MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

I have no idea how well it will last, but I used some of this recently : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352536006635 and it appears to do the job nicely. MichaelG. I ordered some of this grease a few weeks ago. It seems to have taken an age to arrive but finally turned up today. It has a heavy and very...

I think I have managed to repair it! I had to wait a little while for the fine drill bits to arrive. I then had to order a chuck adaptor to hold them! I started by filing down the rough edge where the original handle had broken off. I then set about drilling the hole. I seemed too risky to drill in ...

I dismantled the stand and gained access to the fine focus mechanism. It looks like some adjustment has been made to the position of the fine focus mechanism by filing and elongating the holes in the brass mounting plate in order to bring forward the mechanism towards the shaft. This ad hoc adjustme...

I must admit I hadn't tried that. However, having just given it a go, it seems that the knobs will not move in opposite directions to each other. Only the fine adjustment knobs seem to do that. I mentioned previously that there is no shim in place, but closer inspection shows that there is, in fact,...

A couple of days ago I chanced upon an article on Microscopy-Uk that described the effects of using the wrong grease and the importance of using the correct lubricants to get the correct effect and "feel" of the controls, so I rather suspect the latter. It also mentioned a tightening adjustment hid...

Well that seems to have cleaned up OK. Phew! Each blade of the diaphragm had to be cleaned individually and re-assembled. It was the only way to guarantee that all of the gunge was removed. It moves a lot easier now, but I think the connecting ring will need some lubrication to make it operate smoot...

Thank you. Graphite makes sense as it doesn't gunge up over time. There is oil residue present on the diaphragm which will need to be rinsed off with white spirit or IPA perhaps.

Interesting idea regarding the drill bit. I will have to find something with a small enough diameter.

Thank you for the annotations which were helpful. I see that removing the small plate that is stamped with the model number and branding allows the arm to be removed from the base. AFAIKT, the gears and teeth are fine and all retaining screws are tight, so it seems there is no scope for adjustment. ...

My recent acquisition, a LOMO MƂP-1E appears to have a problem with its stand. The stand gradually sinks under its own weight making focusing all but impossible unless one holds on to the course focus knob. During its history, someone has added an improvised lock nut (a bolt with a rubber foot pushe...

BTW, does anyone know what type of lubricant should be used on the condenser aperture and rings? The 'stuff' on them is quite a thick gunge, making the rotation of the ring difficult. One wonders whether this maybe led to metal fatigue and eventual failure of the lever, although most likely it got b...

Thank you for the suggestions. I guess it would probably require an expert in metals. The thickness of that part is probably no more than about 3mm so it would require a jewellers precision to tap any holes for tiny screws. I could try brazing, although I have reservations as to whether anything wil...

I recently purchased a lot that included a Lomo Kf-4 Phase contrast condenser. Unfortunately the condenser is damaged. The small lever that operates the diaphragm is broken off and missing. Is there any way to repair the broken part? Can the part be replaced? It seems to be made from some sort of di...

Not too many of it's ilk have a dovetailed nosepiece or rotating stage. Lomo objectives are easy to find cheaply and sets could be assembled in several nosepieces for very low cost. Water immersion, apochromat, pol. With a binocular head and 18mm eyepieces it could be a quality versatile scope with...

A little bit of Googling seems to indicate that the condenser is a Lomo Kf-4 Phase contrast condenser. Doesn't phase contrast require special objectives? Its a real shame that the lever is broken off! I will, of course, be doing further research on that focusing mechanism as well as regarding optica...

Some more pics including a close-up of the improvised knob I was referring to. It is made from a bold with a hexagonal head with a rubber foot pushed onto it. The alignment marks seem to suggest that someone in possession of suitable milling equipment has added the three holes. My other LOMO stand d...

The microscope kit I bid one arrived today. There are some issues which I need help on so I have started a separate thread. https://www.microbehunter.com/microscopy-forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=15161 The binocular head looks in good order and just needs a clean and a second K10x eyepiece. The illumina...

My second LOMO microscope has just arrived! I had originally bid on the lot because I was looking for the accessories that came with it, particularly the binocular head and illuminator with power supply. This 1E was a bonus and is somewhat different from my first LOMO MƂP-1 microscope in several res...

Thank you LomoBen for the link to the video by MicrobeHunter. So Köhler illumination is about producing an even field of light and reducing glare by directing light only to where it is needed. I see there are quite a few other videos by MicrobeHunter on various microscopy topics which I will be havi...

I have come to realise that the original Russian bulb for the OI-19 is a low voltage bulb rated a 8V/20W. I initially thought it was mains rated! In that case, the sewing machine bulb I referred to earlier would DEFINITELY NOT be a suitable substitute. It is unlikely that the lamp and its components...

On closer inspection of the condenser that fits into the bottom of the lamp, and which I have just cleaned, I discovered that it has a diaphragm. This can be adjusted by means of a lever, I presume, to control the level of emitted light. I expect one would have to start from stopped down and gradual...

Hi Amoeba, with which name can we adress you? Sorry, my name is John. Congratulations to your second microscope, it gives you a lot of parts for acceptable money! It was a 'house clearance' lot that I chanced upon while browsing for other LOMO items. It contained the items I was looking for and had...

Thank you for the link which I will take a look at. In the meantime,the fitting seems to be B15 so I was wondering whether as a direct replacement one of these might work as a quick and dirty drop-in replacement? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272969921871?hash=item3f8e46754f NO! THIS IS NOT A SUITABLE ...

Well I managed to release the faulty bulb! It turns out that the aluminium piece that fits into the lamp barrel has to be rotated and slackened off the lamp holder before the bulb can be removed. The penetrating fluid may have helped the inner and outer metal pieces to come apart. An interesting arr...

The OI-19 lamp arrived today. Unfortunately there is a problem. I was aware the cable had been cut off, but it otherwise appeared complete with a condenser of some sort but the listing did not mention that the bulb is jammed solid in the holder! I can't shift it at all. I appreciate everyone's comme...

Thank you LomoBen for your comment. I know what you mean about the grease. Two of the three thumb screws that adjust the position of the table were almost seized when I fist got it. I say almost, because with the help of some penetrating oil I was gradually able to move them. Eventually I was able t...

Not too many of it's ilk have a dovetailed nosepiece or rotating stage. Lomo objectives are easy to find cheaply and sets could be assembled in several nosepieces for very low cost. Water immersion, apochromat, pol. With a binocular head and 18mm eyepieces it could be a quality versatile scope with...

I purchased this MƂP-1 maybe a couple or more years ago now. It came in a neat wooden case with a number of objectives for just £30, although I had drive a little way to collect it. I have enjoyed using it to explore soil samples and other items but one of the things that I found awkward was getting...

My slides arrived the other day, but at least 4 were broken. Also no covers despite the listing saying that they are included. I guess I will have to wait a while longer before I can start observing in earnest.... I have also ordered some plastic petri dishes and some pipettes. Still to order the me...

I use disposable plastic pipettes, since the tips of glass "Pasteur pipettes" are fragile. I clean and reuse the disposable pipettes, many times. They are made of inert plastic, tolerate many cleaning chemicals - but neither strong oxidative acids nor heat. Thanks you. I guess fragility (and safety...

No, the cover slip thickness does not appear to be mentioned on any of the objectives. The C.Baker has 1/6 x40 NA 0.7 written on it. The prior has 1/6 N.A. .70 x42. When someone mentioned about the objectives being parafocal, I had a look and picked up a Lomo x40 on eBay for £11. It arrived just a f...