Microsope Care

Written by microscopes

Saturday, 04 August 2007

Information on how to take care of your microscope.

How to Care for a Microscope

A microscope should be treated with the same care as would be given to any other optical instrument. While not in use it must be kept clean, either by keeping it in the original box or under a protecting cover of some sort. If the box is not used the microscope may be protected from dust by placing it under a bell jar or a large battery jar. Any chemical supply house can furnish a jar suitable for the purpose, or possibly one may be found around the house which will serve. In any event the microscope should not be allowed to stand unprotected in the dusty atmosphere of the home or workshop.

If the microscope has been neglected and has accumulated dust, use a soft camels-hair brush and a piece of chamois to clean it. Be extremely careful not to scratch the lenses. If they are merely dusty, wipe the dust away with the brush. If there are drops of water or chemical on the lenses, breathe on them lightly to deposit a thin film of condensed moisture and then remove this with Japanese tissue. This is a soft, light, vegetable tissue made in Japan which was first suggested for use by microscopists by Prof. S. H. Gage of Cornell University. It is universally used today by microscopists to clean the objectives after immersion in oil or water. Photographers also use this tissue to clean photographic lenses and it may be purchased from any photo-supply house. If the objective lens should become soiled with a substance such as Canada balsam, it should be cleaned immediately as well as possible by simply wiping with a piece of dry tissue to remove the greater part of the balsam, then finished with a well-washed linen rag moistened with alcohol. Note that the rag is to be only moist, not wet, and the glass must be wiped at once with a dry part of the rag, followed by the breath and Japanese tissue. If the eyepiece of your microscope consists of two lenses do not take them apart. This may be possible, but serves no good purpose and affords a splendid opportunity for dust to get into the tube and make all sorts of trouble. Keep the lenses clean but do not overdo the cleaning. Optical glass is soft and easily scratched and a scratched lens will never reveal the full beauty of the preparations to be examined.