Homemade Well Slides

Homemade Well Slides

After playing around with the well slides from the Tasco well slide kit, I began to wonder if I could create my own.

I tried model clay, making a thin loop, placing it on a regular microscope slide and then laying the cover slip on it. This does work and works well. And is very inexpensive.

Nylon Washer

As can be seen in the pictures above I tried metal washers and nylon washers. For the nylon washer I used clear nail polish to glue it to the slide. These also work. These well slides are good for making hanging drop slides.

Now I have 3d printed my wells and I was able to print different shapes and sizes. Then mounting them again with clear nail polish. With this I found them to be water proof. This allows me to create many different environments to experiment with. For example adding wires to see how electricity affects the environment. Creating mazes to see if micro-organisms will follow them to food sources or retreat from certain chemicals, etc. These can be seen in the photos below.

Well Mounted on Slide With Clear Nail Polish

Different Shape and Sizes

Maze Slides and Electrified Slide

As you can see by creating your own wells you can do many different experiments.

New Finds

I found Tasco well slide kit at a second hand store. It comes with both single and double well slides. The kit has cover slips and a dye Neutral Red. Well slides are used for allowing for live specimens to be monitored and studied. Can be both a dry or an aqueous environment. The aqueous environment can be studied using a drop of water in the well or using a cover slip hanging drop.

 

 

Well Slides

 

This Money detector has a light that shines from underneath with a regular white light or can shine a UV light from above. It has a magnifier you can look at the object from above and a millimeter scale that the object sits on. The UV light can be used to look at petri dishes of bacteria or yeast that have been transformed to glow in the dark. To view crystals and/or rocks for glow in dark properties. 

Money Detector

Remember UV light(radition) is dangerous. Do not look at it and use at your own risk. Understand all the precautions.

Dark-field Microscopy

Dark-field microscopy is when the light from under the specimen is partially blocked. The light does not pass directly through the sample being studied. Instead light is reflected off the specimen, making it appear to be emitting light. Dark-field image may first appear to be a negative of a bright-field image. It works well with live organisms.

 

A simple method is to use a dime placed in the middle of your microscope filter just below the microscope condenser. I recommend putting the dime or dime sized stop(made of thin cardboard coloured black) on a clear piece of plastic to protect the filter from being scratched. If the clear plastic is rigid enough you can replace it for the filter all together. Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1

 

Figure 2

 

Since I have access to a 3D printer I decided to 3d print them. As can be seen in figure 3, I 3D printed my stops to fit in place of my filter on the microscope. I printed 2 different size stoppers 8 mm and 15 mm.

Figure 3

 

In figure 4 this is a regular image, in figure 5 I use the 8 mm stop. You can see the difference between the 2. The 8 mm stop shows more detail than without any stop. With the 15 mm stop it darkens the field way to much. Figure 6.

Figure 4

 

Figure 5

Figure 6

A very simple and inexpensive addition to many microscopes.

The Engineer-it Kit

 

I received "The Engineer-it Kit" from Amino Labs. It is a bacterial transformation kit.

I read about this kit in the book I talked about in an earlier post - "Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero: The Beginner's Guide To Programming Bacteria At Home, School and In the Makerspace."

By Justin Pahara and Julie Legault.

If you are a beginner in bio-engineering this is a good place to start. The kit is well priced, I felt shipping was a bit high but that is probably out of their control. It comes with almost everything you need, except the hardware. You do need a incubator (they do supply you with a video link to build a very simple one ), a hot and a cold water bath. I used an ice bath for my cold bath. They do have an all in one hardware that will do all of this, that you can purchase. Though it is expensive.

 

 

 

 

They made this kit to be as simple and easy to use as possible, even a beginner can do it. They supply you with everything you need:

Bacteria, plasmid, antibiotic, agar, petri-dishes, inoculation loop, streak template and even the sterile water.

They give you a manual.

Here is a video showing you all steps in the protocol.

You can even use a simulator to do the protocol.

If you are interested in bio-engineering this is a good way to start. As well they have other kits that you can purchase separately. This way it is not a huge outlay of money all at once.

