. Since I've had to buy tools, I'm a little over $1k into it.

 

[Aqua Man]

TBH I could've bought one that's about 1/4 the size I'm building for what I've invested. Granted, I've had to buy tools to do the job as well, which adds cost. All in someone could match my build for ~$800. Since I've had to buy tools, I'm a little over $1k into it.

Yeah not cheap… i ised to do my agar woork in a positive pressure hepa filter box…. Not sure if you remember it but never had issues doing agar in it. Ill prob do the same again but a bit bigger. The last one cost me about $100 which is cheap af but i would like something a bit bigger and thats prob gonna jump my cost to around 300-400.

Im jealous man… thats going to be so nice to have around

 

[tobh]

Yeah not cheap… i ised to do my agar woork in a positive pressure hepa filter box…. Not sure if you remember it but never had issues doing agar in it. Ill prob do the same again but a bit bigger. The last one cost me about $100 which is cheap af but i would like something a bit bigger and thats prob gonna jump my cost to around 300-400.

Im jealous man… thats going to be so nice to have around

Yeah I'm stoked to finally be getting it put together. After over a decade of using SABs and consulting others through they themselves building one, it's been a long time coming.

I've priced out comparable prebuilt units and they go for over $2500, not including shipping. Hell, shipping alone would cost a few hundred bucks since it would have to be shipped freight and this unit is gonna weigh in at roughly 100lbs.

When I do the write up, I'll list out prices for everything. I think I'm over estimating, tbh. Aside from the filter and blower, the plywood was the most expensive stuff. Everything else has been relatively cheap.

 

[Aqua Man]

Yeah I'm stoked to finally be getting it put together. After over a decade of using SABs and consulting others through they themselves building one, it's been a long time coming.

I've priced out comparable prebuilt units and they go for over $2500, not including shipping. Hell, shipping alone would cost a few hundred bucks since it would have to be shipped freight and this unit is gonna weigh in at roughly 100lbs.

When I do the write up, I'll list out prices for everything. I think I'm over estimating, tbh. Aside from the filter and blower, the plywood was the most expensive stuff. Everything else has been relatively cheap.

Yeah the filters… thats where the money is huge… pumped to see this build man

 

[tobh]

Yeah the filters… thats where the money is huge… pumped to see this build man

Surprisingly, the filter was cheaper than the blower. I found a wholesaler on eBay that sells the filters at wholesale price by the piece.

 

[tobh]

This is the filter. 24"x36"x6"

 

[Observer]

Well shit

Nice

I gotta catch up.

 

[tobh]

Well shit

Nice

I gotta catch up.

Not a race bud. I started growing mushrooms when I was 15, I'm in my mid 30s now. It takes time, and many, many lessons to get so invested in it that one feels the need to build something like this.

I'm not building this just to grow actives, I'm viewing this as an investment for multiple other revenue generating opportunities including medicinal and exotic mushrooms as well as tissue culturing of various crops.

A unit like this isn't for a hobbyist -- it's too big and heavy, and really requires a dedicated space to live.

You're getting it, albeit against many odds. Patience, Padawan. No catching up, just slow down and you'll get where you need to be.

 

[Observer]

So i pulled the blobs early as im starting to see some normal pins. 169 grams wet which should be about 17g dry… a bit more than half ounce. The 2 blobs in the pics are just under and just over 45grams each. That tells me when i get this right and run them to full maturity on second and 3rd flushes i may see some over 80g or more wet. Really piss poor for a first flush but yeah had some issues with it drying out.

This and the next box are write offs but i will continue to update. Next bin will be done properly View attachment 13773View attachment 13774View attachment 13775

Sweeet

 

[Observer]

Not a race bud. I started growing mushrooms when I was 15, I'm in my mid 30s now. It takes time, and many, many lessons to get so invested in it that one feels the need to build something like this.

I'm not building this just to grow actives, I'm viewing this as an investment for multiple other revenue generating opportunities including medicinal and exotic mushrooms as well as tissue culturing of various crops.

A unit like this isn't for a hobbyist -- it's too big and heavy, and really requires a dedicated space to live.

