Another adapted gadget I’m pretty pleased with - ‘the hostprods ™ pocket microscope light and image enhancer’.
For the Bioarama Hike I got hold of a bunch of these 60x to 100x pocket microscopes so that we can have a look at the bits and bobs and bugs we encounter as we go around. I took one out for a field trial when I tested the route the other day and wasn’t too impressed as they just don’t give enough light to penetrate any vaguely murky sample. So I’ve built a little light table to provide a strong a focussed light from below as well as above. In the test run I gave it I was able to see nematodes clearly in a few drops of water from the nematode extractor at 100x.
Its simple to make. You will need:
1 x pocket torch (the kind that comes on when you rotate the end with the bulb in it)
1 x CD case
1 x translucent plastic film for a diffuser ( I cut a circle from a plastic CD sleeve)
1 x plastic petri dish
super glue
remove the lid from the CD case and cut the plastic to fit snugly inside
carefully cut the petri dish lid in half
super glue its open side to the inside of the CD case lid
super glue the torch to the flat base of the cut petri dish so that there is room to turn the head to turn on the torch
you’re done.
And to think I nearly spent 25 quid on a light plate in Jessops.