Lab racks – Buying guide & Comparison
If you’re short on time and you just want to find the best lab racks in 2024, this short paragraph should help you get exactly the model you need. According to our findings, the United Scientific 81741 is the best especially if you’re looking for a rather compact alternative that doesn’t take up too much room in your lab. Besides, this is one of the most affordable units we’ve found out there, in spite of the fact that it features twenty removable drying pegs as well as an attached basin with a drain plug. If the United Scientific 81741 is unavailable, your second options should be the SEOH 3455-1LC.
Looking for the best laboratory drying racks? If you do, but find it hard to select the perfect product on account of the vast array of units that are available out there, we’re here to assist you in making an informed decision. We’ve taken the time to put together a step-by-step buyer’s guide that can get you through all the details you ought to bear in mind. Just make sure that you consider your needs and preferences before anything else as you’ll be the one using the product.
Size and weight
Although they might not look like the most important factors in your decision-making process, the dimensions and weight of the unit actually matter a lot. For one, you have to decide whether you prefer getting a rack that hangs on a wall or one that you can use on a working table. It goes without saying that the two will differ in size as getting a too large and heavy one for table use is counterproductive. It might be off-balance at some point or the other and, therefore, risk breaking your glassware. The best laboratory rack is the one that fits your needs even with regard to space. If you have enough room in your lab, getting a sizeable model might not be an issue.
Purpose
Sometimes, it all boils down to what you’re trying to achieve with this kind of product. It stands to reason that you’ll want to place your plastic or glassware on it and let it dry for a while, but you also have to consider the size of your equipment pieces and whether or not you can use the pegs for multiple types of glasses, bottles, or vials. The best laboratory tube racks will always allow you to customize the configuration of the pegs so that you’re able to get the most drying space. If the model you’re thinking of buying doesn’t let you do just this, you might be better off choosing a different one that does.
Material
The best laboratory bottle rack or one intended for test tubes can be made of two materials nowadays: plastic or metal. Plastic options are advantageous on a short-term basis because they’re budget-friendly and won’t trigger any important expense from the budget of your lab. However, they need to be cared for a lot more compared to their metal counterparts as most of these plastic units tend to be affected by heat. Some say they’re even harder to sanitize as some plastic components might be porous and therefore retain water and microbial cultures, which leads to a higher contamination risk. Metal models are to be preferred, although they do tend to cost a pretty penny compared to plastic units. However, a laboratory glassware rack made of stainless steel tends to withstand the test of time.
5 Best Lab Racks (Reviews) in 2024
The best lab racks are showcased below. Based on the info that we have gathered about these suggestions, they’re convenient and easy to use, and some even feature a laboratory drying rack wall mount, thus allowing you get the most of your working space. Since they’ve garnered the best lab rack reviews, we felt compelled to add them to our selection.
Contents
1. United Scientific 81741 Plastic Drying Draining Rack 20 Places
The 81741 is one of the simplest and most basic alternatives we’ve found to be available nowadays. This is a rack that has been constructed out of plastic, which means that it is lightweight and weighs in at just 4.8 pounds. Thanks to the pegs it comes with, it allows owners to dry up to 20 pieces at the same time, depending on the volume and size of the equipment.
It’s also worth noting that the drying pegs can be removed and therefore, the drying surface can be customized in accordance with the momentary needs of the lab worker.
Given that each of the twenty provided pegs measures 6” in length, it seems to be reasonably sized to allow owners to dry both glasses and bottles as well as the occasional vial.
The bottom of the product has a wastewater tray and drain, therefore enabling you to get rid of it with ease. From what we have gathered by going through the ratings and reviews acquired by this model, it seems to be worth every penny as it offers more than enough value for the price. Besides, the unit can be mounted on a wall.
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2. Seoh Drying Laboratory Rack Metal 55 Pegs and Drain Pan
In some respects, this SEOH unit is even more convenient than the unit we’ve showcased earlier on. For one, it’s considerably larger and therefore, allows you to dry more pieces of equipment at the same time.
Secondly, it has been constructed out of metal, which makes it sturdier than any plastic models available for sale out there. While the product does have a disadvantage consisting of the fact that the pegs are not removable and their setup is not customizable, the 3455-1LC still gets the job done and speaks to the needs of people who might require a larger rack.
To make sure that the wastewater can be removed by the professional, the model has been equipped with an easy-to-use drain pan at the bottom. If you’re focused on prolonging the life of your glass or plasticware, it might be worth noting that the pegs that this model comes equipped with rubber tips for cushioning.
Otherwise said, if you accidentally drop a vial or bottle while trying to fit it on a peg, there’s virtually no chance of the rack damaging the piece. The owner feedback of this product mostly revolves around the excellent value it offers for the money.
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3. Economy Draining Rack
The Carolina Biological Supply model needs to be considered by all prospective buyers who are on a tight budget and can’t afford to spend more than sixty dollars on a rack destined for drying up to 50 pieces at the same time.
On many accounts, the 731896 has shared features with the formerly described SEOH 3455-1LC in that it is sturdy and made of metal and even features rubber tips in order to protect the pieces that are left for drying on the pegs. The hairpin-looped supports that you’ll find at the top of the product can be utilized for drying up to five large glassware pieces.
Thanks to its user-friendly design, the Carolina Biological Supply 731896 offers users more than enough freedom with regard to installation. It can just as well stand on its own feet as it can be mounted on the wall of your choice. The drain pan is part of the deal with this model, which is a reassuring detail as you won’t have to go through a lot of trouble to get a compatible one.
Because of its size and functionality, this unit can also be used by parents who want to dry their babies’ bottles.
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4. Heathrow Scientific HS23243A Glassware Drying Rack
Heathrow Scientific has been in the industry of manufacturing lab racks and other types of lab equipment for a decent amount of time, which is why the brand is typically considered one of the top-recommended companies out there.
This product is convenient, easy to use, and versatile, and will allow you to dry your glassware with its up to 90 designated places for this purpose.
It should be pointed out that the sturdy construction of this model makes it worth taking into account as it features a spot-welded steel build and vinyl coating, therefore eliminating the risk of getting your glassware damaged.
In addition, it can be either mounted on the wall or used as a self-standing rack, depending on the amount of space you might have available in your laboratory. A drainage pan is part of the deal with this one. As is the case with other products in the same line, this one does not come with its own wall mount, and so you have to buy it separately if this is the installation type you prefer.
While it might be a tad less affordable compared to others, the Heathrow Scientific HD23243A is worth a try as it’s large enough to accommodate many of your equipment pieces.
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5. Draining Rack Poxygrid 16
Usability and convenience are at the root of this product as it can be used both self-standing and mounted on the wall. What’s more, the epoxy-coated, steel-wire construction makes it possible for your test tubes and glassware items to be protected and drain properly.
As with other units in the line, this one comes with a tray at the bottom that’s entirely efficient when it comes to catching dripping water.
While it might be a tad smaller compared to other alternatives, the Carolina Biological Supply 731897 model proves its worth under most circumstances and allows you to tend to your tasks by always providing clean pieces of equipment that you can use time and time again. Another reason you may be interested in this option is that it is built in Burlington, North Carolina, which is a detail that places it above the quality of cheaper, Asian products of the same nature.
The fact of the matter is that this manufacturing brand offers an unconditional guarantee, in that it gives a helping hand to customers who might fail to be impressed with the build or functionality of the product. This way, in case you ever run into an issue, you can safely refer to the brand’s customer support and subsequently get a replacement.
Buy from Amazon.com