You're getting it, albeit against many odds. Patience, Padawan. No catching up, just slow down and you'll get where you need to be.

Thanks man appreciate it

 

[Observer]

This bag is working great, the other bag seems a little too moist

There's a little variance in moisture content between the precooked bags/batches.

 

[tobh]

All major cuts done (hopefully). Dry fitting the pre filter box around the blower.

Still need to cut the hole for the blower in the top panel, and need to cut a bunch of thin pieces to act as guides for the pre filter, the back panel, mounting for the blower, and top trim on the pre filter box.

At this rate, probably won't have this fully assembled till Friday, and won't be able to test run it until Sunday. Want to give the silicon and wood glue time to fully setup and cure before I throw a bunch of vibration and pressure at it.

 

[Zen_seeker]

So i pulled the blobs early as im starting to see some normal pins. 169 grams wet which should be about 17g dry… a bit more than half ounce. The 2 blobs in the pics are just under and just over 45grams each. That tells me when i get this right and run them to full maturity on second and 3rd flushes i may see some over 80g or more wet. Really piss poor for a first flush but yeah had some issues with it drying out.

This and the next box are write offs but i will continue to update. Next bin will be done properly View attachment 13773View attachment 13774View attachment 13775

Why a write off? I thought blobs are okay? Up until now I thought you had been doing fine?

 

[tobh]

It's real tight but the filter fits. Threw some corner screws in to boost confidence and get measurements for where the back braces have to go to keep the filter in it's place.

 

[Aqua Man]

Why a write off? I thought blobs are okay? Up until now I thought you had been doing fine?

Well they are but not what im after… ill get it sorted though

 

[Zen_seeker]

Well they are but not what im after… ill get it sorted though

So if blobs happen it’s okay but something is off? You just need to tweak something to correct this or it just occurs randomly?

 

[tobh]

So if blobs happen it’s okay but something is off? You just need to tweak something to correct this or it just occurs randomly?

It's a consequence of the genetic mutation. Really the only way to prevent blobs is to clone a "normal" fruit body and grow out that isolate in perfect conditions.

 

[Aqua Man]

Yeah but you apparently can do a few things to help so im gonna give it a go before i claim it works… from what i have seen of others it should help

 

[tobh]

Today's progress. Blower is mounted and first leg of wiring installed. Top box assembled. Filter box glued up, and sealed.

Tomorrow I'll affix the top box to the filter box, finish the wiring, do the final cuts I need to support the pre filter, and hopefully get the back and filter installed.

Goal was to be done by tonight but I'm no carpenter and this shit is hard to do without clamps and experience.

 

[Observer]

Today's progress. Blower is mounted and first leg of wiring installed. Top box assembled. Filter box glued up, and sealed.

Tomorrow I'll affix the top box to the filter box, finish the wiring, do the final cuts I need to support the pre filter, and hopefully get the back and filter installed.

Goal was to be done by tonight but I'm no carpenter and this shit is hard to do without clamps and experience.

View attachment 14171

So how do you keep all of that stuff sanitary? And the filter sterile?

 

[tobh]

So how do you keep all of that stuff sanitary? And the filter sterile?

great questions.

So, I finished the plywood on all sides with polyurethane. The filter box received four coats, and the top box two. This will be enough to allow me to wipe it down with alcohol before and after every use. I will be building a table for this unit to sit on, which will be covered in galvanized steel.

The filter doesn't need to stay sterile, per se. Given it's a 99.99% efficiency HEPA filter, and the volume of air that will be coming out of it, anything that lands on it will instantly be blown out when the blower is turned on. When running these kind of units, you turn them on a couple hours before you start work so that they can clear themselves out and scrub the air in the work room.

For when the unit is not in use, I will be installing a roll-up cover that will protect the filter from dust and other crap landing on it for the most part. It'll help protect the fins as well, should a curious child decide they need to fuck around.

 

[Observer]

I’ve seen your work. Other than bad luck patients is your only issue I’ve noticed. Glass house here so not throwing stones.

Sit on your hands a bit and watch for the fruits of your efforts. Then post the pics so I can see what the fruits look like before the membrane breaks.

