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Cover for microscopes

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 12:33 am
by einman
Ok. I just purchased a box of new ZIPloc bags XL. They sell for $6.95 for 4 bags.
They are perfect for inverted scopes. Maybe a little large for regular compound but they have smaller sizes.
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Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 2:34 pm
by gekko
I am partial to the cover that your wife made for you. I like covers that breathe.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 2:47 pm
by einman
I do as well. However, I have a lot of animal hair in my lab given the number of cats etc. that come and go. So until I get better covers these will work. They can "breathe" as they are not open at the bottom and you can always add small holes.

This is the economical approach.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 2:59 pm
by Charles
I have lots of plastic bags which I use for mine but prefer the nylon breathable covers like what Zeiss makes. I also like what your wife makes. Would she make some for me in nylon for some of my Zeiss Standards, which would be about the size of the AO 110? Of course I would pay for them. She could make some money off that expensive sewing machine she has. :)

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 3:29 pm
by einman
I just asked her to make me some covers for my inverteds. I will speak to her about making covers for members. She would have to find the nylon material.

Any preference on colors? Leave it to her and you'll get the brightest she can find.

I prefer blue or gray.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 5:09 pm
by Charles
I also have the Zeiss 405 inverted and a couple of Universals which need covers. My choice would also be blue or grey, but I'm not objectionable with different colors either. Any material which is lint free and breathes would be fine. Rip stop nylon or some other polyesters fabric would probably be ideal.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 7:12 pm
by charlie g
Nifty covers for the large footprint stand, einman. I add two elements: clear plasstic cups (tiny cups which just seat over the ocular ports...cups which never contact the ocular lens faces)...and when the stand not being used and idle elsewhere on the bench: a huge rubber band to snug the 'dust cover' close to the base. I'm a big fan of huge rubber bands to snug dust covers to the stands...very low tension..not high tension bands.

My Nikon Labophot came with a vinyl 'dust cover'...as did a lot of my branded stands ( Richert/Austria, Biozet, Steindorf/Berlin trinoc, Olympus/Tokyo CKa inverted stand, etc..)...and then Mel Sobel Microscopes ( a now defunct firm, was Hicksville,NY)...well Mel Sobel gave me the nylon breathable dust covers on two stands I had serviced by that firm.

In down state NY, and now in finger lakes NY, I've never had issues with either vinyl dust covers...or quality plastic bags I have on so many aquired stands...in my cluttered study I never sensed need for 'breathable dust covers'...but like einman...dust, lint, and dander are my 'harpie foes'...thus the plastic cups over unused oculars...and a compulsive use of a rubber air-bulb when at the bench. all the best, charlie guevara

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:07 pm
by einman
Breathable material is, based on my research, a preference rather than a real need. The development of fungus is predicated on the lack of light and high humidity which was an issue with the old microscope boxes. That is not the case with vinyl covers that allow light and air circulation in an around the scope. Nearly every manufacturer supplied vinyl covers on the cheaper stands and nylon on the more expensive.

However, I too prefer the nylon/polyester covers for appearance etc. Typically they are just too expensive to purchase for all my stands. Though my wife just purchased some rip stock nylon and will be making covers for my stands. Depending on time and cost she may offer to make covers for anyone on the forum that wants them. By time I mean time involved plus cost of material = $$$. If she can't offer them for a reasonable price then I won't encourage her.

I purchased all my Leica covers for $12/each earlier in the year. She will not be able to match that price given the cost of nylon and her actual time involved. Though as she gets the patterns and starts cranking them out she should be able to make them for $20 I would think. That is up to her. I know nothing about how quickly she sews these things. She just finished a pair of curtains for my lab with Insects on them. Personally I was happy with just the blinds. But I appreciate her efforts!

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 12:57 am
by einman
Ok. Here is the first Production run. My wife made one for my AO Biostar. It is made of Rip Stop Nylon. What do you think?

She said she could make them for $20-$25. $25 for inverted and $20 for basic compound stands. If you want a custom cover she would need the measurements.

It is a little long as I wanted to make sure it had room should I leave a phototube installed etc.

I would suggest if you are interested purchase one and check it to see if it meets your requirements or if you want heavier thread etc.
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Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 12:59 am
by einman
I figure you could ship quite a few in a flat rate priority mail box.

Hopefully no one takes offense as I did not intend this post to be for "selling" anything.

She could probably "tighten up" the fit as well. Though I am always leaving photo tubes and even the camera on some of my scopes.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:06 am
by einman
Oh here are the curtains..NOT doing them for anyone else! Just showing them..
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Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:55 am
by gekko
Both the new blue microscope cover and the curtains are great! The insect motif is also a wonderful idea!

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 3:14 pm
by Charles
I will try some. I'll send you a PM.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:51 pm
by charlie g
Beautiful curtains, einman! You could command quite a fee if displayed in a Museum of Natural History gift shop...either Philadelphia's, or NYC's, or Chicago's or SanFrancisco's!

I know because I once purchased a 'eye exam chart' poster...where the various levels had different sized animals...that one from NYC's M.Nat.History....and a mens dress tie with constellations of the zodiac on it.

Those curtains would sell well! I love the peek at some of your family of stands, eiman...thank you. Charlie guevara

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:52 pm
by einman
Thanks Charlie. Actually there is a site on the web that sells fabric with all types of scientific designs including microscopes, Electron micrographs etc. The possibilities are endless. I bought the fabric and she made the curtains. She ordered some fabric with biological cell images she intends to make into scope covers for me I think..

She thinks the rip stop nylon is boring.

Unfortunately a few of my scopes did not have proper covers ( with nylon) so she is doing that as well. Most of my stands were pristine until evacuated from my house by a company that took little care. As a result several of the AO stands were scratched along the base etc. Made me furious given I spent a great deal of time and money insuring each and every one was perfect cosmetically and optically.

I intend to locate or have made custom paint to touch them up. Though they will not be the same as before I hope to get them close enough I wont so irritated each time I view them.

Re: Cover for microscopes

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:22 pm
by charlie g
Yes, yes, einman...I feel your pain regards to shipping/carriage of optical equipment. To me it's almost: 'self-serving' of the shippers...be in my US postal, or private shipping vendors about the globe...they 'command a high fee to...err...not be reckless 'with delicate items..it was not that way when I was in high school!

I used to with a marker pen label: "fragile glass", or: "this side up"...and even delicate glass ornaments could be sent by us private folk...and reach their destination intact.

Now...ruefully...we amatuer astronomers ( always concerned about delicate optical tubes/glass optics, etc..)...we call a certain shipping firm: "Whoops"! Why did it come to be that all shipped items need be 'packed to withstand a gravity drop of three feet'....aaahhhh!

On one of my stands which Mel Sobel serviced for me...the actual wooden box ( this vintage stands original case!)...the box was cracked/shattered on one side.

The othe stand ( my trusty Reichert/Austria Biozet...circa 1960)...I personally transported to Mel Sobel for service...but who can afford that all the time?!!

My sense is personal commerce has become a 'shake down' all too often...and between countries....aaahhh!

all the best, charlie guevara ( wonderful curtains you have...I like that vinyl Leica dust cover over that nylon cover...what ever floats your boat! charlie guevara