Search found 1020 matches

by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:25 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: These were my first crystal images, codeine phosphate
Replies: 3
Views: 2137

These were my first crystal images, codeine phosphate

Hello all. I had seen an article on micscape which included some codeine phosphate crystals which looked really nice so this was my first attempt at crystal imaging. At x400 crossed polars. Single crystal. 28_12_201519_34_020004CodeinePhosphateSingleCrystal1024.jpg Arrow head 28_12_201520_00_190071C...
by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:08 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Saccharine
Replies: 8
Views: 3413

Re: Saccharine

Really beautiful.
I would concur that the first is the sweetest (sorry) to me anyway.
Its the clarity and the colour that do it for me. :)
by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:03 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Good Prepared Slides as examples of water life AND pros and cons of concave slides?
Replies: 21
Views: 9168

Re: Good Prepared Slides as examples of water life AND pros and cons of concave slides?

I also got some amscope slides. I also found the volvox, paramecium etc. to be rubbish. There are some good ones though, the insects for example are pretty good. Really nice bee parts. But I think there are better places to get slides. I got a few from Brunel (UK) which were all of high standard. I ...
by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:47 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Copepod Study
Replies: 14
Views: 4892

Re: Copepod Study

Beautiful photos.
Fantastic framing.
I'll stick my neck out and go for the blue filter as the nicest but its a razor sharp distinction as they all so very good.

billben
by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:36 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately
Replies: 10
Views: 5709

Re: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately

Its arriving noon on saturday.

There will be pictures, possibly videos and no doubt stories. :D

ps. John, do you have links to specs info on the beauty?
by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:02 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately
Replies: 10
Views: 5709

Re: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately

And thanks Jim and Charlie.

My house is quite modest so there aren't too many places a 40kg microtome can go.
It will be the empty (well, not for long) work surface in the kitchen.

I'm hoping my wife will continues to be patient with my new obsession ;)
by billben74
Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:59 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately
Replies: 10
Views: 5709

Re: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately

Thanks John,

I got:

Anglia Scientific/Shandon Microscope Slide Sectioning M/C (Microtome) AS325

Is this the same as yours? I think its the other one of yours?

billben
by billben74
Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:53 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately
Replies: 10
Views: 5709

I will soon join John B as an owner of a mighty shandon...almost definately

I am happy to announce that (baring any major disasters) I will soon join the lucky John B to own a mighty Shandon. I decided to hop past the rocker and head for heady shores a big proper microtome, with replacable baldes. On another odd note I discovered there is a disposapal knife holder for the c...
by billben74
Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:36 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Tissue-protocol for microtomy reduced from 92 to 10hrs..
Replies: 8
Views: 6981

Re: Tissue-protocol for microtomy reduced from 92 to 10hrs..

I would also agree with the above sentiments. I love reading your posts. You style is warm and light hearted. Nothing boring: if like, myself and the people on this forum, you love reading about microscopy and associated activities. Whats great, even about your posts, is the hours and hours of thoug...
by billben74
Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:46 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig
Replies: 13
Views: 4943

Re: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig

Thanks guys. Its a compound microscope using x4 plan objective. Its a regular objective although with x4 I'm not sure cover slip issues are too great. One thing I love about microscopes is the worlds within worlds thing. There are whole swathes of things to do with x4 objective, just as there are di...
by billben74
Mon Feb 22, 2016 10:50 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig
Replies: 13
Views: 4943

Re: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig

Hi everyone. Slight update. I have used the 3W flashlight and it is great. The setup with the clamp/holder works well enough. Here is stacked image of a fly. Its my first attempt at a big stack, 161. Its not at all perfect and I agree that I could do with a diffuser of some sort but anyway this it w...
by billben74
Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:57 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: sledge microtomes are they general purpose?
Replies: 5
Views: 4285

Re: sledge microtomes are they general purpose?

Thanks to both for your reply.
I do have microtome envy.
I'm not sure I can justify the 500 quid though -> even though I know its a bargin.
I will deliberate and consider options...
by billben74
Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:02 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: sledge microtomes are they general purpose?
Replies: 5
Views: 4285

sledge microtomes are they general purpose?

Hello all, I've noticed a farily cheap shandon microtome on ebay uk http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shandon-AS-Sledge-Microtome-serviced-and-ready-to-go-/251929681657?hash=item3aa82ddef9:g:rTIAAOSwBahVN37u Its not got a blade. I dont really know anything about sledge microtomes. Are they as good as rotary...
by billben74
Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:42 pm
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: How do you perform stacking
Replies: 18
Views: 17395

Re: How do you perform stacking

As mentioned I will just describe stacking in imageJ ImageJ is, as far as I can accertain, what academics use to top level professional microscopy image analysis. This is actually based on some real evidence: I have had a conversation with a senior scientist who is the wife of a friend of mine and t...
by billben74
Tue Feb 16, 2016 9:37 pm
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: How do you perform stacking
Replies: 18
Views: 17395

Re: How do you perform stacking

Hi all. I use zerene stacker. Or sometimes imageJ. I do the same sort of thing as other people have mentioned. I start from one end, normally the top but both of these bits of software don't mind which end you start. Then I move down looking at my fine focus wheel so that I move a set amount. Apolog...
by billben74
Tue Feb 16, 2016 2:55 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Can anyone explain some interesting images from rosemery petal through cross polaroids?
Replies: 6
Views: 2958

Re: Can anyone explain some interesting images from rosemery petal through cross polaroids?

