Search found 179 matches

by iconoclastica
Tue Dec 12, 2023 9:33 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble
Replies: 9
Views: 4952

Re: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble

OK, some progress made. At the left side there was just enough room to slit in the blade of a small flat screwdriver between the fine and coarse knob and then turning the blade a bit to force the knobs apart. Working round the knob, changing twice to a larger screwdriver, the fine focus know gradual...
by iconoclastica
Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:34 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble
Replies: 9
Views: 4952

Re: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble

There is a manual named: Nikon OPTIPHOT BODY LABOPHOT REPAIR MANUAL Thank you, but see my first message in this topic. That manual is either incorrect, or I am misinterpreting it. It says to unscrew the screw (doesn't warn for loosening it too far) and then the knobs would come off, as I read it. A...
by iconoclastica
Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:34 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble
Replies: 9
Views: 4952

Re: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble

I think this photo of Bekenbleu's probably explains what happened to me: https://blekenbleu.github.io/microscope/Nikon/Labophot/hex1.3mm.jpg Yet I still cannot remove either knob. There's some play (c. 1-2mm) along the fine focus axis, but then it stops completely. Must be inside, the knobs are holl...
by iconoclastica
Sun Dec 10, 2023 3:10 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble
Replies: 9
Views: 4952

optiphot-1: fine focus knob trouble

In order to take exact meaurements of the fine focus knob size and tapering, I tried to take the left one off. According to the repair manual, I tried to do it the correct way: DISASSEMBLY PROCEDURE 1. Coaxial Coarse and Fine Focus Unit (OPTOPHOT, LABOPHOT) (Fig. 110) 1) Releasing HS screw [142A], r...
by iconoclastica
Tue Dec 05, 2023 10:47 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?
Replies: 17
Views: 4642

Re: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?

Have you seen this thread. As you can see, results vary though.
by iconoclastica
Fri Aug 18, 2023 1:00 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?
Replies: 17
Views: 4642

Re: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?

Congratulations! Nothing as good as getting results when you've worked hard for them (an nothing more frustrating if you don't, but that's not for now ;-)) The trick for me is to use minimal superglue, the thinnest smear of vaseline, to offset the slides as you mentioned- and not to wait an hour. Te...
by iconoclastica
Wed Aug 16, 2023 11:55 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?
Replies: 17
Views: 4642

Re: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?

Nothing technical, really. I repeatedly use the same top slide and take great care not cleaning it. When it gets lost, I take a new one and wipe it off the skin of my nose... That said, there isn't normally much contact between the glue and the upper slide, for the blob of glue is smaller than the p...
by iconoclastica
Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:33 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?
Replies: 17
Views: 4642

Re: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?

If I understand you well, you are using a different CyAcr technique than I do. I normally don't peel off the hardened glue. I thourough clean a slide with alcohol. Then I apply a thin film of CyAcr, over 1 to 2 square cm. Than I place the leaf on the glue, followed by a second slide (that as well mi...
by iconoclastica
Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:57 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?
Replies: 17
Views: 4642

Re: Stomates and cellulose acetate butyrate- any experiences?

I have been using cyano-acrylate a lot for this purpose. Mostly it works well, but indument on the leaf is an issue indeed. Also the slow curing times tend to allow the production of air bubbles arising through and getting fixed on top of the stomata. After I had made all these measurements, I also ...
by iconoclastica
Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:45 pm
Forum: Identification help
Topic: What's this..?
Replies: 4
Views: 1424

Re: What's this..?

tomt at photomacrography.net wrote:
Mon Jul 31, 2023 6:51 am
This is a liverwort of the genus Telaranea. Near impossible to determine species without a lot of other information.
Judging by the images that popup googling that name, it is likely to be correct.
by iconoclastica
Sat Jul 01, 2023 10:38 pm
Forum: Identification help
Topic: What's this..?
Replies: 4
Views: 1424

Re: What's this..?

I can see what made you suggest this. But:
Batrachospermum is a red alga, while this, if it is an alga, would be a green one; morphologically its side branches (for lack of a better term) are highly branched, while in my specimen they are simple; and it lives in water.
by iconoclastica
Sat Jul 01, 2023 11:06 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: paraffin
Replies: 4
Views: 2054

Re: paraffin

Thanks, Alexander, but these offers are about pure paraffin, which I had no trouble finding indeed. Paraffin embedding wax is not pure paraffin, but has additions to facilitate harmonica ribbon formation (e.g. natural rubber, as I came to understand recently). I do not have experience with the embed...
by iconoclastica
Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:24 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: paraffin
Replies: 4
Views: 2054

paraffin

My source of chemicals (Magnacol UK) has stopped shipping internationally. Could anyone advise me where to buy paraffin embedding wax suitable for microtoming in Continental Europe, OR provide a recipe for to make it from raw paraffin?
by iconoclastica
Thu Jun 29, 2023 7:24 pm
Forum: Identification help
Topic: What's this..?
Replies: 4
Views: 1424

What's this..?

