Dana Rensi

Hi All,


 I’m making inexpensive microtomes to use with the foldscopes.


 Here are the items I used.


 You can use either an empty wooden or plastic thread spool. In order to have a surface on which to glue the nut and to have a firm cutting surface, glue a metal washer on each end of the plastic spool. The wooden spool didn’t seem to need one.


 I used 1/4-20 x 2 inch flat Phillips bolts with nuts which fit into the spools nicely. Glue the nut to the end of the spool using a hot glue gun or other waterproof glue.


 Then glue a small wooden craft stick to the end of the bolt to use to turn it.


 You can mark increments on the spool with a waterproof marking pen for uniform samples. Two strips of carrot can be used to hold the specimen in the microtome.


 Single-side razor blades are used to cut the section. Dip the blade and section into a bowl of water and the section should float off.


 <img alt="IMG_2292d" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-25956 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="25956" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6s","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1497393804","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_2292d" data-recalc-dims="1" height="286" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_25948/IMG_2292d.jpg" width="300"/>


 <img alt="IMG_2292b" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-25955 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="25955" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6s","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1497390407","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.041666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_2292b" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_25948/IMG_2292b.jpg" width="225"/>


 <img alt="IMG_2297" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-25959 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="25959" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6s","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1497393860","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"3"}' data-image-title="IMG_2297" data-recalc-dims="1" height="225" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_25948/IMG_2297.jpg" width="300"/>


 Have fun! Post pictures.


 Dana Rensi

Dana Rensi

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How to Make an Inexpensive Microtome

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Foldscope Lens Magnification