Somehow this reminds of something the dentists says when I balk at having some procedure done: "when it hurts bad enough you'll be back".
When you want to see whatever it is you're trying to see bad enough, you'll deal with the oil.
Search found 1618 matches
- Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:22 am
- Forum: Sandbox
- Topic: 100x oil vs. 100x dry objectives
- Replies: 5
- Views: 223
- Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:18 am
- Forum: Introduce yourself
- Topic: Hello
- Replies: 2
- Views: 99
Re: Hello
Welcome Jim, lotsa old amateur astronomers, and ATMs too, here, and I know cuz I'm one of each. Took ya long enough to get here! 

- Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:18 am
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Antique Diatom Arrangement
- Replies: 12
- Views: 534
Re: Antique Diatom Arrangement
Howdy Wes. I'm currently using an Olympus BHS BH-2 with LED lamp and Zeiss rotating stage.
- Thu Jan 07, 2021 7:16 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Antique Diatom Arrangement
- Replies: 12
- Views: 534
Re: Antique Diatom Arrangement
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artdec10/bs-hardman.html MichaelG., I failed to notice that you gave a link to an article on the diatomist Hardman - thought it was a tag line URL I guess. Thank you, it's most interesting! And in it, there's one ...
- Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:18 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Antique Diatom Arrangement
- Replies: 12
- Views: 534
Re: Antique Diatom Arrangement
Many thanks for the kind words, all!
75RR, my apologies for the misspelling, and thanks for the correction.
75RR, my apologies for the misspelling, and thanks for the correction.

- Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:59 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Antique Diatom Arrangement
- Replies: 12
- Views: 534
Re: Antique Diatom Arrangement
And one more, through the Nikon plan 100x/1.25
- Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:58 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Antique Diatom Arrangement
- Replies: 12
- Views: 534
Antique Diatom Arrangement
Though I check in pretty much daily, I haven't participated in this forum a lot lately so thought I'd offer the results of a little mini-project that kept me amused on a recent rainy day. It started with an antique diatom slide that I won in an auction on you-know-where, which I am told is "by Hardm...
- Sun Jan 03, 2021 3:10 am
- Forum: Beginner's corner
- Topic: AO compound: model, year, repair ideas?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 575
Re: AO compound: model, year, repair ideas?
Yes, that's a very decent scope, especially for the price. It even has a POL turret intermediate tube (between the stand arm and bino head), which will be super nice once you discover the joys of simple polarization. If you desire to keep and use this scope for the usual pond water type of stuff, ge...
- Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:30 am
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Use of oil immersion objective with live samples
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1004
Re: Use of oil immersion objective with live samples
Easier in that there's much more cover slip to work with, so you get a bigger target area.
- Fri Dec 18, 2020 12:47 am
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Use of oil immersion objective with live samples
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1004
Re: Use of oil immersion objective with live samples
For those who do lots of wet mounts, try using 22 x 50 mm cover slips. The greatly increased area makes using immersion oil easier, and reduces sample dry-out.
- Wed Dec 09, 2020 12:41 am
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: The Importance of Proper Slide Storage
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2201
Re: The Importance of Proper Slide Storage
Generally, the less distance between cover slip and specimen the better. But, as you point out, not always. Thanks for making this post a little more useful.
- Tue Dec 08, 2020 12:25 am
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Slide storage drawer cabinets. BAD IDEA!
- Replies: 7
- Views: 614
- Tue Nov 10, 2020 2:21 am
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Slide labels
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1113
Re: Slide labels
I use a Brother QL-570 label printer and 1"x1" labels that I snagged on eBay for a reasonable price.
See: viewtopic.php?p=26613#p26613
See: viewtopic.php?p=26613#p26613
- Sat Oct 31, 2020 1:29 am
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Yet another DIY slide ringing table
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1244
Re: Yet another DIY slide ringing table
Here in the USA, I have tried quite a few ringing cements looking for that perfect one that will play well with Pleurax mounts (diatoms), and glycerin jelly mounts (pollen), and ended up calling Testor's black enamel the best of the bunch. It's a hobby paint most commonly known for dolling up plasti...
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:23 am
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Yet another DIY slide ringing table
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1244
Re: Yet another DIY slide ringing table
Cool! What are you using for "ringing cement", and how is it working for you?
- Sun Aug 23, 2020 12:52 am
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: New Diatom Project
- Replies: 64
- Views: 8301
Re: New Diatom Project
Thanks, Charles. I've seen those (exceedingly nice!) videos and will be watching them again. Your written description is also helpful, and very much appreciated.
- Sun Aug 23, 2020 12:38 am
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Actinocyclus octonarius
- Replies: 5
- Views: 772
Re: Actinocyclus octonarius
Yes, lovely! Nothing pretty as a living diatom shot...
- Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:01 am
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: New Diatom Project
- Replies: 64
- Views: 8301
Re: New Diatom Project
Very nice! One thing I've been wondering is how you get diatoms to 'release' from the needle onto the storage slide. Can't be using adhesive, because then you can't get 'em back off?
Sorry to hear you got hammered by the hurricane, looks like it may be our turn now. And the shed, that sucks.
Sorry to hear you got hammered by the hurricane, looks like it may be our turn now. And the shed, that sucks.
- Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:54 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Pleurosigma angulatum + salt crystals
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1387
Re: Pleurosigma + salt crystals
A lovely image of a lovely diatom!
- Sun Aug 16, 2020 4:30 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
PeteM, thanks ... for me it's one microscope that's as much fun to look at, as look through. Hobbyst46, great question, thanks. I thought it might be an improvement in the 'feel' of the stage, as the original one (now on the Olympus) has an exceedingly 'free and easy' feel, as though it is lubed wit...
- Sat Aug 15, 2020 11:14 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
That would never have worked for me here, it kept jamming and actually took quite a bit of effort to get it going again. A couple times I wondered if I'd ever get it apart, it was that bad. I made a spanner out of a pair picks and a small hand screw type clamp, which was a bit clumsy but certainly d...
- Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:47 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
That explains why the two holes opposite each other. Now, how to kludge up a spanner to turn that ring?
Whoops never mind I got it.
Whoops never mind I got it.
- Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:21 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
Oh really ... it just threads out? Like a big screw? As in, "rightsy tightsy, lefty loosey"?
What do I need to know in order to prevent a ball bearing stampede?
What do I need to know in order to prevent a ball bearing stampede?

