volcanomike
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Microscopy Question
I am into snow science and geology and I use my microscope for snowflake, volcanic ash, and ore analysis. I have a problem when transferring fine
materials, such as volcanic ash, onto slides. I always end up with stray bristles on the slide from the brushes. Does anyone know of any special
brushes used for this purpose? I have never seen or know of brushes with bristles that are more resistant to falling out, but I do not know for sure.
Thanks for any help!
Mike
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Mailinmypocket
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Quote: Originally posted by volcanomike  | I am into snow science and geology and I use my microscope for snowflake, volcanic ash, and ore analysis. I have a problem when transferring fine
materials, such as volcanic ash, onto slides. I always end up with stray bristles on the slide from the brushes. Does anyone know of any special
brushes used for this purpose? I have never seen or know of brushes with bristles that are more resistant to falling out, but I do not know for sure.
Thanks for any help!
Mike |
Do bristles fall that frequently from your brushes? What kind of brushes are you using?
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volcanomike
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Thanks for your reply, Malinmypocket! The brushes I use tend to loose bristles a lot. They are small paintbrushes, but I have not tried many other
types yet. It may be good to try better paintbrushes, but I am not sure if there are specialty brushes for this purpose.
Mike
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watson.fawkes
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Paintbrushes are designed to wick
liquid and you can use that to stabilize the bristles. Take a fine syringe and inject a thin-bodied cyanoacrylate glue (that is, super-glue) directly
into the well of the brush. The well is the volume within the metal ferrule that holds the bristles in and acts a solvent reservoir in ordinary use.
Since you're using them dry, you can fill them up.
You'll still have to deal with bristles breaking, but at least not falling out.
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volcanomike
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That's a great idea! I will give that a try!
Thanks!
Mike
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bahamuth
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Might also try to stroke the brush onto some 100-300 grit (European standard, think it is grains per square cm) sand paper to rip out the loose fibers
but also to "smooth" the fibers that are retained.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
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volcanomike
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That's true! I'll try the sandpaper before I use the Cyanoacrylate
Thanks!
Mike
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phlogiston
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My father-in-law taught me never ever to use new paint brushes for painting. After a couple paintjobs all the loose ones will have fallen off and the
remaining ones stay put.
Clean and keep old brushes.
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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