On 3/12/2016 8:32 AM, graham wrote:
> A client asked me how big a sample of drill cuttings I needed for
> processing so I told him about one tablespoon. From a subsequent memo,
> it was obvious that he thought that that was 1-2ml! I told him that it
> should be 15ml but he didn't believe me.
> It put me in mind to check the actual capacities of the spoon set that I
> have, a set of what I though was of decent quality. I weighed spoons of
> water and found the following:
> 1Tbsp = 13 ml (not15ml)
> 1tsp = 5ml (accurate)
> 1/2tsp = 3ml.
>
> Of course there's no guarantee that any replacement spoon set would be
> accurate. My measuring cups are within the limits of the meniscus except
> for the 1/3 cup which is close to 90ml.
> Some might think that this is "anal" but if you stop asking questions,
> you might as well move into a nursing home!
> Graham

Olilmen don't know a tablespoon from a hole in the ground. Just tell
them you need a sample the size of a bull's left testicle. You'll
probably get more than you need but what's wrong with that?