Search found 67 matches

by MikeA
Tue Jun 05, 2018 1:02 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Help Needed with Stuck Field Iris
Replies: 19
Views: 8870

Re: Help Needed with Stuck Field Iris

Hello! Hoping to address your comments in order: The mirror is glued (epoxy or the equivalent from 60 - 70 years ago) to a metal pedestal that is attached to the base with machine screws. In many years of shipping/receiving Orthoplans I have never seen a mirror come loose in shipment. In the event y...
by MikeA
Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:28 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Leitz Orthoplan
Replies: 14
Views: 7415

Re: Leitz Orthoplan

Wow! I just got done writing a response to your questions about the field diaphragm being frozen and suggested you would perhaps be better off returning the Orthoplan, but now I read you ended up buying the Universal as well! I would agree with Charles comment it would be nice to have two of the 'bi...
by MikeA
Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:40 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Help Needed with Stuck Field Iris
Replies: 19
Views: 8870

Re: Help Needed with Stuck Field Iris

Hello, Reading this and your other post it appears there are a number of major problems with that Orthoplan; The mirror is loose from its mount in the base. The field iris is frozen The coarse focus is stiff, if not frozen The optics are dirty if not missing The condenser centering screws are not fu...
by MikeA
Wed May 30, 2018 1:20 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Leitz Orthoplan
Replies: 14
Views: 7415

Re: Leitz Orthoplan

Hello! It appears to me you are well started to having an excellent microscope, but you will need to add a number of things and which ones will be dependent on what you want to do with it. The condenser appears to be a standard BF condenser, probably a 601 with 0.90 NA, the basic unit. The headpiece...
by MikeA
Tue May 29, 2018 6:43 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Leitz Orthoplan
Replies: 14
Views: 7415

Re: Leitz Orthoplan

Sorry I'm a bit late replying to this message - been away doing one or another thing and it seems I am always trying to catch up! I have a reasonable amount of experience with Orthoplans, currently have four full stands as well as had a number of others and most of the accessories. You might take a ...
by MikeA
Sat May 19, 2018 10:27 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello All, Spring has finally (!) arrived in NE Ohio and the young plants are popping up everywhere. I have harvested a number of samples that are held 50 ml bottles of FAA in the refrigerator at ~4°C, so ready to progress to next steps. In searching for alternatives to the hard to obtain/pricey mat...
by MikeA
Sun Apr 22, 2018 4:23 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, As usual, good thoughts re the hardwood and simple enough to make - pretty sure I have some red oak in the garage and it would be an ideal candidate. Found a source for those moulds, or at least maybe found a source - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tissue-Embedding-and-Processing-Cassettes-Bas...
by MikeA
Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:25 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Just a couple of thoughts - perhaps the reason those other sites recommended the refrigerated FAA is to lower the tissue damage when the sample is first cut - just a guess on my part, but cannot think of anything else. Also on the mounting blocks - think I will just machine some from UHD...
by MikeA
Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:20 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John B, With my earlier, rather Heath Robinson'ish efforts were surprisingly workable, even considering I used some paraffin from candles that had accumulated from who-knows-where and the fixation/infiltration/etc./etc. was catch-as-catch-can, the results were not horrible! With your guidance ...
by MikeA
Sat Apr 21, 2018 6:37 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Yes, I thought it a bit pricey but guess it is 'supply and demand'! Here are some photos of the specimen holders in both of the microtomes - as you can see there is the remains of one of my very early attempts from perhaps 12 years or more ago using my venerable AO820. Both it and the Le...
by MikeA
Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:47 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Thanks for the quick response. Afraid your local supplier has some rather expensive shipping costs! For 6 of the few sizes he has in stock, the item cost is $14.62 but the shipping is >$47 - Yikes :shock: He may be the 'only game in town' and seems to be doing well with his business - I ...
by MikeA
Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:15 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Progressing but ever so slowly - I have printed out those specific posts and lots of information but also have run smack into a dilemma - Histoclear! Not sure what the supply situation is in the UK for this material, but not to put too fine a point on it - here in the USA it sucks! We a...
by MikeA
Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:14 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello Hobbyst46,

I certainly respect your positions.
by MikeA
Sat Apr 21, 2018 2:45 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello JohnB, Again, do not know how to thank you for sharing your hard-earned information; I have no doubt it will short cut the rather steep learning curve dramatically and help me expand my enjoyment of this hobby! About the only downside is my having to order more ink cartridges for my printer - ...
by MikeA
Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:40 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Progressing but ever so slowly - I have printed out those specific posts and lots of information but also have run smack into a dilemma - Histoclear! Not sure what the supply situation is in the UK for this material, but not to put too fine a point on it - here in the USA it sucks! We ar...
by MikeA
Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:53 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models
Replies: 22
Views: 10482

