How to Build a Freeze Dryer

top 10 ways to make your neighbors think you have a meth lab

I just found this. Very good and informative. As an owner of a lyophilizer service company I only have 1 criticism. You keep stating that no heat is applied. This is against the criteria of sublimation. Heat is ALWAYS used in freeze drying. This is how you achieve sublimation and desorbtion in time. Heat is applied either radiantly, or more common, through conductance. Other than that, very informative.

awesome project! buying a lyophilizer is expensive even used...it's cool to see this done so cheaply (other than the vacuum pump). ill have to give this a try!

I just watched the King of Random do something with freeze drying. I was a bit curious on how the process was done so I googled it and you were the second video. The first being basically and ad for a freeze drying company. This was really neat. I figured it had more to do with a vacuum considering the cost of the pre built machines. Thanks.

You are just like an young version of Ben from Applied Science, someone who I have a lot of respect for. I hope you continue to make such great videos on diverse topics!

Wow. I used to use freeze-dryers (Edwards) for lyophilization of pharmaceuticals from both aqueous & non-aqueous solvents. Our shelf temperatures within the lyophilization chambers were on a separate temperature control circuit so we could drive the process by adding heat to the subliming vials of product. I also used the chambers to add a special gaseous headspace to a liquid diagnostic product that is on the market today. I was actually given a product that I had performed pre-approval development work on. Of course most of the products I worked on were for cancer or HIV, so I am quite glad I never needed those. BUT, I never got to lyophilize STRAWBERRIES!!!

Dude your videos are really cool and interesting, and im glad that I found your channel. Keep it up.

awesome build. wish there was a affordable home/mini sized freeze dryer on the market..

One of the only video I could find. Thank you. Was trying to see if I could build a big one like almost walk in. And how they actually worked. Thanks great video.

If you ever need to make more cryo insulation I would recommend closed cell polyethylene foam. We use it at work for LN2 plumbing and it works a treat. If you stick with the polystyrene though I would recommend investing in some nichrome wire, a 12V battery, and either a high power pot for voltage splitting or, for more efficiency and less heating, a variable buck converter to adjust the voltage across the wire. Basically I'm describing a DIY hot wire foam cutter. A lot better than using an exacto, I can tell you that much.

I think keeping the drying chamber below freezing during the entire process is preferred. That is to say, below freezing and not below zero F. Sublimation still occurs and you don't have to worry about the cellular structure getting smushy.

This is quite late, but instead of Teflon tape, use a product called nylog on your thread fittings. It acts as both a thread lubricant and a thread sealant. It never dries or cracks. It's what I use on all of my refrigeration systems I need to evacuate. My manifolds can easily reach 50 microns Hg/50 mTorr. I have found that Teflon tends to be a bit leakier. With that said, I also only used tapered fittings or flare fittings on my vacuum setups.

i am really interested in hearing how your carbon foam turns out this was very helpful, Thank you good Sir!

So many of your videos are in my projects playlist. Thanx for your awesome videos as always.

Crushing the dry ice to a powder speeds up the process and Ive used paint thinner for a cryo liquid but I was just messing with stuff cause I get free dry ice sometimes

I've always been interested in making one of these myself, very nice. The only thing I would change is get rid of the styrofoam and get some closed cell foam, like the sheets of insulating foam you can get at the big box hardware stores. Easier to cut clean edges with.

Every single time I want to learn how to diy something super cool, you have a video! Haha thank you!

wow, this is so cool. I'll try to build one of those by myself. Thanks for the video :D!

youve just got a new sub and you are the 2nd channel where id ring the bell i really like your content

I'm gonna use this to make magic mushrooms last super long without being leathery.