- Sat Aug 15, 2020 6:06 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
Okay, I have disassembled to the point where the basic rotating part casting has nothing attached to it anymore, except the two rings. One ring, the innermost one, is fixed to this casting; the outer ring is the one which wants to rotate, but it being prevented from doing so by some obstruction. Rem...
- Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:56 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
I have removed the brake, it isn't the problem. Dry lube is definitely not the problem -- this stage has been taken apart, cleaned, and re-lubed recently and there's ample evidence of it everywhere. The interface between the white and brass rings doesn't need any more oil, it already has too much if...
- Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:49 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Re: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
No, that's not it. In the picture below, I have removed the stage proper from its quick-release fixture -- which I should have done in the first place, my apologies, I've forgotten how all this stuff works. So ... There are now what appears to be three rings; the outer two are actually one assembly,...
- Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:44 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2409
Zeiss Rotating Stage - Need Help
Greetings all: I just obtained another Zeiss rotating stage to replace the one I stole from my WL stand to graft onto my Olympus BHS BH-2. I didn't get an exact replacement, however; the 'new' one came from a 'Photomic', I am told. The problem is I cannot figure out how to get this one free to rotat...
- Thu Aug 13, 2020 12:09 am
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Synedra fulgens
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1371
Re: Synedra fulgens
Nice girdle views! I believe the 'small triangular diatom' is of the genus Limorpha.
- Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:41 pm
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: Attempts at Diatom Arranging
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1825
Re: Attempts at Diatom Arranging
Doron & Bob: Although definitely a Pleurax fan, I'm not attempting to use it for this purpose. I have export version Naphrax from Brunel UK and Toluene for this work. However ... forum member keithstout and I have been discussing possibilities of modifying the Pleurax curing progression, and he is c...
- Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:30 am
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: Attempts at Diatom Arranging
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1825
Attempts at Diatom Arranging
Greetings, all: One of the things I have been dabbling around with off and on for the past few years is becoming proficient at micromanipulating diatoms, for the purpose of making strews that are free of detritus, creating type slides, and possibly arranged slides. A few days ago I was practicing mo...