Gel drying pump

[pathos]

In article <586.1260883652.50707 at masala.cc.uh.edu>, benedik at uh.edu
(Michael Benedik) wrote:

>         
> Does someone out there in netland have suggestions for a low cost pump 
> for gel drying. Ours has died and I am looking to replace it but would 
> rather not spend thousands for a new pump. 
> 
> We usually only dry one gel at a time, so low volume, and these are 
> predominantly SDS-PAGE gels. 
> 
Michael
The pump can be rebuilt.  A kit for rebuilding the pump should be about
200-300 dollars.  It is rather simple for a mechanically inclined
individual.  If you are drying down gells that have been exposed to acetic
acid then you should put a trap with carbonate in line.  Acetic acid will
wreck the inside of your pump. Also ther are some companies that will sell
you a rebuilt pump for ~400 dollars with the exchange of your old pump.The
company that we found is called HP Equipment Company.  Also, you should be
very religous about changing the oil.


regards,

-- 
Peter Pediaditakis
University of Pittsburgh
Dept. of Pathology