The Short Column Technique is a useful technique for rate zonal and isopycnic density gradient runs with both the swinging bucket and fixed angle rotors, We have described and illustrated its advantages of significant time saving and the elimination of the need for tube caps. Thick-walled polycarbonate tubes are used. While some loss in resolution may result with some samples using short columns. It is our opinlon that the technique can be widely adopted to provide useful information. © 1978.