How to line up threads on a microscope slide

October 20, 2014 6:30 PM

How to line up threads on a microscope slide

I'm making art via photographing microscope slides (through the microscope). My next idea involves laying down corn silk threads on the slide, parallel to each other, side by side. I need about 7 of them to fill the field of view.

Any ideas on how do I "glue" these down?

If I'm not being clear on what I'm trying to do, just say so and I'll try to explain more.

posted by falsedmitri to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

If you get them wet/damp I would expect they would stick of their own accord, and you'd have much more flexibility/time for placing them than if you used any kind of glue.
posted by mskyle at 6:49 PM on October 20, 2014

You could spray the entire slide with a spray adhesive before laying down the threads.

You could dip each end of the threads in glue (maybe dilute with some water first) and glue them to parts of the slide that won't be visible.
posted by hermanubis at 6:49 PM on October 20, 2014

Response by poster: Hmmm ... spray adhesive ... I'll have to see it looks under the lens.

It's like i need the worlds finest comb.
posted by falsedmitri at 7:14 PM on October 20, 2014

Double sided tape on either side of the stage ought to do it.
posted by tchemgrrl at 7:18 PM on October 20, 2014

How about coating the slide with a very thin layer of vegetable oil? Not enough to get the threads all soggy, but just enough to get them to stick. Or just treat the edges of the slide (out of the field of view) if you don't want the oil to show. In that case you could use a thicker oil or grease.
posted by hangashore at 7:50 PM on October 20, 2014

In case you didn't know, a general term for what you want to do is mounting. The googles will give you things like specific optical microscope-friendly adhesives .
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:27 AM on October 21, 2014

Depending on what you are going for and whether you need to preserve the slides after you photograph them, you could use a dab of corn syrup on each edge of the slide, fix each corn silk and stretch it to the other side.

I don't know how it compares to other mounting media in regard to fixability, but it may enhance the "corn"iness of your art piece.
posted by CathyG at 6:01 AM on October 21, 2014

Stick them down with clear nail polish? I used to use it to fix down the edges of cover slips on microscope slides.
posted by penguinliz at 9:00 AM on October 21, 2014

Response by poster: I have Cytoseal for glue
posted by falsedmitri at 3:15 PM on October 21, 2014