MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Nice procedure. I tried the wax bit on a much smaller scale and without a microtome. I used the DIY microtome with a bobbin and bolt. In retrospect, a larger size like yours would have been a better idea. Waiting to see your slices. I started with a nut & bolt and (candle) wax, it worked quite well.

Hi all, I've had a go at putting some sections of the same Chrysanthemum flower-stems sectioned with the 'carrot-clamp' in an earlier post into wax blocks ready for another go at sectioning... Here's what I've done so-far.. websize_water_bath.jpg Wax nearly melted.. websize_melting.jpg Not quite ful...

A warm welcome Jorge - this is a great forum!

Very interesting! I am anxious to see the wax sections. Your "carrot clamp" sections have been very good. Thanks - wax coming soon - I'll post them even if they're a disaster - I'm going to have a go and see what happens! Can't wait - might not be able to do it tomorrow (Sun) but I will if I can ge...

Pretty good slices. Looking forward to the wax results. Good tip about keeping the surface of the clamped samples wet. Thanks Did you try to enhance the Chrysanthemum images with a graphics editor like Photoshop? Yes, the last 2 - the more colourful ones, are very nearly the same as they came strai...

Here's the 'bench microtome' that I used for the sections.. websize_microtome_1.jpg The specimen moves up by 20 microns per click according to it's description, I took sections between 5 and 10 clicks apart. Keeping the surface of the clamped samples wet really improves the cutting action. The stem-...

Looking good! Great start. Nice and thin, super detail and color. There will be great things coming off that microtome table. Looking forward to more. Rod Thanks Rod - you're very kind. I'm slightly ashamed of the blurry pictures of the section-razor slide - horrible greasy smudge probably from my ...

Hi all, a very quick post of a few images of my first attempts at hand-cut sections, taken through the flower-stem of a Chrysanthemum from a bunch of flowers in our living room... Apologies for the 'misty' look of some, the cover-glass I hastily used had a smear of something greasy across it. They a...

JimT wrote:No idea but isn't microscopy great. The things you see and the things you didn't expect to see.

So true - every time I look at a slide I see something new! I love my 'scope!

Wow - that's an amazing image, such clarity & detail! Incredibly good.
Show us some more!

p.s. what is the creature called?

Hi all, I've been looking at some pollen collected a while back and have come across a 'thing' or a remnant of something that I really have no idea about the identity of... The picture gives an idea of comparison for size with a 28-micron-ish pollen grain but this may just be a tiny part of somethin...

Personally, all things considered including my own experiences - neither, my only answer. :shock: Sincere apologies - I was facetious and I'm sorry. :oops: My experience leads me to the low-end Zeiss. There is just no similarity between precision machined stainless steel and brass components and in...

Hey Rod, keep going with the pine needles - each time the detail and cell-differentiation are improving, along with your technique! You've got samples now that look good enough for a permanent mount I'd say. The pine needles seem to make a very good subject with which to practice the art of hand-sec...

barmart wrote:... so my only question is:

Would you go to a low-end Zeiss or a mid-range Motic? That's my question to make my final decission

Personally, all things considered including my own experiences - neither, my only answer.

Nooooooooooooo.... phhhhttttttttsssssttrrwwwwweee....... :lol: Eek uk ok ik :roll: Ahem.... 'scuse me. :oops: I really wouldn't even think about not-having a trinocular - you are definitely going to want to photograph and record your work - if only to share with others. I guarantee that you will inc...

That's a beautiful, crisp image - interesting critter.

hyla wrote: Thanks all for the suggestions! I have so much more to experiment with now!

This is where the real fun starts!

That's a thing of beauty!

This is a fine set of pictures - really good sections. Great colours and very interesting to see the different tissues/cell types in the sections. Keep them coming!

Hi, It looks to me to be a matter of subject lighting - I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the fringe, this is a rather difficult subject for a microscope (& camera) to make an optimum job of imaging. I often make 'rough & ready' observations of a subject without any mounting medium or cover-slip e...

Wow - Moose or Bear! Here in the UK I may have to choose between Squirrel and Cat! Very interesting post and really good images. Hard to tell from the website quoted but looks like you're in the right area....

Thanks for the interesting post.

75RR wrote:Seems to be a more than a little vicarious shopping going on!

You've got that right! I'm salivating at the thought of it!
Zeisss, Olympus, Hmmmm..... gimme gimme gimme!

Aha - Lorez definitely has a very good point! :lol: You really can't go wrong with your quest for enjoyment first - that's ultimately the idea after all! Very good luck - don't forget to let us all know how you progress. p.s. If I had $6000 to go at it with I'd probably faint with excitement! :mrgre...

Hi, looks like there are of lot of them! Are they genuinely 'in the camera' or perhaps jpeg artifacts; maybe the black non-exposed picture is a factor? I'd try a white or mid-grey exposure and perhaps a couple of different image file formats or jpeg options... Might just be worth a little investigat...

Hi, $6000 is a large commitment to make from the outset..... The temptation is to do the reading to wet the appetite then jump in with the most delicious-looking 'scope that you can afford! Luckily for me (as it turned out) I started on a small budget as I had very little money at the time. This did...

Yes, it's a problem with your current 'scope (which looks a real beauty by the way - a lovely instrument to own I think). Perhaps it's time to start thinking about investing in a new 'scope - you could start with perhaps a used trinocular to establish your interest and develop your techniques etc......

Fantastic! Lovely sections & super-clear pictures, well done.

Hi, adapters will easily connect your camera to the 'scope - here's a pic of one I use to connect my Canon to my 'scope - this arrangement would fit a standard eyepiece tube such as your 'scope appears to have... websize_canon_1200d_tethered (3).jpg You already have the piece labelled 'eyepiece tube...

Hi and welcome. Your images look like a very good start to me - you've only just put your rig back together too! You seem to have pretty good resolution/focus and obviously the exposure needs a tweak, but hey - this is a good start for certain!
Well done and welcome.

Buy the Motic!