Stretch Your Lab Budget With These Three Simple Tips:

1.     Ask for samples.  This is a great way to reduce costs and ensure that you have the product that will meet the needs that you acquired it for.  Nobody wants to buy even a small quantity of supplies, let alone a large amount, only to find it is not going to fill the bill. Blackland Manufacturing will gladly accommodate your request for samples, because it will often times lead to sales.  The best part of asking for samples is that they are usually free.  Who doesn’t like free?

2.     Use free software.  Again with the free, woohoo.  There plenty of software products out there to make running and operating a lab smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy.  Could you use help logging data?  There’s a free software program for that.  How about inventory?  Yup, free software.  Lab management software that will allow you to request quotes, manage documents, and more?! Yessiree.  

3.     Buy in bulk.  Ok, this one isn’t free, but it will help your budget nonetheless.  Products that are often in use and that will be used for an indefinite amount of time should always be purchased in bulk.  If your lab and/or storage space is at a premium, this could present a problem. However, lab supply stores offer standing order programs that allow you to make blanket purchases but only receive what you need when you need it.  Viola!  Storage problem solved. If you find that you regularly need to be restocked on a monthly basis, suppliers will ship them to you on that basis.  

Laboratory Basics for Students

The laboratory. The name almost sounds menacing. Despite the name, a lab does not need to be a scary place to a new, aspiring science student! Knowing your way around the room and its wonderful contents will make your journey a pleasant, educational experience. Consider this a little guide into what to find in a laboratory. 

• ·         Lab tables- There are several types of tables in a lab, such as balance tables; however, most of the time, the lab table you’ll be stationed at will be a larger table made of a number of possible materials.

• ·         Equipment Drawers and Pegboards- Here is where you’ll find your beakers, flasks, balances, Bunsen burners, and other such apparatus that you’ll use. 

• ·         Sink- Every lab needs a sink. It’s good practice to wash all equipment before and after usage, to provide cross-contamination, which could lead to anything from skewed data to terrible results.

• ·         Lab Coats/Goggles- Safety is incredibly important, especially when working around chemicals! A lab coat and pair of lab goggles will help protect your skin and eyes from spills and splashbacks.

• ·         Eye Wash/First Aid Station- It’s important to know where in the lab the eye wash station and first aid kits are located. A chemical burn can cause serious problems, but you can minimize damage with quick action.

Know where to find all of these, and you will be well on your way to your first experiment!

The Benefits of a Laboratory Balance Table

Depending on the type of work you are going to complete in the laboratory, you might make use of a balance table. Balance tables are a great tool to have in your lab because they help establish a stable environment to ensure precision and accuracy. Balance tables are the perfect when working with sensitive equipment. Sensitive equipment can range from taking exact measurements to using microscopes when a steady hand and surface are need to examine even the smallest specimens.

In order to decide on a balance table for your lab, you should consider what type of construction went into the table. With that said, look at the width of the table legs, the height of the table top, and what type of materials were being used to establish a surface. When dealing with sensitive measurements, these factors cannot be over looked. At Blackland Manufacturing, we currently offer the highest quality epoxy resin balance table. The thick epoxy resin establishes a solid construction, in conjunction with the balance to create a sturdy and steady surface. Balance tables are designed with the user in mind; they are created to give you the best stabilization for any experiment that you are conducting!