Media Pump

Using a Syringe Filter to Sterilize Media:

Syringe and Filter

I picked up some syringe filters from Amazon figuring I could use a syringe to pass my media or water through the filter. As seen in photo the filter screws on to the top of syringe. This filter membrane has a pore size of .22 micrometers. This should easily sterilize the fluids.

Parts

 

Thinking there must be an easier way to run the media or water through the filter I picked up a 12V DC DIY Peristaltic Liquid Pump from Amazon. As seen in this image as well as the pump I picked up air hose tubing and airline tubing connectors from a pet store. The connectors allows different sized tubing to fit together.

Fitting to hold filter

I had a medical drop administration set I found at a flee market. This has the same type of connection as the syringe tip has, allowing the filter to screw on. As seen in the above image.

Unit put together

In the final image you can see the whole unit put together. I am using a 12 volt wall adapter hooked up to the motor speed controller (previous project) to control the pump motor. The filter holder was made with a 1/4 inch dowel and clothes pin glued together.

I pump the fluids through the system slowly as to hopefully not cause a big mess if it ever backs up. I intend to mount the pump into a weighted box so I don't set it up when I need to use it.

Book: Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero:

Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero: The Beginner's Guide To Programming Bacteria At Home, School and In the Makerspace.

By Justin Pahara and Julie Legault.

This is a newer book. As well as discussing older books I will be looking at newer books to. I just received this book from Amazon. It is a very interesting book. As the title states it takes you from beginning basics to the understanding of bio-engineering. There are at least 9 lab exercises to do. From DNA extraction to manually turning on genes.

It has a section called "Setting up your Genetic Engineering Hero Space". Covers bio-safety and governmental regulations. The book has sections giving you the background information of what is happening and why.

Other than the first exercise, DNA extraction, the other exercises require different kits from the supplier of the book. This can get costly but each kit can be purchased separately, which may help in keeping the costs down. It seems the kits have everything you need to do the experiments easily. The hardware is extra - incubator, water bath, etc.

It also requires a lab hardware kit, called, "The DNA Playground Minilab". It incubates, cools and heat shocks the material. This can be costly. But if you follow this blog most of the hardware needed you can build yourself.  

I will see if I can get some of the lab exercise kits and try them out. I will discuss this in a later post.

Laser Projector Microscope

Equipment needed:

Laser pointer(green 532 nm) or red, Syringe(10ml), screen or wall, apparatus to hold laser and syringe in place, sample(from my aquarium).

Green Laser Pointer

 

In the diagram above you can see how the microscope is set up. The laser beam runs through the specimen droplet that is formed below the syringe. This produces an image on a screen on the other side of the droplet.

 

 

Image on Screen

Moving the laser closer and further away will bring the object in focus. Even if not completely clear or bright you can see the organisms swimming around. You can make out some detail to try and identify the organism.

 

Beam on Droplet

After reading some more on the laser microscope I found that the drop of water acts as a small spherical lens which magnifies the image. I tried the red laser pointer but the image was not as bright. I will look further into this in the future.

Books New and Old - Build It Yourself Science Laboratory

Written by Raymond E. Barrett.

Written in 1963

This is one book that I found at my library when I was younger. It was one of a handful of books that taught me science. I would take it out as much as I was allowed to. I read and reread it over and over again. I created many of the projects and did many of the experiments that you find in the question sections.

I was already building my lab from what ever I could find and re-purpose for use at home. So I was so excited when I found this book. I believe I really wore out this book. It was still on the library shelves until around 8 or so years ago. One day I went to find it and it was no longer there. I did end up finding a used copy later on so I purchased it for my own library.

It is broken up into 3 sections: Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Physics was broken up into 6 other sections: Astronomy and Light, Atomic Energy, Electricity and Magnetism, Forces, Measurement and Motion, Geology and Meteorology.

Written 2015

The book has been re-edited and reprinted "the annotated Build-It-Yourself Science Laboratory" and now brings it up to date. Some things that are used in the original book are not legal or are dangerous or can not be found any longer. This new book helps to make it more useful for today's scientist.

