Removing bubbles from whole insect slide preparation

[AntoniScott]

I've been plagued with bubbles in my slide preoarations of insect whole mounts. It always happens when I seem to have prepared an excellent slide. Invariably, the specimin will have bubbles that spoil the overall appearance. Although in most cases the bubbles do not interfere with what I am trying to show, personally I think it makes them look unprofessional. A friend of mine, Levinson, who is interested in using resin, learned that heating the sample with a heat source such as a hair dryer (I use a soldering iron) with temporarily remelt the resin and the heat expands the air bubble causing it to migrate to the melted portion of the resin/mountant. So far this is the best method I have come across to get rid of these annoying bubbles. I'm calling it the "Levinson Method". Hope this helps.

Part 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xrHtH_daXM

Part 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr-G6IiGstw

[BramHuntingNematodes]

This is the method used for removing bubbles in epoxy surfacing of furniture also, although the heat from a propane torch could conceivably damage the sample and slide quite easily, gentle warming seems logical. I have a copy of the Sanderson text in the mail and will look to see if he has anything to say on the subject when it arrives.