Micros: What I do is use a regular but extra long tweezers. On the inside of
each tine, I glue a tiny bit of soft packing stuff. Like cotton, only it
isn't. At any rate, it works just fine and has enough "give" so the shells
aren't harmed.
        Art
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Monfils <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 11:36 AM
Subject: Re: Micros


> Standard tweezers are not suitable for microshells, for the reasons David
> stated. But biological supply houses sell very fine-tipped tweezers (they
> call them forceps), with which you can actually pick up an individual
grain
> of sand. These are invaluable not just for general handling of micros, but
> also for such tedious jobs as setting opercs in extremely small shells
> (under the microscope, of course). Microshells can also be easily picked
up
> using a small, fine-tipped paint brush (as found in childrens water color
> sets) dipped in water. Dip the brush, remove excess water by touching the
> brush to a paper napkin. Then, when you touch the brush to a microshell,
the
> remaining moisture will cause the shell to adhere, and it can easily be
> transferred to another container, or wherever you want to place it,
without
> damaging it.
>
> Paul M.