Search found 160 matches

by DaveH
Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:20 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: My shiny new website - mrsonchus
Replies: 37
Views: 14461

Re: My shiny new website - mrsonchus

Very nice JohnB, I will look forward to watching it grow.
Good luck with your new venture.

Dave
by DaveH
Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:08 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Doing Diatoms
Replies: 492
Views: 4860932

Re: Doing Diatoms

I would like to thank the OP and all who have posted in this fantastic thread. And after that, I want to know how one scrubs the insides of Erlenmeyer flasks clean... For cleaning odd shaped bottles that have gone green with water samples in them I have always used a handful of sharp sand, half fill...
by DaveH
Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:10 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Diatoms in the Mail
Replies: 33
Views: 7518

Re: Diatoms in the Mail

Great images I don't mind the CA I think it adds an interesting feature, not so good for e purest though, great work by Kurt really nice slides.

Dave
by DaveH
Sat Apr 16, 2016 8:09 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Keeping ant colony and viewing them live with scope
Replies: 10
Views: 5111

Re: Keeping ant colony and viewing them live with scope

Like most things in life it starts off simple and then you realise haw complex it really is and it takes your life and your home over.

Dave
by DaveH
Sat Apr 16, 2016 6:01 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Keeping ant colony and viewing them live with scope
Replies: 10
Views: 5111

Re: Keeping ant colony and viewing them live with scope

Hi the ants lived in garden soil when we collected them, it took a week or two for them to settle in and we kept them most of the summer, one day one of the pipes got knocked of and they escaped by then the novelty was factor had gone so we never started it up again, but we did keep the ants for 3 o...
by DaveH
Sat Apr 16, 2016 9:10 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Keeping ant colony and viewing them live with scope
Replies: 10
Views: 5111

Re: Keeping ant colony and viewing them live with scope

Hi we kept a few ants back in the early 80s, one of our children received an ant house for there birthday it was like this one http://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Milton-U0015-Ant-Farm/dp/B0000632R8 I admit it was only a toy but we set it up with some ants from the garden and after they got over the shock t...
by DaveH
Mon Apr 11, 2016 9:47 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: NPM for animal tissue
Replies: 11
Views: 9436

Re: NPM for animal tissue

Anyone has tried to nail polish on stained animal tissues eg.(retina, muscles, etc.) with the mountant. I need to find affordable clearing and mounting resources with shipping to Canada. Any suggestions of tip are useful, thanks. Hi I have had no luck with nail polish, I've tried it a few times and...
by DaveH
Sun Apr 10, 2016 6:34 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: An improved double-embedding technique, finally!
Replies: 6
Views: 3672

Re: An improved double-embedding technique, finally!

Superb as usual, great images.

Dave
by DaveH
Sun Apr 10, 2016 6:26 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: What to do with an old micrometer?
Replies: 16
Views: 9523

Re: What to do with an old micrometer?

Hi I'm in danger of going way of topic, when it comes to cutting sections I'm not your man, there are other members on here that consistently post images of what I can only describe as perfect sections maybe they can join in and give some advice. I can't see any difference between using a traditiona...
by DaveH
Sun Apr 10, 2016 9:00 am
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: What to do with an old micrometer?
Replies: 16
Views: 9523

Re: What to do with an old micrometer?

Has anyone tried a Rolls blade on a 'tome? Looking at the one I have under a stereo, the edge doesn't look particularly good to me. My "strop" is dry though. The advce on what to put on it, is rather random. Hi if you want to sort your Rolls out then have a look at this link. http://theshaveden.com...
by DaveH
Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:43 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: How to fix and preserve baby brine shrimp / pond sample ?
Replies: 9
Views: 5095

Re: How to fix and preserve baby brine shrimp / pond sample ?

Hi I have read that one person mounts live Daphina in glycerin jelly and the antiseptic in the mount preserves the Daphina, I'll give it go in the next 2 or 3 weeks.

Dave
by DaveH
Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:37 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: What to do with an old micrometer?
Replies: 16
Views: 9523

Re: What to do with an old micrometer?

Very good ... now go to the grocery or drug store and buy some old fashioned doubled-edged "safety razors", which, believe it or not, are still commonly available (would anybody really shave with those diabolical things in today's world?). Carefully fold one in half lengthwise, and it'll snap in tw...
by DaveH
Mon Mar 28, 2016 11:38 am
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Greetings from Surrey. UK
Replies: 13
Views: 7206

Re: Greetings from Surrey. UK

Hi Interference I'm in UK as well, I just bounce around the edge of the hobby and have done for a number of years. I have found that you can do a lot with very little my lab fits in a flight case.
I am sure you will enjoy and have a lot of fun with this hobby.

Dave
by DaveH
Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:36 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making first permanent slide
Replies: 34
Views: 17857

Re: making first permanent slide

Wow, this is really starting to sound so complicated (for a beginner) to comprehend. My son just wanted to make various plant cross-section samples (with his new microtome), maybe insects and other things of interest. The company I got the balsam from only said to add a drop with a disposable pipet...
by DaveH
Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:19 am
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Glass stage plate replacement: builder needed
Replies: 6
Views: 4613

Re: Glass stage plate replacement: builder needed

If all else fails have a look in the hardware stores, over here in the UK they sell chopping boards for the kitchen made of HDPE. I have used these over the years for various projects, they are easy to work and will take a thread but you have to be careful not to over tighten as its plastic.

