The HEPA filter is good for 2,000+ hours, which by my calculations means a lifetime of use if you were only using it for mycology work, but the filter can also be easily replaced if needed, if you simply pull hard enough on the old filter it will come out, the silicone is kind of like rubber cement, then you can remove the remaining bits with a razor, and put a new filter in. You could do the whole change out in 15 minutes.

I seriously doubt it makes any difference as far as the laminar flow goes. You could also orient the finished product any way you want, if you want it up and down you can just turn it on its side although you might need to prop it up with something to make sure its steady. I prefer a wider work area rather than a taller work area, petri dishes are way more wide than tall also. Sometimes you are working with taller glass jars of grain or mycobags, but you can simply put something under your larminar flow box to prop it up so that the top of the jar/bag is at the center of the laminar flow.

@@gordotek Cool, thanks.

At 14:38 when its all in one jar it does seem to have a purple tint, but on the plate at 21:58 not so much 😂

You should watch the whole vid, you can watch at 2x speed if you want. I do make black agar, but don't think it adds any value plus it blocks the ability to view the growth from either side or shine a light from under it, etc.

im sure itll last a while and you can tear through silicone pretty easy, or use razor blade

The manufacturer says it has a 4000 hour life, even if you cut that in half, it's probably still a lifetime of use for just mycology work for most people (remember you don't leave this thing on and running all the time). But yes if you had to replace it, it should be very easy to do so, the silicone sealant is like rubber cement, you can just pull the old filter off and scrape away the leftover sealant and put the new one in. Likewise the tote lid will still come off pretty easily if you pull on it hard enough. The whole replacement can be done in about 15 minutes.

Is it an improvement to add a top and/or sides to the front part of the flow box? No, sides and tops are counterproductive, they create a vacuum and unfiltered air must then be sucked in to fill the vacuum, creating turbulence (the opposite of what you are looking for). You don't want sides or tops but its even worse if you direct the output into a still air box which for some reason many people seem to want to do (this completely defeats the purpose of a laminar flow box, you will have nothing but turbulent air).

says the guy who watched a video about making a flowhood, knowing you wouldn't want a flowhood

You don't need a laminar flow box, but its a very nice tool to have. I suppose you could say the same about any tool really 😂😇 I know a guy that does all of his agar work in open air, he actually is able to pull it off. I prefer the ultra consistent results of a laminar flow box personally. That guy I know also has a lot of contam grows too. A still air box also works, I have a video showing how to make and use one of those too, but again, not as consistently reliable as a laminar flow box and also quite annoying to work with especially if you do a lot of mycology work.

Yes, by either joining my patreon OR now by becoming a member here on RU-vid (join button). You could be the first member! Its kind of the deal of a lifetime when you think about it, best genetics in the world for $2? That's crazy, doesn't even cover the cost. I just pay it forward in hopes that people will stick around for a little while and support the content.

www.patreon.com/posts/frequently-asked-22774475

support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002832026-How-do-I-message-a-creator but some have said they couldn't do it on the app, however it works on the web version.

your bags will not die from suffocation there is plenty of airflow in there, as long as there is a hole in the bag for air exchange youre good, and the flow hood is just for when exposing anything contam can grow on to open air

Agree with what crossminded said

@@gordotek lovin the flowhood

I think even a good strong tape would work. I was thinking about doing a test of that idea. Hot glue doesn't stick that great to plastic totes (but silicone doesn't stick all that great either).

I'm not sure what that means by my Q&A is here: www.patreon.com/posts/frequently-asked-22774475

It IS key, yes...I've seen some critics saying the design doesn't produce laminar flow, but they are wrong. The design does in fact produce laminar flow when properly tuned, you can see this visually with a proper flame test (as shown in my vid at 18:53) and you can also see it with a smoke test, even though I didn't do an intentional smoke test in the vid, there IS actually an accidental one, if you blink you could miss it, but it happens at 25:48 as I'm sterilizing a scalpel that is smoking from the induction coil. As you will see, absolutely beautiful laminar flow! Compare this to other videos of smoke tests on laminar flow boxes. Most of the critics disappeared after hundreds (if not thousands) of people built these with absolutely fantastic results, there is no question that the design works well, many have called it a "game changer" for them. I think its funny that initially there were skeptics despite the fact that I show the design works by using an expensive laser particle counter, flame test, open agar plate test, and a complete start to finish grow with it. Producing laminar flow is not as hard as many once believed. But you do need a legit HEPA filter and capable variable speed fan.

Absolutely. The only critical things its needed for is agar work and agar to grain transfers and/or grain to grain transfers. You don't need to do spawning to bulk substrate in front of it, I just added that at the end of the vid for fun. No commercial mushroom growers spawn in laminar flow, its totally impractical and unnecessary.

First please make sure that you installed the fan in the correct direction because if you did it backwards the flow box won't work at all. If the fan isn't working you should return it for a replacement new one.

@@gordotek yeah it was in the right direction. I’m not sure what it could have been. I returned it and used an exhaust fan. So far so good!