Thanks all. The xylem are the red circles/tube type thing running down the centre of the image of the second image. So yes they are rotating the light. But I don't think the the crystaline colour explosion (or whatever it is) is xylem. Maybe its saffarin o. Does anyone know if saffarin o shows biref...
by billben74
Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:39 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Can anyone explain some interesting images from rosemery petal through cross polaroids?
Replies: 6
Views: 2958

Can anyone explain some interesting images from rosemery petal through cross polaroids?

Hello all. I fixed some rosemary petals in FAA washed them in distilled water (x3) stained with saffarin o (for about a minute fairly light staining) and then dehydrated through 25,50,75,100 IPA then mounted in Euparal. Through crossed polarioids I got some interesting images. I presume crystals of ...
by billben74
Mon Feb 15, 2016 1:16 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Problems with Euparal mounts going cloudy and solutions
Replies: 2
Views: 2266

Problems with Euparal mounts going cloudy and solutions

Hello All, I had been having problems with Euparal mounts going cloudy. I think I have worked out the problem and certainly I no longer have the problem. The problem: (Sorry not best image) DSC00348CloudySlide.jpg Now look at my set up: DSC00334FailureSetup.jpg I had been using those crazy teapots a...
by billben74
Fri Feb 12, 2016 8:41 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Botryococcus (alga)
Replies: 5
Views: 2426

Re: Botryococcus (alga)

Nice pic. These are the ones that make potentially useful oils? Where did you get it?
by billben74
Fri Feb 12, 2016 8:25 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig
Replies: 13
Views: 4943

Re: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig

Sorry gekko. I was busy contructing my reply and hadn't noticed yours. I didn't try a scale but that would seem like a good idea. I have the fish in FAA so perhaps i can in the future. I plan (long term) to process the fish to slides. I'm guessing thats months down the line but perhaps I'll try a sc...
by billben74
Fri Feb 12, 2016 8:18 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig
Replies: 13
Views: 4943

Re: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig

I see what you mean apochronaut. It would make the image more like the subject; additionally you get a kind of self referential aspect: "fish eye through fish eye lens" and all. Nice idea. I have no idea how you hook up a fish eye lens in compound microscope set up. Are there fish eye photo relay le...
by billben74
Fri Feb 12, 2016 9:23 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig
Replies: 13
Views: 4943

fish and peacock via diy epi lighting rig

Hello all, Newish poster here. My newest project was getting a diy epi lighting sorted which has let me look at a newly, though natural causes, dead fish and a peacock feather. Any way here are my pics. All done with plan achromatic lens. For the peacock I place a large sized cover slip and squished...
by billben74
Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:20 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Hello from science teacher from cambridge, Uk
Replies: 6
Views: 4547

Re: Hello from science teacher from cambridge, Uk

Thanks all for your warm welcome. Charlie: I teach 11-16 year olds, the school system is, unlike most of the uk, mostly split 11-16 and 16-18. I'm making inroads into bringing more microscopy to the school but as with most things this will take time. I've actually possibly made my first convert - th...
by billben74
Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:30 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Hello from science teacher from cambridge, Uk
Replies: 6
Views: 4547

Hello from science teacher from cambridge, Uk

Hello all. I got my 'scope just last december from Brunel microscopes. These guys are mentioned quite a bit here and in micscape. There certainly the good guys and I would recomend them to anyone from the UK. I got an ex-demo trinocular sp160 sporting a 5 turret equiped with plan acrochromatic x4,x1...
by billben74
Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:55 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Advice on easy vacuum set ups
Replies: 4
Views: 3096

Re: Advice on easy vacuum set ups

Many thanks to gekko and John B.
Both have helped me move closer the my holy grail of creating some "proper" slides using my microtome.
:)
by billben74
Thu Jan 14, 2016 11:41 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Advice on easy vacuum set ups
Replies: 4
Views: 3096

Re: Advice on easy vacuum set ups

Many thanks. Very fast reply. Will probably have a go with this first.
Although any other non-faucet based solution would be welcome.
Again many thanks :)
by billben74
Thu Jan 14, 2016 11:25 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Air wick fragrance heaters from tesco: solution to easy paraffin embedding?
Replies: 1
Views: 2024

Air wick fragrance heaters from tesco: solution to easy paraffin embedding?

Having posted a question on easy vacuum creation for processing I thought I'd I try to contribute by sharing a small discovery. Air wick fragrance heaters are on sale at Tesco Uk for £6. Sorry non-uk readers although perhaps similar products are available elsewhere or online. This little devices are...
by billben74
Thu Jan 14, 2016 10:40 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Advice on easy vacuum set ups
Replies: 4
Views: 3096

Advice on easy vacuum set ups

Hello. I'm moving towards using my cambridge rocking microtome. One thing stopping the fly in the parrafin (sorry) is rigging up reduced pressure to get rid air bubbles. I will actually start (bad fly joke notwithstanding) with daffodill parts that I have sitting in my home brewed FAA. I get that ai...
by billben74
Thu Jan 14, 2016 10:23 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: A Look at Double-Embedding
Replies: 8
Views: 5289

Re: A Look at Double-Embedding

:) Fantastic work. I'm just starting out in microscopy (2months since I got my scope). I've got a cambridge rocking microtome all from Brunel microscopes. I've just making (nearly made) my first whole mount fly/fresh water crustacian, spider vaguely using Walter's guidance. I fixed in IPA then clear...