Projects include:
Cloud Chamber
Vacuum pump
Microscope
Barometer
Radiometer
Microtome
Etc.

Over 100 pieces of equipment and 100's of projects. This book is a great way to learn to look at items and see other uses for them.

Spectrometer Version 3 Continued

Figure 1

I have been continuing the build for version 3 which holds the sample inside the container. In figure 1 you see the 3D printed sample holder, here I have a test tube but it does hold cuvettes as well. Next to the holder on the right you can see an LED. This one is a bright white LED. I intend to use a RGB LED so I can choice different colours or wavelengths. It will also be removable so I can use IR and UV LEDs.

Figure 2

Figure 3

In figure 2, I use a 3D printed slit holder and then mount 2 single edge razor blades which are adjustable. With the other 3D printed parts I hold the slit mechanism in place within the spectrometer. This allows for removal of the slit so it can be adjusted. In Figure 3 you can see the unit put together.

Figure 4

And in figure 4 you see allthe components put together with the sample and slit holder, LED source, diffraction grading and web cam all in one box.

This is all put together in a wooden box I found at a dollar store. I still intend to make this smaller so I can easily carry with me. I do have access to a 3D printer so it was easier for me to print the parts I needed. But all the parts could be very easily cut from foamboard.

Spectrometer Version 2 and 3

I have continued working on my spectrometer. I focused on 2 types, one that places the sample on the outside the spectrometer between the light source and the slit. The other where the sample is placed within the housing in a sample holder.

Version 2 Image 1

Here in the first version (image 1) you can see the camera and the diffraction grating are mounted on the right side at a 30 degree angle. Both camera mount and grading are 3D printed but can easily be made by using metal or plastic 'L' brackets.

Image 2

In this image (image 2) you can see how I mount 2 single sided razors to create my slit for the light to go through to the diffraction grating and then to camera. The razors have a very sharp edge and I am able to make very fine slits for the light to pass through. There is a small notch in the razors that the screws go through that allows for adjustment of the blades to increase and decrease the width of the slit.

Image 3 Version 3

In this 3rd image I am still working on this spectrometer. There is a camera holder with a 30 degree angle positioning, next going to the right is going to be a grading holder (the hole has been drilled to hold it in place). From there we go to the slit and then the sample holder. All these I have 3D printed. On the right side of the box you can see the hole drilled out to mount my LED light. I intend to use different light sources that have - white LED, RGB LED for different colours, UV LED, IR LED and different lasers, red and green for now.

Both cases are painted black on the inside. All 3D printed parts were printed in black PLA. I am using the Theremino spectrometer software.

I am also looking at building a nano-drop spectrometer more on that later.

Books to Read

 

3 Great Books to Read

Books To Read

The Amateur Scientist, Procedures in Experimental Physics and Pictorial Handbook of Technical Devices

I love to read and I love to read scientific and tech books. Here are 3 that I had or received as gifts.

The Amateur Scientist - is one I had when I was much younger. As you can see it is quite worn. I have read this book cover to cover countless times. I have done many of the experiments in this book. This book is more of a how to do of experiments written in 1960 and is named for the column that the experiments are derived from - Scientific American's The Amateur Scientist monthly column, which ran for many years or decades really.

There are experiments in astronomy, physics, nuclear physics, rocketry, geology, math, biology, optics, etc. It is so full of different experiments it is amazing. Many of the experiments are dangerous and maybe hard to do as many items have become very hard to find. It is a great read even if you can't do the experiments. It does show what individuals can do and accomplish on their own. You maybe able to find this book as a pdf file on line.

The next 2 books were given to me as gifts over the last few years. Both as well are older than most.

Procedures in Experimental Physics - was written in 1938 and it covers many procedures needed in a laboratory, such as, glass blowing, optical work, vacuums, surface coating, electronics, old time photography, etc. Another great read in how build and use science equipment. A bit out-dated but a great read.

Pictorial Handbook of Technical Devices - written in 1971, this book shows you pictures of many many devices so you can have an understanding of how they are put together and how they work. There are joints, springs, levers, belt drives, prisms and lenses, etc. It is full of devices.

