Prepared slide storage
Prepared slide storage
I believe it best to store prepared slides flat. The standard 100-slide boxes do store the slides flat but it is impossible to read the labels unless the slide is removed.
It is reasonably simple to make a tray that holds 11 slides flat such that the slide labels are easily read.
Slides are 1x3" and 1 mm thick but a prepared slide can be 2 mm thick.
I cut high quality card 3mm thick, obtainable from an arts-supply store, into a 11 7/8"x 3 7/8" oblong to form the base of a tray. Strips, 3/8" were cut to form the edges.
This left a central 'well' area that will comfortably hold 11 standard prepared slides.
I stack these trays 4 high and store them in a small cabinet, 12" deep, that holds 6 stacks of 4 slides vertically in 5 columns
It is reasonably simple to make a tray that holds 11 slides flat such that the slide labels are easily read.
Slides are 1x3" and 1 mm thick but a prepared slide can be 2 mm thick.
I cut high quality card 3mm thick, obtainable from an arts-supply store, into a 11 7/8"x 3 7/8" oblong to form the base of a tray. Strips, 3/8" were cut to form the edges.
This left a central 'well' area that will comfortably hold 11 standard prepared slides.
I stack these trays 4 high and store them in a small cabinet, 12" deep, that holds 6 stacks of 4 slides vertically in 5 columns
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New Brunswick
Canada
Canada
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Re: Prepared slide storage
Hi Tony,
in my view it is best to store slides flat but cover slip down. If the mountant is not fully hardened this prevents that the specimen moves away from the cover slip and sinks down to the slide. For mountants that harden dependably this is not necessary of cause.
Bob
in my view it is best to store slides flat but cover slip down. If the mountant is not fully hardened this prevents that the specimen moves away from the cover slip and sinks down to the slide. For mountants that harden dependably this is not necessary of cause.
Bob
Re: Prepared slide storage
I mount in Canada Balsam and Euparal. I am not sure how long it takes for CB to thoroughly harden but Euparal seems to never harden. If stored cover slip down I would be afraid that some mountant (maybe a tiny amount) would leak out and stick the slide to the base of the tray.
Cover slip down would not be a problem when using the 'standard' 100-slide boxes.
Cover slip down would not be a problem when using the 'standard' 100-slide boxes.
New Brunswick
Canada
Canada
Re: Prepared slide storage
Here is my 'cabinet'
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New Brunswick
Canada
Canada
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- Posts: 330
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- Location: Lancaster County, PA
Re: Prepared slide storage
Hi Bob,MicroBob wrote: ↑Sat Sep 12, 2020 6:37 amHi Tony,
in my view it is best to store slides flat but cover slip down. If the mountant is not fully hardened this prevents that the specimen moves away from the cover slip and sinks down to the slide. For mountants that harden dependably this is not necessary of cause.
Bob
Cover slip down? I'm guessing you're sealing the edges with something? I mostly use Canada Balsam and I would surely make a mess if I stored them cover slip down.
Kirby
Re: Prepared slide storage
Hi Kirby,
the drying mountant at the edges has enough tack to hold the cover slip in place when the slide is hanging horizontal and nothing contacts the cover slip. The mountant layer can easily be thick enough to make it impossible to focus on the specimen when it sinks down to the slide. The additional mountant layer will also adversely affect image quality. With smears or very thin sections this might not be a problem.
Bob
the drying mountant at the edges has enough tack to hold the cover slip in place when the slide is hanging horizontal and nothing contacts the cover slip. The mountant layer can easily be thick enough to make it impossible to focus on the specimen when it sinks down to the slide. The additional mountant layer will also adversely affect image quality. With smears or very thin sections this might not be a problem.
Bob
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- Posts: 330
- Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:48 pm
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Re: Prepared slide storage
Thank you, Bob.MicroBob wrote: ↑Sun Sep 13, 2020 12:02 pmHi Kirby,
the drying mountant at the edges has enough tack to hold the cover slip in place when the slide is hanging horizontal and nothing contacts the cover slip. The mountant layer can easily be thick enough to make it impossible to focus on the specimen when it sinks down to the slide. The additional mountant layer will also adversely affect image quality. With smears or very thin sections this might not be a problem.
Bob
It makes sense. I will keep this in mind when I get back to mounting.
Kirby