The BSH1001 is the Benchmark Digital Dry Bath — a single-position dry bath chassis with digital microprocessor temperature control, sold at $580 (chassis only — does NOT include sample blocks). NEW PRODUCT FAMILY: BSH digital dry baths use interchangeable sample blocks (BSH100-* family) that hold tubes / vials / strips for direct-contact heating without water immersion. The single-position design accepts one block at a time — for multi-block simultaneous workflows step to multi-position dry bath sisters.
Critical procurement note: The BSH1001 ships without blocks. Blocks must be procured separately from the BSH100-* family ($124–$141 each per universe). A workflow-complete dry-bath setup requires the chassis + at least one block sized to the workflow tube format.
Author confidence note (MEDIUM): No specific BSH1001 brochure in available corpus. Specs sourced from universe label. Confirm exact temperature range, ramp rate, microprocessor display features, block-locking mechanism, and EU plug variant availability with Benchmark Scientific technical support at first procurement.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| SKU | BSH1001 |
| Type | Digital dry bath chassis (single position, blocks NOT included) |
| Block positions | 1 (single position — one block at a time) |
| Temperature control | Digital microprocessor |
| Voltage | 120 V or 230 V, 50–60 Hz (discrete variants) |
| Compatible blocks | BSH100-* family (BSH100-01 solid block, BSH100-02 PCR strip / 0.2 mL, BSH100-05 0.5 mL, BSH100-15 1.5 mL, BSH100-1213 12/13 mm tubes, BSH100-1232 2 mL autosampler vials — typically $124 each, BSH100-1213 at $141) |
| List price | $580 (chassis only) |
| Safety flag | Thermal hazard — heated block surface |
Why a Dry Bath — Block-Based Sample Heating Workflows
Dry baths deliver direct-contact heating to tubes / vials via heated metal blocks — distinct from water baths which heat via water immersion:
| Feature | Dry bath (BSH family) | Water bath (B2000 / B2023 families) |
| Heating medium | Heated metal block | Water |
| Sample-tube contact | Direct conduction via block-well fit | Water-bath immersion |
| Evaporation | None | Yes — periodic top-off |
| Biocide / water maintenance | None | Required |
| Temperature uniformity across samples | Excellent (block conduction) | Excellent (water convection) |
| Tube format flexibility | Block-format-specific (need correct block per tube format) | Universal (any tube fits in water) |
| Setup time | Fast (drop block in chassis + place tubes) | Slower (fill water + heat) |
| Bench-space | Smaller chassis vs water bath | Larger chassis |
| Cost (chassis-only) | $580 (BSH1001) | $733+ (B2000 family) |
Pick the dry bath (BSH1001) when the workflow involves standardized tube-format heating at known volumes, a bench-space-efficient chassis is preferred, setup time matters (drop-in block plus tubes versus a water-bath fill cycle), or a no-water-maintenance procurement strategy is the goal. For multi-investigator shared benches with diverse tube formats, pair the chassis with multiple blocks for tube-format flexibility.
Pick a water bath (B2000 family) when larger working volume or vessel-type flexibility (flasks, large tubes, irregular vessels) drives procurement.
Modular Block Selection — BSH100-* Family
| Block SKU | Tube format | List price |
| BSH100-01 | Solid block, 1.25"/32mm height (no wells — for direct-contact heating items) | $124 |
| BSH100-02 | 40 × 0.2 mL tubes OR 5 × PCR strips | $124 |
| BSH100-05 | 24 × 0.5 mL tubes | $124 |
| BSH100-15 | 15 × 1.5 mL tubes | $124 |
| BSH100-1232 | 15 × 2 mL autosampler vials | $124 |
| BSH100-1213 | 15 × 12/13 mm diameter tubes & vacutainers | $141 ($17 premium) |
Most blocks priced at $124; the 12/13 mm tubes & vacutainers block (BSH100-1213) is $17 premium at $141 — likely reflects the slightly more complex bore-diameter machining for the larger tube format.