These books are out of print but you may be able to find them online. Even though they are older books they allow me to see how things can work and helps me come up with new ideas for my own experiments. I will be discussing more books in the near future. I may even start a book of the month column. In the mean time, old or new keep reading anything that interests you.

Digital Microscope Version 2

This microscope views the specimen from below. Here I use parts from an old CD-Rom drive, a web cam, block of wood to hold it together, laser pointer lens, some foam board and glue.

Fig. 1

Taking apart the CD-ROM (fig 1) I keep the carriage that moves laser LED along the CD. This allows the specimen stage to move up and down to focus it. The gears on the side are used for the focusing, the bottom gear is used for regular focus and the top gear is used for fine focusing. I manually move the gears. I may look into using the gear motor to electrically move the stage.

Fig. 2

I mount the carriage on a thick piece of wood (fig 2) to allow stage movement and support.

Fig. 3

The specimen mount (fig 2, right of image), is made from foam board. and (fig 3) then mounted on the carriage with Gorilla glue.

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig 4 and 5 show the whole thing put together. You can see the stage is up and then is lowered to focus the image.

To raise the magnification of the camera I used the lens in a cheap laser pointer and mounting it  on the lens of the camera. This does give higher magnification, about 100-150x but is not as powerful as a compound microscope which can get to 800-1000x. I found that when using live mounts, living organisms many times it is best to view them from underneath.

All the parts I had were just laying around which made this a very inexpensive build. I am sure that it is easy to find a junked or used CD-Rom or DVD. The camera is just a cheap webcam again something you might be able to find from a friend or thrift shop. Mine was a dollar store purchase for $3. I find that this microscope does work better than my first version, especially with the focusing.

Stocking Stuffers

 Stocking Stuffers

If you need some stocking stuffers for your budding scientist here are some items I found at dollar stores that are very useful for any ones lab.

Holder for my stains

In this picture you will see I found some plastic dropper bottles, which can be used to hold microscope stains or chemical solutions for experiments and storage. These bottles fit nicely into the lipstick holder I found there as well. It perfectly holds 12 of these dropper bottles in nice neat rows. The top row is larger and does not separate the bottles. I hold alcohol swabs (another stocking stuffer) in the top row.

Dollar store finds

In this picture there is a q-tip holder and q-tips. I use these for alcohol and acetone applicators. The 2 bottles have a push top that allows for the pumping out of alcohol and/or acetone. Cotton balls and a container to hold them. Cotton swabs, smaller plastic jars that can hold chemicals and specimens in.

I have also found medicine droppers, food colouring, etc. As can be seen here there are many inexpensive items that can be used in the lab, that are inexpensive enough for stocking stuffers.

Spectrometer

fig. 1 Public Lab Spectrometer 3.0

fig. 2 Inside of Public Lab Spectrometer

fig. 3 Spectrometer I am Putting Together

Spectrometer

I am trying to build a spectrometer. The first figure you see of the spectrometer that was purchased from Public Lab by friend that he has let me use. It works well uses a DVD for a diffraction grading. The biggest concern with this product is the camera inside is always coming loose (fig 2) and there is no place to put the sample that you are testing. Need to make a sample holder.

https://publiclab.org/wiki/desktop-spectrometry-kit-3-0

In the third figure (fig 3) you see I am using many of the holders from my optical bench except I picked up a magnetic white board to hold these holders. It is larger and being white I can see measurements on the red ruler much easier.

I 3D printed a slit and a sample(cuvette) holder and used my own diffraction grading that I purchased from Amazon. For the camera I am trying a PS3 camera that I found for $3. For the software I am using Theremino spectrometer. There website has plenty of information about spectrometers.

https://www.theremino.com/wp-content/uploads/files/Theremino_Spectrometer_Construction_ENG.pdf
 
I will be continuing the spectrometer build using different web cams and enclosures. I will keep posting as I build it.

DIY Digital Microscope

Camera Placement

First Adaption

  
 
DIY Digital Microscope

Staying with microscopes, I have to build my own digital one. I want one with viewing from underneath.

