The Bio-Rad Model 583 Gel Dryer, along with the Bio-Rad HydroTech Vacuum Pump, is used in our lab primarily to dry polycacrylamide gels of all types. This gel dryer, which is 11 x 55 x 50 cm with a drying surface of 35 x 45 cm, has the capacity to dry 9-16 mini-gels or 2 large-format gels (e.g. gel-shift gels) or 1 sequencing gel. The 583 Gel Dryer consists of a lid with a heating element, a transparent rubber sealing gasket, which allows one to observe the gel during drying and a porous gel support through which the vacuum is applied.
The gel dryer’s operating temperature range is 50 – 90 C and it has an operating time range of 5 minutes to 9 hours and 55 minutes. There are 3 programmable drying cycles: 1) the sequencing cycle which decreases the sequencing gel drying time, 2) the gradient cycle which increases the temperature slowly to prevent gels from cracking and 3) the PAGE gel cycle which is used for most routine gel drying. Our lab primarily uses the gradient cycle to dry coomassie-stained mini-gels. Because these gels are thin, they tend to crack easily, but we’ve found that if we’re careful and apply saran-wrap to the gel with two pieces of filter paper beneath it (Bio-Rad recommends using wet filter paper), than we can avoid this problem.
The 583 Gel Dryer has a number of features that make it convenient to use. The LED display makes it easy to see how much time is left for the drying cycle and the transparent sealing gasket allows us to view the gel while it’s drying, making it easy to stop the dryer early if possible. Also, it is easy to clean and maintain this machine. Once the drying is done, the filter papers are thrown out and the liquid waste container in the vacuum-pump is disconnected and its contents discarded. But perhaps best of all is the fact that this machine is durable. We purchased ours over seven years ago and have not had to repair it once.
There are a few issues that are important to be aware of, however. The first is the cost – the gel dryer and pump cost around $3000. Of course, the fact that it has lasted us over 7 years without the need for repairs makes this price tag a little easier to swallow. Also, the dryer and pump produce a fair bit of noise (and heat), which means that an open area needs to be found for them away from anybody’s bench. Obviously this could be a problem if space is an issue.
Overall we have been extremely happy with the Bio-Rad Model 583 Gel Dryer. We use it often and it has been a reliable product that is easy-to-use. I would have no problems recommending it to others.
Hee Chul Lee
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biochemistry
NYU School of Medicine