Branched threads of this were growing between small epiphytes in the tropical cloud forest. What organism is this? Moss, alga, or fern gametophytes? In the latter case, Trichomanes is the most likely, but I do not have arguments to base any opinion on. file1.jpg file2.jpg Here and there there are "e...
by iconoclastica
Mon May 29, 2023 11:02 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: What is the optimal combination of 5 objectives?
Replies: 10
Views: 3124

Re: What is the optimal combination of 5 objectives?

apochronaut wrote:
Mon May 29, 2023 12:24 am
Is user profile the same as application? User profile sounds a bit overly digitized.
We're talking nosepieces here, so the profile does come into question :D
by iconoclastica
Sat May 27, 2023 5:20 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: radiolaria reversed
Replies: 12
Views: 1407

Re: radiolaria reversed

Wonderful! When I was a student, long ago, I cut out pictures like these and glued them to the cupboard door for their beauty. I don't think they were real then, but glass models. When I left that room I had to pay the landlord dearly, for the glue wouldn't come off... The stereo version doesn't wor...
by iconoclastica
Sat May 27, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: What is the optimal combination of 5 objectives?
Replies: 10
Views: 3124

Re: What is the optimal combination of 5 objectives?

I bought quintuples a couple of years ago, so now I know what I really want is at least one sextuple :? The optimal combination depends on the user profile. This is what it al boils down to, of course. It's only that subjects so often change and with them the profiles. So, to accomodate as many of t...
by iconoclastica
Sat May 27, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: three spiders
Replies: 13
Views: 1621

Re: three spiders

ADi wrote:
Sat May 27, 2023 3:35 pm
I can 3D only in red/cyan e.g. radiolarians.
https://www.microbehunter.com/microscop ... =6&t=18410
which have a number of advantages over stereo pairs anyway...
by iconoclastica
Sun May 21, 2023 12:29 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: measuring RI
Replies: 3
Views: 708

Re: measuring RI

If it is a pure liquid, just seek Google. I apologize if that was obvious. No offence taken! :D I'd like to measure a few gels of roughly known composition but in unknown proportions. A procedure for measuring the RI by means of a microscope has been published by Prof G. Rosenfeldt of Hamurg, Germa...
by iconoclastica
Sat May 20, 2023 8:09 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: measuring RI
Replies: 3
Views: 708

measuring RI

Is there a simple way of measuring the refractive index of a medium?
by iconoclastica
Tue Apr 11, 2023 2:37 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Nikon microscopy camera
Replies: 4
Views: 1969

Re: Nikon microscopy camera

Isn't that a bit of overkill for non-super-resolution microcopy?
by iconoclastica
Tue Apr 11, 2023 2:27 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Optiphot: Centering the epi-illuminator
Replies: 6
Views: 2001

SOLVED: Optiphot: Centering the epi-illuminator

The cause was this: in the exit *) of the illuminator sits a black tube that separates the bright field light path from the dark field light path. It has three tiny attachment points which make it vulnerable to breaking, when the illuminator is placed flat on the table top. Mine had come off and I h...
by iconoclastica
Mon Apr 10, 2023 9:29 am
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Re: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

Welcome to the Multiverse [or should that be Mulltiverses ?] I am honoured :) BTW, 10mm aluminium tube appears to be a good starting point for the shaft that fits after a minute of polishing. --------------------- C S Minot Nationality: French active 1886-1892, inventor of a microtome, French I tho...
by iconoclastica
Sun Apr 09, 2023 6:36 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Re: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

I just found a 10.0 mm diameter rod that fits and sits tightly clamped. The 9.9mm drill sat too loose, a 10.3mm wooden rod was too wide. Its a hard steel rod that I can neither saw nor attach to a disk. But now I know what to look for. So a plain shank indeed, and existing holders other than Leitz s...
by iconoclastica
Sat Apr 08, 2023 10:07 am
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Re: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

Yes, it will suffice if you are melting wax blocks onto it … but if you are cutting more ‘robust’ specimens, the vice can be useful. … I have a Reichert-Jung 1120 which needs a lot of tidying-up: Here’s a snapshot of the vice: ... If it’s any help, I could provide some dimensions. MichaelG. Underst...
by iconoclastica
Sat Apr 08, 2023 9:53 am
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Re: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

MichaelG. wrote:
Fri Apr 07, 2023 8:51 pm
This is [obviously] not specific to your instrument, but it’s a very useful reference document:
http://users.stlcc.edu/Departments/fvbi ... r_Care.pdf

MichaelG.
Excellent! Thanks!
by iconoclastica
Fri Apr 07, 2023 7:04 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Re: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

I would recommend you use a small square block of wood to fit between the clamp jaws. The wax will stick to wood better than metal. Hope this helps. Peter. Yes, that is helpful for wood is easier to work than metal or ABS. But what do I need a clamp for then? Wouldn't a square block of wood on a on...
by iconoclastica
Fri Apr 07, 2023 5:36 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Re: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

Alexander wrote:
Fri Apr 07, 2023 4:03 pm
Usually the specimen gets melted onto the holder. This is why I recommend the use of some metal, not plastic.
Something I had not considered indeed. But then, is the vice-construction necessary, or does the toadstool shaped contraption of the drawing suffice?
by iconoclastica
Fri Apr 07, 2023 1:04 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)
Replies: 15
Views: 3798

Microtome object holder (Leitz 1212)

I have acquired a rotary microtome, a c. 40kg black enamel beast by E. Leitz - Wetzlar, apparently an early, but not the first 1212 minot microtome. From the codes in the manual I guess it dates from 1953 or thereabout. It appears to be in good working condition, no rust, souple motions, even the kn...