Homebrewers Association | AHA Forum
General Category => Yeast and Fermentation => Topic started by: wiley on August 18, 2012, 12:20:11 AM
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After recently making a starter for a rather large brew day, I got to thinking: there's got to be a use for all of these White Labs vials. So, let's hear it -- what's the best use of the vials once they're empty?
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best use i've found so far is recycling...I tried every chemical in the house to get that sticky label glue off but to no avail.
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I was going to say exchange the labels for yeast coupons at http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html.
However, I've never gotten around to trying to get the labels off. From tony's post that may be easier said than done.
I just throw them into a box when I'm done with them for some unspecified, future use.
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Tap handles.
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They're about the right size for saving seeds.
I was going to say exchange the labels for yeast coupons at http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html.
You just blew my mind.
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When the Spousal Unit packs me a salad for lunch, she uses an empty vial for salad dressing.
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When the Spousal Unit packs me a salad for lunch, she uses an empty vial for salad dressing.
+1. That's the best use I have found for them as well. I saved the for years in order to do the mail in/free yeast thing but they just piled up and I ended up throwing most of them away.
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If you have good samitation, you can refill with starter wort, you will get a small amount of clean yeast that can be bumped up for another beer.
The LHBS collected the 5000 vials and had Chris White come out for a day.
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I was going to say exchange the labels for yeast coupons at http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html.
I had no idea this was even an option! Awesome!
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When the Spousal Unit packs me a salad for lunch, she uses an empty vial for salad dressing.
My wife has used them for her salad dressing for years now.
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Hold on to them until you have enough to turn in for merchandise from White Labs.
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Chris White is totally going to have to come to my house.
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I was going to say exchange the labels for yeast coupons at http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html.
However, I've never gotten around to trying to get the labels off. From tony's post that may be easier said than done.
I just throw them into a box when I'm done with them for some unspecified, future use.
Getting the labels off is easy, but you end up leaving some backing paper and glue behind. I've never had any luck getting the glue off either so I pull the labels off, stick the labels in an envelope, and then recycle the vials.
At one point I figured that trading for free yeast coupons was the ideal way to go. You don't have to pay shipping on the coupon unlike everything else (I doubt you have to pay shipping on the 5000 label prize)
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i have cleaned them and put yeast from a harvest in them with a little beer. saved for the next starter.
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i have used them as tubes for some of my smaller cigars. try wd40 to get the glue off, but it will of course need a thorough cleaning.
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I make a big batch of super secret special dry rub for my boston butts and store individual use portions.
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I was going to say exchange the labels for yeast coupons at http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html.
However, I've never gotten around to trying to get the labels off. From tony's post that may be easier said Goo gone worked for me.
than done.
I just throw them into a box when I'm done with them for some unspecified, future use.
Getting the labels off is easy, but you end up leaving some backing paper and glue behind. I've never had any luck getting the glue off either so I pull the labels off, stick the labels in an envelope, and then recycle the vials.
At one point I figured that trading for free yeast coupons was the ideal way to go. You don't have to pay shipping on the coupon unlike everything else (I doubt you have to pay shipping on the 5000 label prize)
Something happened to my post. I have used goo gone to remove the glue after a soak, works pretty well.
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They're about the right size for saving seeds.
I was going to say exchange the labels for yeast coupons at http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html (http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html).
You just blew my mind.
Awesome. It says shops can serve as collection points for the 5000 vial reward, so I assume clubs could do the same!
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I'm in the process of moving my yeast bank from mason jars to preforms (White Labs tubes) using something like this:
(http://dr6fvq41nbvj7.cloudfront.net/img/cache/02268c260f8fff6f7502dd93a20e39be/WBSB-500-6-baby-soda-bottles-in-a-rack-20110802-250x250.jpg)
Should take up a lot less room in my fridge.
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One thing I don't like about the WL vials is that you can't boil them for sanitation. Well you can, but they get all cloudy.
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When the Spousal Unit packs me a salad for lunch, she uses an empty vial for salad dressing.
Great idea...I'll have to remember to do that!
I use one to store my pH meter probe. I cut a hole in the lid and the probe conveniently fits in the tube with storage solution.
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I use them to store yeast.....what a novel concept! Seriously though....I will step up a starter, crash, and decant the yeast into sanitized vials. Basically I get 6-8 vials for every one that I buy!! So how does WL sanitize the vials for yeast? Dry heat??
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So how does WL sanitize the vials for yeast? Dry heat??
I think they come sterile out of the manufacturing process. I doubt there is much that can live in hot plastic.
UV is an option too.
Kai
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So how does WL sanitize the vials for yeast? Dry heat??
I think they come sterile out of the manufacturing process. I doubt there is much that can live in hot plastic.
UV is an option too.
