Wooden test tube rack and borosilicate glass test tubes - RETORT

Each rack is delivered with as many test tubes as there are slots: 6 for the 6-slot rack, 8 for the 8-slot, and 12 for the 12-slot. Finally, the Without rack · 6 test tubes only version allows you to buy a set of six test tubes without a rack, to complete a series, replace a broken tube, or equip a second rack. All test tubes are identical: borosilicate glass, round bottom, 27 ml, 12 cm long.

Each test tube has a capacity of 27 ml with a 12 cm length. It is an ideal volume for a shooter, a small cocktail tasting, a sample of syrup or liqueur, or a flower stem as a single-stem vase. In practice, to avoid spills during service, fill the tubes slightly below their maximum capacity. For an aperitif, choose a rack suited to the number of guests: the 6-slot for a small group, the 8-slot for an aperitif with friends, the 12-slot for a large table or a buffet.

The round bottom is the classic shape for laboratory test tubes. It distributes stress better in the glass when the tube is heated or subjected to temperature variations, and it cleans easily, without any angles where deposits could accumulate. It also allows you to mix a liquid with a simple flick of the wrist. The trade-off is that the test tubes do not stand upright on their own: they must be presented in the rack, where the two perforated shelves hold them straight. To clean them, a fine bottle brush reaches the rounded bottom perfectly.

The photos show the test tubes used to serve shooters and cocktails, a very popular use at parties. Borosilicate glass is a material commonly used for kitchen and laboratory glassware because it is transparent, stable, and does not retain odors. However, we do not have a food safety certification provided by the supplier: as a precaution, wash the test tubes thoroughly in warm soapy water before the first use and between each service, then rinse them well. Avoid serving boiling drinks, and remember that alcohol should be consumed in moderation.

Borosilicate glass expands about three times less than ordinary glass when heated, which makes it more resistant to thermal shock: this is why it is used in laboratories. It therefore handles hot liquids or moving from cold to warm temperatures better than ordinary glass. However, it is not unbreakable, and the exact tolerance of these test tubes is not provided. We advise you to stick to moderate use: no boiling liquid poured into a cold tube, no open flame without a suitable support, no direct transfer from the freezer to hot water.

The rack and its test tubes are suitable for many uses. As decoration, they become an alignment of single-stem vases for a party table or a windowsill. In the kitchen, they hold spices, colored salts, seeds, or dried herbs. At a desk or in a workshop, they organize beads, small screws, seeds for planting, or samples. With children, they serve as a support for small scientific experiments: mixing colors with food coloring, observing the density of layered liquids, or germinating seeds. The rack can also accommodate other tubes of a suitable diameter.

Wash the test tubes in warm soapy water using a fine bottle brush, rinse them thoroughly, and let them dry upside down, for example by turning them over in the rack if it is kept dry. Avoid abrasive sponges that could scratch the glass. The wood rack, however, must not soak or be put in the dishwasher: wipe it with a slightly damp cloth then dry it immediately. In case of spills from syrup or drinks, clean it quickly to avoid stains and water rings. Store the whole set away from prolonged humidity.