[RASMB] Protocols Question

[Walter Stafford]

Hi AUCers,

     I have used neoprene gaskets since the early 1970's and have never 
had a leak attributable to the gaskets. I bought a 1 yrd x 1 yrd 
(smallest I could purchase) sheet of neoprene (0.0165 inches/ 0.420 mm 
thick) and it has worked very well all these years. The neoprene is soft 
and flexible enough that it fills the scratches that inevitably appear 
around the filling holes - but it is tough enough that it doesn't tear 
or end up going down the holes (silicone rubber does).

I punch the gaskets as I need them with a Sears leather/belt punch.

Walter

Tom Laue wrote:
>  Hi-
> We use either teflon or neoprene gaskets sold by Spin Analytical 
> www.spinanalytical.com, their hex-head screws and a torque screwdriver 
> (disclaimer, I am half-owner of Spin, but draw no salary). Both teflon 
> and neoprene are softer, so they seal better, especially with older 
> centerpieces that have scratches around the holes. The hex-head screws 
> are much, much easier to use than slot-headed screws, and the torque 
> screwdriver ensures that you get a good seal without deforming the 
> housing.
> Best wishes,
> Tom
>
> On 8/31/2010 5:52 PM, Brian wrote:
>> I am using the standard protocols listed on 
>> analyticalultracentrifugation.com for running AUC experiments. When I 
>> try to let me samples sit under vacuum to thermally equilibrate for 
>> an hour before running my scans some of my cells always leak past the 
>> red seals in the centerpiece fill ports. I don't see any mention of 
>> using any other types of cells or centerpieces. I am using 2 channel 
>> epon centerpieces with 2 fill holes per channel from Beckman. I was 
>> wondering how everybody keeps their cells from leaking during this time.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Brian
>>
>

-- 
Walter F. Stafford, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Boston Biomedical Research Institute
64 Grove Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617-658-7808