I've never heard anyone say that the lowest setting was too powerful, that is odd. I'm actually thinking the issue is your filter, it seems like it might be defective and it is not properly HEPA filtering the air (an agar plate test like I show in this video will resolve the question).

Thanks! Sort of related to this I was reading this article, it has interesting ideas about using VR for psychedelic integration. They make a good point about the sad proportion of investment $ going into psychedelic drug development vs. R&D on best ways to USE psychedelics for benefit. www.forbes.com.au/covers/innovation/psychedelics-therapy-will-be-legal-in-july-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ I feel the same way, lots of growers and interest in growing, all sorts of communities focused on growing, but proportionally it seems there is much less focus or real sharing about different techniques and best practices for getting the most out of the psychedelic experience. I want to do more content like this in the future even if it is less popular (I don't care).

Glad my content found you. I'll check out your meditation reference. I was reading this article where they make a good point about the sad proportion of investment $ going into psychedelic drug development vs. R&D on best ways to USE psychedelics for benefit. www.forbes.com.au/covers/innovation/psychedelics-therapy-will-be-legal-in-july-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ I feel the same way, lots of growers and interest in growing, all sorts of communities focused on growing, but proportionally it seems there is much less focus or real sharing about different techniques and best practices for getting the most out of the psychedelic experience. I want to do more content like this in the future even if it is less popular (I don't care). Meditation is certainly one aspect of this.

Glad to hear of your success! I've seen some critics saying the design doesn't produce laminar flow, but they are wrong. The design does in fact produce laminar flow when properly tuned, you can see this visually with a proper flame test (as shown in my vid at 18:53) and you can also see it with a smoke test, even though I didn't do an intentional smoke test in the vid, there IS actually an accidental one, if you blink you could miss it, but it happens at 25:48 as I'm sterilizing a scalpel that is smoking from the induction coil. As you will see, absolutely beautiful laminar flow! Compare this to other videos of smoke tests on laminar flow boxes. Most of the critics disappeared after hundreds (if not thousands) of people built these with absolutely fantastic results, there is no question that the design works well, many have called it a "game changer" for them. I think its funny that initially there were skeptics despite the fact that I show the design works by using an expensive laser particle counter, flame test, open agar plate test, and a complete start to finish grow with it. Producing laminar flow is not as hard as many once believed. But you do need a legit HEPA filter and capable variable speed fan.

You can use wood like I show towards the end of the video. I'm not sure that's the greatest idea though, many species of fungi & mold love wood.

@@gordotek you gave melting options as well. I know a lot of people cut these with soldering irons. That vapor is bad but with a fume hood or outside and a fan should be ok.

@@Yosef9438 Yea I've seen pics of someone that used that method, he said it was slow, but worked fine, he did it outside. You can get a soldering iron with chisel point for less than $10

Making and Using Agar: www.patreon.com/posts/56209839

They usually only take about 15 to 20 minutes to cool but leaving them in the laminar flow can also remove condensation from the lids which is good.

I am thinking about making one using only tape to see how that turns out, I think it might work.

@@gordotek I’m gonna make one this weekend. For a 24”x15” filter. Got a couple fans to try out. Gonna use plywood and the flex tape or silicone depending on which fan I use. I’ll post in Patreon once finished. I’m so excited to do worry free agar work!

They can create turbulent air currents, which is bad, but if you just don't fart in the direction of your work you should be fine! 😂 The gasses themselves will not contaminate the work.

@@gordotek Oh thanks man very useful information just what I needed thank you very mush have a nice day.

I doubt the recommended fan would support more than 2 filters but you could easily add a second fan for up to 4. I'm not convinced there is much value to going bigger to be honest. The most critical things are agar work and agar to grain or grain to grain transfers. Most commercial operations do NOT do spawning to substrate in a laminar flow, they do it in open air. So that means you can pretty much do EVERYTHING required for mycology with just this relatively small laminar flow box. Bigger just wastes space in your home, they are more difficult to move around, heavier, more expensive, etc.

Yes it can, I actually show this in the vid itself, toward the end.

Could be the culture homie 🤷‍♀️

MANY agar plates being sold are not sterile, especially the cheap ones, unfortuantely. I perfer glass versions that can be pressure cooked, so I know 100% they were sterile (polypropylene can also be pressure cooked, some people even use free condiment containers from fast food places). Other than that, make sure the laminar flow is properly tuned, 45 degree bend of long stem lighter, steady flame. If there is a problem you will usually see it in the form of shaky flame. Work toward the center of the flow, and as close to the filter as possible without touching it.

People have doubled the filter (using two) shown in this video and report that it works fine even with the same fan. Did you buy a really deep filter? That might be the issue. Are you sure your fan was installed so that it is pointing in the right direction? I remember hearing from one person that accidentally installed it backwards, haha.

I made about 15 of them and sold out. I am no longer making them but there may be someone selling a similar design, perhaps look on etsy.