You got this bud. I have no doubts at all.

getting the moisture content JUST RIGHT seems to make the contaminates less likely to grow too, as in it doesnt have to be as moist for mycellium, but mold loves the moisture.

 

[Observer]

great questions.

So, I finished the plywood on all sides with polyurethane. The filter box received four coats, and the top box two. This will be enough to allow me to wipe it down with alcohol before and after every use. I will be building a table for this unit to sit on, which will be covered in galvanized steel.

The filter doesn't need to stay sterile, per se. Given it's a 99.99% efficiency HEPA filter, and the volume of air that will be coming out of it, anything that lands on it will instantly be blown out when the blower is turned on. When running these kind of units, you turn them on a couple hours before you start work so that they can clear themselves out and scrub the air in the work room.

so that unit will be SUCKING air out of a chamber through the filter?

For when the unit is not in use, I will be installing a roll-up cover that will protect the filter from dust and other crap landing on it for the most part. It'll help protect the fins as well, should a curious child decide they need to fuck around.

yea good idea, particles everywhere...


thx

 

[tobh]

so that unit will be SUCKING air out of a chamber through the filter?

Negative. The top box is open on top, where a pre-filter sits. The blower is inside that box and will pull air through the prefilter, and push it into the filter box plenum. In the plenum, the pressure will equalize across the backside of the HEPA filter and make its way out in what's called laminar flow. The theory behind it relies on a concept called Reynold's Number. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reyno...Reynolds number is the,the interior of a pipe.

At a very basic level, what this unit will produce is completely clean, sterile air that is moving in a straight line without turbulence. By working in that stream of air, you reduce chances of contamination by a large margin.

 

[Observer]

Negative. The top box is open on top, where a pre-filter sits. The blower is inside that box and will pull air through the prefilter, and push it into the filter box plenum. In the plenum, the pressure will equalize across the backside of the HEPA filter and make its way out in what's called laminar flow. The theory behind it relies on a concept called Reynold's Number. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reyno...Reynolds number is the,the interior of a pipe.

At a very basic level, what this unit will produce is completely clean, sterile air that is moving in a straight line without turbulence. By working in that stream of air, you reduce chances of contamination by a large margin.

Ahh ok

Wasn't familiar with Reynolds number either but now I know

Thanks man

I'll be waiting to see it all up and running

 

[tobh]

And it's done! Still need to silicon the back panel but all cutting and assembly work is completed.

 

[Zen_seeker]

And it's done! Still need to silicon the back panel but all cutting and assembly work is completed.
View attachment 14238

Sweet! Love good woodwork. Nice job man.

 

[Observer]

WRX

 

[Aqua Man]

And it's done! Still need to silicon the back panel but all cutting and assembly work is completed.
View attachment 14238

Good shit bro that looks fantastic

 

[tobh]

Thanks gentlemen. Don't look too close, there are quite a few things that aren't perfect but this was definitely one of the most challenging projects I've done in a while, and definitely the hardest woodwork I've ever attempted.

Everything ended up super tight aside from my 45 degree trim cuts. Not having a miter saw makes those a real motherfucker though. I'm proud of it either way.

 

[Observer]

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[tobh]

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Dang bud, lengthy girl!

 

[tobh]

Sooo. I gotta move the handles forward about 3". Just moved the thing and it's way unbalanced towards the front. Thought it would be biased to the back, so set the handles in the middle. Stupid thought, should've known with the filter and the weight of the blower being forward of center, it would bias to the front when lifted.

 

[Aqua Man]

Sooo. I gotta move the handles forward about 3". Just moved the thing and it's way unbalanced towards the front. Thought it would be biased to the back, so set the handles in the middle. Stupid thought, should've known with the filter and the weight of the blower being forward of center, it would bias to the front when lifted.

I can’t wait to see that thing in action bro

 

[Observer]

I can’t wait to see that thing in action bro

Indeed

 

[Observer]

Dang bud, lengthy girl!

ahh fuckin wrong thread my bad guys lol

 

[Observer]

There's these hyphae tower like spikes in some areas

 

[Observer]

This shit is just so cool to me lol

And because it's all new-to-me