Marlo,
Better late than never.  I've gotten some very good forceps from an outfit
called Ted Pella.  Long cactus spines are also very useful.  I examine the
specimens in a dish of fine grained sand, either dark or light depending on
the color of the shells to be examined.
 
Kurt
 
 
At 01:05 PM 3/14/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Thanks all for the education on fluids for decication/preservation.
>
>Even if starving, Arctic Eskimos will never eat penguin eggs.  Why not?
>
>Now that I've effectively desicated my microshells I start sorting through
>them using my 10X/20X microscope.
>But I have a hard time handling them, positioning them and especially
>cleaning off the specks of dust, dirt,  etc.  The dental pick is too big,
>tweezers too big and clumsy, and frustration sets in.
>
>1.  Do those of you working with microscopes use tools designed especially
>for these circumstances?  If so, can you recommend specific instruments and
>sources.  The nearest large city is 50 miles away (Orlando).  How about
>some mail order sources?
>2.  Hints on how to hold micros in place and easily rotate, etc.
>
>Watch this string.  I'll confirm the first correct answer - Eskimo eggs
>
>As we get closer to April 15th, I get the urge to remind you that the
>lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math.
>
>Marlo
>