Yes!, the sandpaper came as a pad on a wooden paddle. That brings back memories of when I took engineering drawing back in college. Wonder if they still make them in this age of computer drawing programs? A cardboard nail file should also work. Jerry -----Original Message----- From: pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Richard Knoppow Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 4:58 PM To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Spotting and Microscope Questions ----- Original Message ----- From: "Koch, Gerald" <gkoch02@xxxxxxxxxx> To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 12:51 PM Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Spotting and Microscope Questions > Scratching shouldn't be a problem since the toothpick > isn't moved from side to > side but rather brought down vertically until it just > contacts the paper and > deposits a droplet of iodine solution. A razor blade can > be used to make a > finer point on the toothpick. Even if a brush is used it > too should be used > with a vertical rather than a side to side motion. > > The spotting dye should be very dilute and density built > up slowly with several > applications. Mix the dye on an old white plate. Unused > dye can be allowed to > dry on the plate and re-dissolved with a small amount of > distilled water > whenever needed. This saves time since you don't have to > re-mix each time. If > you have to fine-tune the color use a toothpick or brush > to add a small amount > of another color rather than using an dropper. Store the > plate with it's dye in > a ziplock bag. Many expert spotters swear that spit is > better than water. > > Spotting dyes are like any other dyes in that they will > fade over time when > exposed to light. > > When you get into magnifications greater than that of a > hand lense hand-eye > coordination becomes a problem. > > Jerry > To make a fine point on a toothpick use the same technique used on drawing pencils, a small card with fine sandpaper on it. This is more controllable. --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ================================================================================ ============================= To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,) and unsubscribe from there. ============================================================================================================= To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,) and unsubscribe from there.