Using a Dollar store $3 webcam, a piece of plywood, 3 4 inch bolts, 5 washers, 6 nuts, 4 wingnuts and 2 small pieces of 1/4 inch plastic. The only item I purchased was the webcam. Everything else I had laying around. This was just a quick work around I put together to see if it is worth while making.

I wanted to microscopically look at live samples from underneath. It actually works better than I thought it would. It looks to give about 4x the magnification, you are definitely not going to see bacteria. Though, I might be able to see other micro-organisms, I will further test this. As of yet this is not a final build, I will be making many improvements to this setup, especially with the magnification. I would like to at least get to 100x magnification. I just wanted to see if this would be worth while pursuing. And yes it is. And for a very low cost.

In this setup I have the camera is fixed and the sample is moving up and down.

Inspiration for this build came from here, they use a smartphone and laser pointer optics:
https://www.instructables.com/id/10-Smartphone-to-digital-microscope-conversion/

Here is another link using cardboard for the build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHcX0vx4FZM

There also is the FlyPi that uses the Raspberry Pi system and camera:
https://open-labware.net/projects/flypi/

I will be looking further into the this version and the FlyPi.

Common Microscopy Stains

Stains found in common stores

I found a few different stains for microscopy at Walmart and a pet store.

At the pet store I found:
Methylene Blue - which is 2.3% and you should at least dilute to be at least 1%. I like to use it at 0.1%. It can also be used for DNA staining.

Malachite Green - is 0.038% therefore I use it as is.

At Walmart as well as many pharmacies I found:
Gentian Violet - is 1% I use as is. This is used as a replacement for crystal violet.

Iodine(tincture) - is 5%, I use it at 1%. Some iodines come as 2%.

India Ink - I use as is.

Another stain you might want is Eosin, many red inks use eosin for the dye, as well as some red food colouring. I am trying different inks, if I find a certain brand containing eosin or one I like I will post it. Trying and experimenting with different products you might find one you like as well.

As you can see there are many stains easily available to you without having to go to a specialty shop for them. Remember to always look at the ingredients of different products, you may find a chemical you need or want.

Web Cam On Old Microscope

Webcam Mounted on Microscope

Parts for Camera Mount

Camera Image

I have an old microscope and I find I can't look through it for long periods of time anymore so I decided to add a webcam to it. As you can see it is mounted on top of the ocular lens (Top Image) giving me the full magnification of the microscope.

It was a very simple build requiring very little to do or obtain (Middle Image). I was lucky that the camera was the same width as the lens. At first I was thinking of 3D printing the camera holder but I had a small plastic container I had picked up from the dollar store. Once the lid was removed and the bottom sawed off, both the camera and microscope lens fit right in. This allowed me to place the camera right on top of the lens.

I use Linux for my system so I am using the program cheese to view and record my samples (Bottom Image).

Revisiting the Incubator Repair

Incubator

I have been working on improving my incubator. I picked up this incubator (see an earlier post) and had to repair it to get it to work. It is basically an old metal box. As you can see I have adding corrugated plastic to the sides and top. This will help keep the temperature stable for my cultures to grow in. It also makes it much easier to clean, disinfect and sterilize . The metal had a acid type smell of old metal. Once cleaned up and the plastic inserted this helped take away the small. I am not sure how long the plastic will last but it is inexpensive and can be found at hardware stores. Therefore I can replace it when needed.

Sample Rotator

Parts

Front View

Side View

With very simple items I had laying around I was able to build this sample rotator. It rotates very slowly. This will allow samples to be mixed. I hope to place it in my incubator to attempt to use as a shaker for the media broth for cultures (continual mixing).

Parts: the motor came from an old hand-held vacuum, I bolted a disk from the bottom of a cd holder on to it. The frame is from an old computer power supply box (the top half). I use 1 inch PVC conduit clamps to hold the motor in place. I use broom handle wall clips to hold my culture tubes. They had to be adjusted to fit both 15 ml and 50 ml tubes. They are mounted on the plastic disk with nuts and bolts. It runs using a power supply that ranges from 1.5v - 12 v.