Flasking Equipment

It's getting closer, this orchid flasking project. I have all of the materials and will start to put together my laminar flow cabinet next week.

Ever since I decided to get back into doing lab work, I have been watching various lists and auctions for a used laminar flow cabinet. There are a few available, however they are all used, overpriced and very, very heavy. And most are too big to fit through my door. If I bought one of them, I would have to do all my lab work out on the driveway. In the winter time, that would suck.

A laminar hood is a sterile place where I can do the necessary lab work to sow orchid seeds. It is usually constructed of a fan, a hepa filter, and a box for the sterile air to flow through. I decided that since I could not afford a new unit and the used ones... well, you never know where they've been, ya know... I would try building a unit.

I lucked out by finding a self-contained fan and filter unit on ebay. It was still sealed in its original box. All that is left is to build the box. I decided to make it out of 1/2" cast acrylic. The chamber will be 48" wide, 24" tall and 24" deep. For me this is the perfect set of dimensions.

Right now, the acrylic is at the glass shop being custom cut to size. When I get it done, I will take some pics so you can see what the final product looks like.

later...