Re: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models

Hello Hobbyst46, (tough name to remember!) True, the fluorescence lenses are specifically geared to various bandwidths of light, and all require UV to function in that use, and as you point out, they can be used for all other forms of illumination, but the added benefit is these are Phase Contrast -...
by MikeA
Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:23 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models
Replies: 22
Views: 10482

Re: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models

Whew! At this point I bet your head is spinning with all the input, and opinions you have received. Lots of good stuff and you need to think about all that has been offered, but ultimately the choice is up to you and yes, buying from evilBay always carries a risk so you need to ensure you have the r...
by MikeA
Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:49 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Thanks for getting back to me and confirming I do not need to take such small samples - I admit my tendency in the past was to go the other way and take HUGE samples that were way too big when it came to trying to do thin sections. Had to laugh just a bit at your first photo that include...
by MikeA
Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:13 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

and yet another...

Where did you find those embedding moulds? I have looked everywhere (even Amazon!) and come up empty. Guess I could get by with something else.
by MikeA
Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:58 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, I am about to embark on a sample collecting mission, armed with chilled aliquots of FAA and hoping to find some new shoots under the fresh blanket of snow that fell last night! :o Winter is hanging on well past its 'sell by' date here in NE Ohio. Yet another question - according to the p...
by MikeA
Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:20 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models
Replies: 22
Views: 10482

Re: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models

Hello Technicolor, Addressing some of your comments/points in no particular order: I very much doubt you will see any snarky/snide/negative comments on this forum - just not their style! 160 vs. 170 TL - you are correct, these can be used on the same microscope as long as they are 10X or above; the ...
by MikeA
Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:11 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: One for the wall
Replies: 7
Views: 3492

Re: One for the wall

Hello Jim, Would have fooled me! As you probably know, pol crystal shots are something of a 'pig in a poke' - you never can be sure what you will get even using the same materials and what you believe is identical procedure. Hate to belabor it, but what ROH did you use? I have IPA, EtOH, and denatur...
by MikeA
Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:46 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: One for the wall
Replies: 7
Views: 3492

Re: One for the wall

Hello Radazz,

Have to agree - beautiful image and deserves to be shown off! Appears to be a very soft feather or similar with very subtle colors.

Really like it!
by MikeA
Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:05 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models
Replies: 22
Views: 10482

Re: First time buyer - looking for benefits and pitfalls of various models

Hello! From my first reading of your post (and the subsequent reply) it certainly seems you are doing this in the correct manner - not falling for the '2,000X' BS that some of the new, relatively inexpensive makers claim. No question, there is a new language to be learned just to understand microsco...
by MikeA
Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:34 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Are you sorry you told me to ask questions yet? :shock: Thanks for the info, and yes, paraffin waxes are all over the board as to which hydrocarbons they consist of - I have a supply of Paraplast that I will be using for my embedding as I understand it does not have many of the problems ...
by MikeA
Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:37 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, Thought you would find this interesting - looking in an older book 'Plant Microtechniques' by Donald alexander Johansen published in 1940, there is a section on reagents where he comments, "Isopropyl Alcohol.—This alcohol may be substituted for ethyl alcohol, except in killing fluids, wi...
by MikeA
Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:05 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John, OK - just finished making up 1/2 liter per that formula and hoping to start collecting some samples soon! One question - in checking on Ruzin's Acid fixative FAA, I see he specifies EtOH rather than IPA - is there a specific reason for the substitution? I am sure your method has worked a...
by MikeA
Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:37 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello Rick,

Hmmm... interesting! I will need to do some research on that but it may just do the trick. I am in pretty good shape with metalworking - have both lathe and several mills plus all the ancillary tools. Certainly cobbling together a crank is nothing.

Thanks,
Mike
by MikeA
Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:29 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

OH! One more thing - where did you find those sample cassettes to hold the samples as they go through the various solutions?

Thanks,
Mike
by MikeA
Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:24 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides
Replies: 66
Views: 31328

Re: Perennial milk-weed - rust-fungus slides

Hello John B, Oh how you may regret that invitation! I am thinking of grabbing some samples of some young shoots that are just starting to show above ground, but need to know what fixative I can use and how long can the samples stay in the fixative. Assuming I will need to use FAA for plant life, bu...