Retort Ring with Boss Head 2

Quick Answer: The Retort Ring with Boss Head 2 is a metal ring with a boss head built on, so it clamps straight onto a retort stand upright and supports a wire gauze, a filter funnel or a separating funnel. The listing image shows a dark coated ring with a thumbscrew fixing.

What a Retort Ring Supports

A retort ring, also called a support ring or iron ring, provides a horizontal circle at any height on the stand. Its classic uses are holding a wire gauze on which a beaker is heated over a burner, cradling the cone of a separating funnel during extraction, and holding a filter funnel over a receiver. With the boss head already attached, the ring fits onto the upright in one step.

The ‘2’ in the name separates this listing from others in the same family on the site, including a number 3 and a Euro design version. The title does not say how they differ; ring diameter is the usual variable, and it decides what the ring can hold. A gauze needs a ring smaller than the gauze, and a separating funnel needs one that catches the cone below its widest point.

A ring set just above a burner gets hot. Let it cool before moving it, and turn it so it sits over the stand’s base rather than beyond it, so a heavy beaker cannot tip the stand.

Applications

• Heating a beaker of water or solution on a wire gauze over a Bunsen burner
• Holding a separating funnel during liquid-liquid extraction
• Supporting a filter funnel during gravity filtration

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Position the retort ring with boss head so the load sits over the stand base.
• Allow the ring to cool before touching it after heating.
• Keep the thumbscrew thread clean so the ring does not slip under load.
• Add a clamp at the neck when a tall or full separating funnel sits in the ring.

Why Choose LabEquip

Schools buy retort rings with nearly every stand, since heating on gauze and filtration are core practicals. LabEquip lists this ring in its General Lab Products range; contact us with the ring diameter you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a retort ring used for?

It provides a horizontal ring on a retort stand. Typical uses are supporting a wire gauze for heating, holding a separating funnel, and holding a filter funnel over a beaker.

Why choose a ring with an attached boss head?

It fixes to the stand in one step and cannot be separated from its connector. A ring without a boss head needs a separate one, which gives more freedom but adds a part.

What size ring do I need for a separating funnel?

One whose inner diameter is smaller than the widest part of the funnel, so the cone rests in the ring. Too large and the funnel slips through; too small and it sits high and unstable.

How is number 2 different from the other retort rings?

The title does not state the difference. Ring diameter is the usual variable between numbered rings, so compare diameters when you enquire.

Can a beaker be heated directly on the ring?

No. Place a wire gauze on the ring first. The gauze spreads the flame’s heat and gives the beaker a flat, stable base.

Does the ring get hot during heating?

Yes, a ring above a burner becomes hot enough to burn. Let it cool before adjusting it, or use heat-resistant gloves.

Last Updated: September 2026