Microscope Slides (Various Questions and Comments)

[goldenecho]

Ok, why there are no people on Etsy prepping and selling their own prepared microscope slides, I don't know.  Seems like that would be a thing.

 

But what IS a thing, it seems, is selling vintage sets of prepared slides.  One set was going for a lot less than modern prepared slides...so it got me wondering if there would be a big difference...would the stuff be degraded and not as cool to look at? 

 

Also, I'm looking at several kits.  Have you used dye when making your own slide?  Worth spending some money on, or not? 

[Reefgazer]

To section and stain slides can be an elaborate process (depending on the stain and the tissue) and, at least for many animal tissues, requires you to first embed the specimen in wax and also to have access to a costly machine that can slice thin slices of tissues.  So not worth it for most people.

 

As far as the condition of vintage slides:  Depends on how they were cared for and with what material the cover slip was attached.  The seller should accurately describe the slides, and also check out the pictures (there should be no/minimal cracking of the cover slips and no/minimal yellowing).  The sample specimens themselves should be adequate and accurate, though.

Edited June 28, 2016 by reefgazer

[daijobu]

Good timing as I'm prepping some slides this morning.  This PDF of the Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments has a good overview of staining techniques and different stains to use.  (You can also purchase a hard copy of the book.)  

 

If you have a 1000X oil immersion scope, it might be worth learnng how to do a gram stain.  I am preparing slides of fungi, and I'm using methylene blue, safranin O, eosin Y, and gram's iodine.  You can purchase many of these at Home Science Tools or a similar science supplier.  

[Reefgazer]

Oh, yes, I forgot to include this. Gram staining off bacteria, simple methylene blue staining, and blood staining are easily doable at home. But other stains on complex animal and plant tissues wouldn't be worth it.

 

P

Good timing as I'm prepping some slides this morning. This PDF of the Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments has a good overview of staining techniques and different stains to use. (You can also purchase a hard copy of the book.)

 

If you have a 1000X oil immersion scope, it might be worth learnng how to do a gram stain. I am preparing slides of fungi, and I'm using methylene blue, safranin O, eosin Y, and gram's iodine. You can purchase many of these at Home Science Tools or a similar science supplier.