Dave
by DaveH
Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:36 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts
Replies: 18
Views: 8205

Re: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts

KurtM wrote:If you try it on diatom slides, I sure hope you let us know how you get on.
I will do, nothing happens in a hurry this end of the world I don't get much spare time and only fumble around the edges of the hobby, but I am planning to have a go at diatoms in the summer.

Dave
by DaveH
Mon Feb 22, 2016 10:27 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making first permanent slide
Replies: 34
Views: 17857

Re: making first permanent slide

Hi njitgrad, I use an excellent Canada-Balsam replacement that is permanent and also used I believe by the British Natural History Museum for their collections. It's called 'Numount' and is superb for both clarity and permanence. It's solvent is a 'limone' based solvent (made from the oil from the ...
by DaveH
Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:12 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts
Replies: 18
Views: 8205

Re: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts

Dave, just gotta to say THANKS for posting this thread. I ended up buying a couple different brands of UV cure adhesives to play with, one of which was advertised (and positively reviewed) for fixing busted phone screens Hi no need to thank me, but it is nice when a snippet of information is useful...
by DaveH
Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:31 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts
Replies: 18
Views: 8205

Re: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts

What I have been using is the dollar store special.. This bottle is marked: "Love My Nails"....?? BillT I think with nail polish is probably down to quality I have tried nail polish from the pound shop and it almost disappears, back in the 1950s one coat was all the girls used to use these days wit...
by DaveH
Sun Feb 21, 2016 11:09 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Good Prepared Slides as examples of water life AND pros and cons of concave slides?
Replies: 21
Views: 9167

Re: Good Prepared Slides as examples of water life AND pros and cons of concave slides?

Hi I use well slides for looking at water from the bird bath, they are a quick simple way of looking at water, everyone should have 1 or 2 or maybe more. The down side is both the size and thickness of the sample, the faster moving life can be hard to follow with all but the 4x and at high powers th...
by DaveH
Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:24 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making first permanent slide
Replies: 34
Views: 17857

Re: making first permanent slide

Will this glass rod work for my purposes? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009R8AZXI?keywords=glass%20stirring%20rod&qid=1455915206&ref_=sr_1_6&sr=8-6 Or should I just use disposable pipettes? That glass rod will work, I use any thing I can lay my hands on at the time, cocktail stick, back end of ...
by DaveH
Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:12 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making first permanent slide
Replies: 34
Views: 17857

Re: making first permanent slide

billbillt wrote:Hi Dave,

Thanks for the link!..
BillT
Thanks half a lifetime of reading but it's all tap rate information.

Dave
by DaveH
Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:08 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making first permanent slide
Replies: 34
Views: 17857

Re: making first permanent slide

Will this glass rod work for my purposes? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009R8AZXI?keywords=glass%20stirring%20rod&qid=1455915206&ref_=sr_1_6&sr=8-6 Or should I just use disposable pipettes? That glass rod will work, I use any thing I can lay my hands on at the time, cocktail stick, back end of ...
by DaveH
Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:02 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making first permanent slide
Replies: 34
Views: 17857

Re: making first permanent slide

Hi as this thread seems a bit slow I thought I would throw my 2 pence worth in, I am by no means an expert but have made a number of permanent slides over the years ranging from perfect examples of how not to do it to slides that are still perfect over 10 years later. Making permanent slides is not ...
by DaveH
Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:41 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Most Online 3 Feb 16
Replies: 5
Views: 3629

Re: Most Online 3 Feb 16

I don't know I missed it too :oops:
by DaveH
Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:55 am
Forum: Resources (online, books etc.)
Topic: Excellent 'Pie-Chart' of diversity of arthropods which are in our homes!
Replies: 4
Views: 3823

Re: Excellent 'Pie-Chart' of diversity of arthropods which are in our homes!

Nice find looks like thers a lifetime of study without from the room I'm sitting in, I like the pie chart to.

Dave
by DaveH
Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:41 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts
Replies: 18
Views: 8205

Re: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts

like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOCA-UV-Glue-Liquid-Optical-Clear-Adhesive-for-Cellphone-Glass-Lens-LCD-Repair-/191546067458?var=&hash=item2c99090a02:m:mXzIc4B_Jp8pMqCIlBCBmFw I can't see why this wouldn't be perfect, as all things are not equal the Loctite product was thinner and quicker then t...
by DaveH
Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:43 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts
Replies: 18
Views: 8205

Re: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts

mrsonchus wrote:Nice demo Dave, the UV resin is a great choice for such mounts as it's really tolerant of a simple alcohol-dehydration. Perfect for a quick pollen mount! :)

Thank you it was Oliver's comment on looking for a cheap quick mount that prompted me to have another look at uv.

Dave
by DaveH
Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:21 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts
Replies: 18
Views: 8205

Using Uv Adhesive for Permanent Mounts

Back in 2006 I bumped into an article on using Locktite Glassbond as a permanent mounting medium, as I had used this product in the past to re fix a rear view mirror on the windscreen of a car it seemed an attractive option. Available at the time from most hardware and car shops, I made a number of ...
by DaveH
Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:47 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: and another one from the UK! ;-)
Replies: 18
Views: 8696

Re: and another one from the UK! ;-)

billbillt wrote:Tell your wife that you view buying more purses and shoes as a "passing fad"!.. LOL..

BillT
Ha Ha I'll second that.

Dave