How long do syringes last?

[Bobsbeer]

I have been mixing for at least 6 months and use a range of syringes which I got mainly from fleabay, but all are labelled single use only.  I have completely ignored the label, and use them over and over.  I still have a bunch in packets I have yet to use, as I am still on the first ones I opened.  After use I rinse out with water, shake as much water off them, pull back the plunger and leave to dry.  

So how old is the oldest syringe you have?  It seems to me I can expect to get at least a year if not more before the plunger seal starts to go, or I can't read the scale.

[chrisjw]

All mine are between 2 & 3 years old & still going strong.........Wrap clear sellotape over the writing to stop it wearing off.....There's no need to submerge the whole thing in water when cleaning (that's for wimps), just flush them out with warm water, using the plunger................



"Life...........is just a bowl of tricks!!!!!!"

[Deleted]

Tbh i don't really use them much i tend to use these in different sizes www.creamsupplies.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=6524&category=683
as when i did use the syringes i did not really like them. I do still have a few small ones for making little test mix's.

[car147]

Mine are usually changed around 6 maths as I find the seal fails eventually , good tip for prolonging the scale on the side of a syringe is to either cover in sellotape or nail varnish ( Hehe my wife still hasn't twigged why it disappears)

[Bobsbeer]

Dec 4, 2015 11:08:46 GMT @broadblaster said:

Tbh i don't really use them much i tend to use these in different sizes www.creamsupplies.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=6524&category=683
as when i did use the syringes i did not really like them. I do still have a few small ones for making little test mix's.

While I can see the attraction of measuring cylinders, I would have thought they would be fairly inaccurate and wasteful as you will inevitably end up with liquid on the side of the glass due to the viscosity of the liquids we use.  More so in smaller vessels such as 10ml.  I use a 100ml beaker to mix into, but I can never get exactly 100ml out again due to the thickness of the liquid, especially VG.  Although I'm not going to get worked up about a couple of ml.

[*-SARIN-*]

Dec 4, 2015 10:49:41 GMT chrisjw said:

AWrap clear sellotape over the writing to stop it wearing off.....

Clear nail varnish.

[violetblade]

I change mine when the plunger fails and only if I really really have to (I am Scottish after all) but agree with taping/nail varnishing the scales

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2015 12:55:28 GMT Bobsbeer said:

Dec 4, 2015 11:08:46 GMT @broadblaster said:

Tbh i don't really use them much i tend to use these in different sizes www.creamsupplies.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=6524&category=683
as when i did use the syringes i did not really like them. I do still have a few small ones for making little test mix's.

While I can see the attraction of measuring cylinders, I would have thought they would be fairly inaccurate and wasteful as you will inevitably end up with liquid on the side of the glass due to the viscosity of the liquids we use.  More so in smaller vessels such as 10ml.  I use a 100ml beaker to mix into, but I can never get exactly 100ml out again due to the thickness of the liquid, especially VG.  Although I'm not going to get worked up about a couple of ml.

Yes your right about a small amount "sticking" to the sides, when i mix i tend to do larger amounts so i use a 100ml one
for pg only, the same with vg and nic. So i'm not washing them out for every mix that way i don't really waste much just the end clean up.
I still use the syringes for flavour concentrates as the amount is so small (unless i'm doing a 250+ mix).

[Get Off My Cloud]

Mix by weight so i don't care about the scale wearing off, just bin em when the seal goes.

[Deleted]

Change 'em when they die. Never rinse out - life is too short!!!

[Perpetua]

I used mine until the measurements wore off - too lazy to bother with nail polish me. Then bought a selection of most sizes in glass on Ebay:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1ml-50ml-Glass-Syringes-Glass-Injector-Hypodermic-Reusable-Laboratory-Supplies-/381331327059?var=650537842620&hash=item58c91e4853:m:m_Div6-TA3WzlvUvHtJy01A

[chykensa]

I've recently replaced my first trusty 20ml syringe with another as the seal went; I reckon I must have got at least 18 months of use out of the first one, and yes, I do use sellotape to cover the indices. I run a bowl of hot water and sluice them out a few times between each use, and it doesn't seem to have done them much harm yet

[dagl]

I use mine till the measurements nearly wear off......
Then I take a sharp knife and score the increment line

[Perpetua]

I have to chuckle . . . . on one hand we throw money without too much thought on equipment and supplies, while on the other we penny pinch on syringes that are cheap as chips anyway!

[pj1967]

Best thing I ever done is by a set of scales and mix by weight