MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hi all I am new here ...
I'm ready to take the next step in preparation and start using a microscope. What is your method for using it for prepping? Do you use it outside the sandblasting cabinet, and set it up so it looks through the cabinet's glass? Or no cabinet? If that is the case, how do you protect the microscope optics from the abrasive?

Also, any recommendations for a starter microscope? $300 or less...
Thanks!

Are you planning to use it to prep fossils? That's a bit different from the typical usecase here. You'd want to look through glass. For a lower cost option I would aim for a good used scope like a bausch snd lomb stereozoom 4 or nikon smz-1/smz-1b/smz-2b. On any of these you would want a 0.5x objective to increase your working distance.

Since nobody here knows your requirements ....