Mycology Lab Tool Set
Grow supplies
by North Spore
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Mycology Lab Tool Set by North Spore
The Mycology Lab Tool Set is a 7-piece stainless steel kit that gives you everything you need to clone, culture, and harvest mushrooms at home. Made by North Spore — one of the more respected names in the mycology supplies space — this set covers the full workflow from agar work to fruiting body harvest, all packed in a single carrying case. No more rummaging through kitchen drawers for a halfway-decent knife.
What's Included in the Mycology Lab Tool Set
Every piece in this kit serves a specific purpose in the mushroom cultivation process. Here's the full breakdown of what you get when you open the carrying case:
| Tool | Best Used For |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel needle-nose tweezers (high-precision) | Handling delicate mushroom tissue, transferring samples |
| Stainless steel straight-blade dissection scissors | Cutting filters, micropore tape, cultivation materials |
| Stainless steel one-piece scalpel (integrated blade) | Slicing and harvesting mature fruiting bodies |
| Stainless steel inoculation loop | Handling mycelium, transferring inoculum to agar plates |
| Stainless steel grooved scalpel handle #3 (with engraved metric ruler) | Precise cuts, tissue cloning, measuring small samples |
| Stainless steel flat scalpel handle #7 | Larger cuts, general-purpose work |
| 4x sterile #10 scalpel blades | Replaceable blades for scalpel handles #3 and #7 |
| Carrying case | Storage and transport |
That's 6 tools, 4 spare blades, and a case — 11 pieces total when you count everything. The two scalpel handles (#3 and #7) accept the included #10 blades, so you've got replacements ready to go without ordering separately.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | North Spore |
| Material | Surgical-grade stainless steel |
| Total tools | 6 instruments + 4 sterile blades |
| Scalpel blade type | #10 (sterile, individually wrapped) |
| Compatible handles | #3 (grooved, with metric ruler) and #7 (flat) |
| Carrying case | Included |
| SKU | SH0176 |
Complete your setup: pair this tool set with a mushroom grow kit to put these instruments to work straight away. Spore syringes and agar plates are also worth grabbing if you're planning to clone or culture — having the tools without the medium is like owning a pen without paper.
Why You Actually Need Proper Mycology Tools
We've watched people try to do agar transfers with kitchen knives and eyebrow tweezers. It works — until it doesn't. The issue isn't that a butter knife can't cut mushroom tissue. It can. The issue is contamination. Every tool you bring into your workspace is a potential vector for mould, bacteria, and wild yeast. Kitchen utensils carry residues, micro-scratches, and surface textures that harbour contaminants even after a wipe-down.
Surgical-grade stainless steel is the standard in mycology for a reason: it flame-sterilises cleanly, doesn't corrode from repeated alcohol baths, and the polished surface doesn't trap spores in microscopic pits. The inoculation loop in this set, for example, is designed to be passed through a flame until it glows red, then cooled — try that with a bent paperclip and you'll see the difference in your contamination rate within a week.
The honest limitation here: 4 spare blades won't last forever. If you're doing regular cloning work — say, 10-15 transfers per week — you'll burn through those #10 blades in a month or two. Stock up on replacements early. The handles themselves, though, will outlast you. Stainless steel doesn't fatigue the way carbon steel does, and the #3 handle's engraved metric ruler is genuinely useful for measuring tissue samples without reaching for a separate ruler and introducing another contamination risk.
How to Use the Mycology Lab Tool Set
- Before each use, clean every tool you plan to work with. Rinse under running water, then gently scrub with a soft brush and a pH-neutral cleaning agent. Avoid abrasive sponges — they'll scratch the steel surface and create hiding spots for contaminants.
- Thoroughly dry each tool with a clean, lint-free cloth. Moisture left on stainless steel can cause water spots and, over time, surface pitting.
- Sterilise your tools immediately before use. For the inoculation loop and scalpel blades, pass through a flame (a spirit lamp or butane lighter works) until the metal glows orange-red. Let cool for 10-15 seconds before touching any tissue or substrate. For tweezers and scissors, a thorough wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol is standard practice.
- Work in a still-air box or in front of a laminar flow hood if you have one. Your tools are only as clean as the air around them.
- Use the needle-nose tweezers for picking up and placing small tissue samples onto agar. The dissection scissors handle filter cutting and trimming micropore tape. The one-piece scalpel is your harvest tool — use it to slice mature mushrooms cleanly at the base.
- For cloning: use the #3 scalpel handle with a fresh #10 blade to cut a small piece of inner tissue from a healthy mushroom. Transfer to agar using the tweezers or inoculation loop. The engraved ruler on the #3 handle helps you size your tissue sample — aim for roughly 3-5mm squares.
- After each session, repeat the cleaning process. Store tools in the carrying case to keep them dust-free between uses.
Watch Out For
The scalpel blades are genuinely sharp — these are surgical instruments, not craft knives. Handle #10 blades with the same respect you'd give a fresh razor. Always cut away from yourself, and never try to catch a dropped scalpel. Let it fall. The carrying case doesn't have individual blade slots, so keep the sterile blades in their original packaging until you're ready to mount them.
Also, stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, not corrosion-proof. If you leave tools wet or store them in a humid environment, you'll eventually see spots. Dry them properly after cleaning. A light coat of mineral oil on the scissor hinge every few months keeps the action smooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sterilise these tools in an autoclave or pressure cooker?
Yes. Surgical-grade stainless steel handles autoclave temperatures (121°C / 250°F at 15 PSI) without issue. Remove the scalpel blades first — they'll dull faster under repeated autoclave cycles. Flame sterilisation between individual transfers is still recommended during a session.
How often should I replace the #10 scalpel blades?
Replace a blade whenever it feels like it's dragging rather than slicing cleanly. For regular cloning work, that's roughly every 5-10 transfers. The kit includes 4 sterile blades, which is enough to get started, but order a box of replacements if you're planning ongoing agar work.
Do I need a laminar flow hood to use these tools?
No. A still-air box (SAB) — basically a large plastic tub with arm holes — works well for home mycology. A flow hood is better but costs significantly more. These tools work in either environment. The critical thing is sterile technique, not expensive equipment.
What is the inoculation loop used for?
The inoculation loop picks up and transfers small amounts of mycelium, spore solution, or liquid culture to agar plates or other media. You flame-sterilise it, let it cool, dip it into your source material, and streak it across the agar surface. It's the standard tool for isolating clean cultures.
Is this kit suitable for harvesting mushrooms from a grow kit?
Absolutely. The one-piece scalpel and the tweezers are the two tools you'll reach for most at harvest time. The scalpel slices cleanly at the base of the stem, and the tweezers help you handle smaller pins without bruising them. Overkill for a single flush, but if you're growing regularly, it becomes second nature.
What's the difference between scalpel handle #3 and #7?
The #3 handle is slimmer with a grooved grip and an engraved metric ruler — best for fine, precise cuts like tissue cloning. The #7 handle is flatter and slightly longer, giving you more reach and use for general-purpose cutting. Both accept the included #10 blades.
Can I use these tools for other purposes besides mycology?
They're standard surgical-grade instruments, so yes — they work for any task requiring precision cutting, gripping, or dissection. Hobbyist taxidermy, model building, botanical work. But once you've used them in a mycology setting, keep them dedicated to that purpose to avoid cross-contamination.
Last updated: April 2026
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Medical disclaimer. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use of any substance.