Making worm picks

Put on safety glasses.

Use pliers to cut an appropriate length of platinum wire.

Light the ethanol burner. Take care that there is nothing directly above it, eg. papers attached to shelf.

Hold a disposable glass Pasteur pipette in one hand and the platinum wire with forceps in the other hand.

Place the platinum wire inside the pipette and move it above the flame for a short while to seal the glass around the wire. If preferred, use flat-ended pliers to flatten the end of the platinum wire.

Remove the pick from the flame and wait for it to cool down before touching.

Use the cap to extinguish the flame and check to see that it is gone out.