Handles for Guardian 5000 Base Plate

Quick Answer: The Handles for Guardian 5000 Base Plate are a pair of black grip handles on metal brackets that attach to the edge of the 135 mm Guardian 5000 base plate. With the handles fitted, the base plate and its sectional heating blocks can be lifted on or off the hotplate without gripping the hot metal.

Why Handles Matter on a Heated Block Assembly

A loaded base plate is heavy and, after a run, hot across its whole surface. Moving it by hand means pinching the rim with tongs or gloves, which is awkward when the wells are full of tubes. The handles for Guardian 5000 base plate solve that by giving two proper grips, one at each side, so the assembly can be carried level.

In the listing photograph each handle is a black moulded grip mounted on a bent metal bracket. The brackets have a flat foot with small holes, which correspond to the holes near the rim of the 135 mm base plate, and an upswept arm that lifts the grip clear of the heated surface. That rise keeps the grip away from the hottest metal, although the brackets themselves conduct heat and should be handled with care after long runs.

Handles are also useful when swapping between sets of blocks: one base plate can be lifted off and set down on a heat-resistant mat to cool while another goes on the hotplate.

Care & Handling

• Fit the handles with the base plate cool and tighten fixings evenly
• Lift with both handles at once to keep the tubes level
• Treat the metal brackets as hot after a long run; hold only the black grips
• Check fixings regularly, as repeated heating can loosen screws

Specifications

When the Handles Are Used

• Lifting a full set of heated tubes off the hotplate at the end of a digestion or incubation step
• Transferring a warm block assembly to a cooling mat so the hotplate can be reused
• Carrying a loaded base plate between bench and fume hood

Why Choose LabEquip

These handles are ordered with the Guardian 5000 base plate by labs that move heated block assemblies several times a day. LabEquip can supply them with the base plate and blocks from our general lab products range; contact us to check which Guardian model you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many handles are supplied?

The listing photograph shows a pair, one for each side of the base plate, which is what you need to lift the plate level.

Do the handles fit directly onto the Guardian hotplate?

No. They attach to the Guardian 5000 base plate, not to the hotplate body. The base plate then sits on the hotplate’s top plate.

Do the handles stay cool during heating?

The black grips are raised away from the plate and stay cooler than the metal, but the brackets conduct heat. Hold only the grips and use gloves after long, hot runs.

Can I lift the base plate with tubes still in the wells?

Yes, that is the main purpose. Lift slowly with both handles so the tubes stay upright, and set the assembly down on a heat-resistant surface.

Are tools needed to fit the handles?

The brackets appear to fix with small screws through holes in their feet, so a small screwdriver is usually needed. Tighten them evenly.

Can the handles be used with other brands of heating block?

They are made for the Guardian 5000 base plate. Fitting them to other plates is not recommended, as the hole spacing and load may not match.

Last Updated: September 2026