Pick blocks per workflow tube format — for mixed-volume workflows, procure multiple blocks for protocol flexibility, and use the solid BSH100-01 (no wells) for direct-contact heating of small beakers or irregular vessels:
- PCR workflows → BSH100-02 (40 × 0.2 mL or 5 PCR strips)
- Microcentrifuge workflows → BSH100-15 (15 × 1.5 mL) — most common molecular biology tube format
- Vacutainer / clinical workflows → BSH100-1213 (15 × 12/13 mm)
- Autosampler vial workflows → BSH100-1232 (15 × 2 mL autosampler vials)
Application Profile
PCR / qPCR setup heating — denaturation, hybridization, restriction digest at standard temperature setpoints.
Enzyme reactions — restriction digests, ligation reactions, denaturation steps in standardized tube formats.
Sample-prep heating — pre-warming samples / reagents in standardized tube formats.
Slide-prep workflows — heat-fixing or denaturation steps using small-tube format reagents.
Single-investigator dedicated bench dry bath — standardized workflow heating at the smallest practical instrument footprint.
Educational laboratory teaching — undergraduate / graduate molecular biology coursework introducing dry-bath fundamentals.
Multi-investigator shared lab — chassis + multiple blocks supports diverse investigator tube-format workflows on a single chassis.
Method-development workflows — protocol-development requiring standardized tube-format heating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the BSH1001 include sample blocks? No — the $580 price is for the chassis only. Blocks are procured separately from the BSH100-* family ($124–$141 each).
How many blocks does the BSH1001 hold at once? One — it is a single-position chassis that accepts one block at a time.
What tube formats can the BSH1001 heat? It depends on the block fitted: PCR strips / 0.2 mL, 0.5 mL, 1.5 mL, 2 mL autosampler vials, 12/13 mm tubes, or a solid block for direct-contact items.
How hot does the block surface get? The block surface can reach over 100 °C at typical operation — a surface-burn hazard that requires safe-handling protocols (heat-resistant gloves, post-cycle cool-down).
When should I step up to a multi-position dry bath? Step to the BSH1002 dual-position ($723) or BSH1004 four-position ($1,118) chassis for simultaneous multi-block workflows.
Ordering & Configuration
Pair chassis with at least one block at first procurement. The chassis is workflow-incomplete without a block. Confirm intended primary tube format and procure the matching BSH100-* block alongside the chassis.
Multi-block procurement for multi-protocol workflows. Facilities running diverse tube formats benefit from inventorying multiple blocks (e.g., BSH100-02 for PCR + BSH100-15 for microcentrifuge tubes + BSH100-05 for 0.5 mL workflows). Block-swap is fast — drop in / drop out.
Confirm voltage and plug type. 115 V / 230 V chassis — confirm EU plug variant availability with Benchmark Scientific tech support if international procurement.
Confirm bench-clearance for thermal envelope. Dry-bath block surface temperature can reach >100 °C at typical operation — maintain bench-clearance from heat-sensitive items.
Confirm at quote: voltage / plug type, intended primary tube format, block-pairing inventory plan, bench-clearance for thermal envelope, training, warranty, and lead time.
Warranty: Per Benchmark Scientific standard capital-equipment terms — confirm at quote.
Safety note: the BSH1001 dry bath chassis heats blocks to >100 °C at typical operation — surface burn hazard during operation and brief cool-down period. Train operators in safe-handling protocols (heat-resistant gloves for block / tube handling, post-cycle cool-down protocol).
Benchmark Scientific dry bath family:
- BSH1001 (this product) — Single-position digital dry bath chassis ($580, blocks NOT included)
- BSH100-* blocks — Modular sample blocks ($124–$141 each, sized per tube format)
Pick the BSH1001 chassis + appropriate block for tube-format heating workflows. Sister myBath water bath family (B2000) covers water-immersion workflows; sister BeadBath Duo family (B2402 / B2410) covers dual-chamber dry-bead workflows.