Kai
Hmmm....UV might be an option? Now I completely pulling this out of my....but I do a lot backpacking and I have one of these...http://www.steripen.com/classic I wonder if I were to fill up a vial with water and use my steripen if that would sanitize the vial?? Probably easier to just continue to dunk them in Star-San.
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So how does WL sanitize the vials for yeast? Dry heat??
I think they come sterile out of the manufacturing process. I doubt there is much that can live in hot plastic.
UV is an option too.
Kai
But they are probably purchased without caps on them. They could use a strong acid wash followed by a rinse with sterile water.
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So how does WL sanitize the vials for yeast? Dry heat??
I think they come sterile out of the manufacturing process. I doubt there is much that can live in hot plastic.
UV is an option too.
Kai
I used to do some work for one of White Labs' suppliers of the preforms -- the preforms are (somewhat suprisingly) the precursor to a two liter bottle. On the older tubes, you could take of the band that remains around the screws once the cap is off, revealing a capital "B" for Ball Corporation. Ball has since sold the plastics manufacturing division, but I can't recall who they sold the division to.
From spending a little time in a couple of the the plants, I would be surprised of Chris White hung his hat on the cleanliness of those plants. I'm sure the sterilization process for the preforms follows (at a minimum) the sanitation protocol used for filling glass bottles received from a glass plant.
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i take my mash pH samples with them.
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From the fine print on Whitelabs.com Customer Club site:
"Club Members can only redeem vials twice per year."
Anyone know what this means? Can we only send in two redemption forms per year? Or, are we limited to receiving two coupons for free vials per year? Thanks,
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Shot glasses? I feel some tequila coming on...
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I use them to store my Mentos in when I go swimming. Keeps them dry.
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i take my mash pH samples with them.
While on this topic. I take mash and wort pH samples with a 12 ml glas vial attached to a bare copper wire.
Kai
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So how does WL sanitize the vials for yeast? Dry heat??
I think they come sterile out of the manufacturing process. I doubt there is much that can live in hot plastic.
UV is an option too.
Kai
Nothing comes out sterile out of anything. AFAIK gamma-radiation is what's used for all non-autoclavable plasticware in any industry that needs sterile plastic. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. Or maybe they do use UV... I installed a UV lamp in my home lab and left open petri dishes under it... They remained sterile and microbe free.
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From the fine print on Whitelabs.com Customer Club site:
"Club Members can only redeem vials twice per year."
Anyone know what this means? Can we only send in two redemption forms per year? Or, are we limited to receiving two coupons for free vials per year? Thanks,
It probably means you can only send in vials twice per year.
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The LHBS collected the 5000 vials and had Chris White come out for a day.
My LHBS just hit the mark. We are working it out now. Fun fun fun!!!
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The LHBS collected the 5000 vials and had Chris White come out for a day.
My LHBS just hit the mark. We are working it out now. Fun fun fun!!!
That's awesome!!!!!
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I have used them as flasks to hold 7.01pH and 4pH solutions individually, to calibrate my pH meter, and then cap for future use. They are wide enough to accept both the electrode and temp probe, while using less fluid than a flask. Might not do so anymore, since I have a new benchtop model coming from Valley Vintner. I use the meter for wine, and ColorpHast strips for beer.
I definitely will use some for salad dressing to take to work.
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I have used them as flasks to hold 7.01pH and 4pH solutions individually, to calibrate my pH meter, and then cap for future use.
That is an awesome idea. I will have to do that! Bravo :)
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I use them for paint samples. Have you ever had to paint over a small wall patch or a real dirty spot.
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reviving and old post -
As for getting the glue off, my wife has come GooGone in the laundry room for gum, sticky stuff etc... takes the glue residue right off.
Then, I'm using the vials for tap handles.
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Christmas lights. And also as my first tap handle.
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reviving and old post (again)
I too had pondered the possible uses for these things for years.
+1 on the WD40.
I finally decided to build a rack for them.
I'm planning on storing small brewing stuff (gypsum, whirlfloc, campden tablets... stuff like that).
Their new packaging sounds awesome, but I'll be sad to see these things go.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8610/15497613234_7cd21c65aa_s.jpg)
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I made a "cooling " vessel out of mine to check PH. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/a1627ec9731ca857b1bf2f327c8cf2ef.jpg)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Sweet.
I may make one of those myself.
Looks like a good spot for an adhesive thermometer.
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I made a "cooling " vessel out of mine to check PH. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/a1627ec9731ca857b1bf2f327c8cf2ef.jpg)
I love it!
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I made a "cooling " vessel out of mine to check PH. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/a1627ec9731ca857b1bf2f327c8cf2ef.jpg)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Brilliant and simple.
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CO2 Purge Wand:
carbonator cap - vial with the bottom hacked off - #3 stopper - bottle filler.
(http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww258/jonnyweave/imagejpg1_zps0457ef8b.jpg)
For fermenters I just swap out the bottle filler for a length of 3/8 tubing.
I'm still not convinced any of this is even necessary.