MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

I would like to know if somebody tried to make a spacer out of metal washer and flat rubber o-ring.

Let me know your ideas/results.

If you intend to make well slides they would work. However I would use nylon washers, (available at the big box), and forgo the metal and o-rings. The nylon work very well.
If you are wanting spacers, you could use broken cover slips, a drop of super glue spaced to roughly match to the corners of your cover slip, or petroleum jelly. The petroleum jelly (vaseline) could also be used to form a temporary well.

NYLON WASHERS WORK GREAT..I USE LOCTITE GO 2 GLUE TO HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER..

Wow!
This is the very replies I need.
I can't wait to try it on my own.

Thanks!

Kevin,
I've used small o-rings and circular cover slips attached with clear nail polish:

Hi together,
as long as the specimen is close to the cover slip it will be fine for the objective. But what about the condenser? It is calculated for usual slide thickness and won't work offer optimal illumination when you increase the distance between condenser front lens and specimen this much. A slide that needs such a thick spacer won't give a good image anyway.

Bob

These type slides are an alternative to a well slide Bob, not intended for permanent mounts. The idea of using a cover slip with them could slow water evaporation but normally they're used without one. With some protists moving constantly in and out of focus a "poor image" becomes somewhat a moot point for the ocassion. It's a matter of give and take. With these slides, the observer gains more time to observe before evaporation and gives up some image quality. As for the condenser, mine always sets at a point allowing a bit of up and down movement but as quickly as the protist moves it is useless to adjust it.

I LOVE IT FOR THICK TEXTURED ITEMS. I have always loved looking through things like scotchbright paper towels, felt, cloth fibers, ect..very 3d. or drop full tiny bugs in...sand... salt. sugar

The slides in my images are for things like crystals or sand grains and similar items to view under low power with DF or polarized light or under my cheap stereo 'scope. After having made the slide, I just can't bear throwing it away!

I have done that a lot. I have even used garden hose washers to be able to mount and store thick specimens for my stereo scope. One hint is to make certain the outside diameter of the ring matches the diameter of a circular cover slip.
Good luck.
Greg