karan
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 60
Country: Spain
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Post by karan on Mar 26, 2020 19:49:01 GMT
After a long time with the cardboard box system, I finally decided to move my collection admitting Paul K's advice to drawers from this seller www.paradoxinsects.eu/My first system was with the small boxes that are usually sold here in Europe. Although they are of a good quality, but the material lets the napthalene smell out of the box, and as much as you try to seal it with professional tape, you can see that the closure was very bad. Mini Dessicant bags And these are my new boxes. 2mm hard glass A hermetic closure system that made the odor disappear. Metal rail system to slide the boxes. (Hey, what you see in the background could be an incredible pair of Batocera Wallacei, we will see them in future. Lid resting on the base Lid closed, the closure is quite strong. These preservative jars are a good idea, I like to have a pair per drawer. Really a good purchase and at a good price, if you are in Europe of course. Thanks for the advice Paul. BATOCERA WALLACEI PROSERPINA
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Post by Paul K on Mar 26, 2020 21:00:10 GMT
I’m glad i could help.
I want to add that even shipping to Canada or US plus cost of drawers is half price what Bioquip offers. On top of this Paradox drawers are more tight than Bioquip ( I used Bioquip drawers before but I convert all my cabinets and collection to European standard ).
Paul
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karan
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 60
Country: Spain
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Post by karan on Mar 26, 2020 21:44:42 GMT
Thank you Paul Well, I don't know what the closing of the Bioquip drawers will be like but it almost takes two people to open the Paradox drawers. I was very lucky because it so happened that when it occurred to me to ask for the drawers, he had to make a delivery in Madrid of a lot of drawers and mine came to Barcelona in the same truck. And I thought try make the cabinet by myself to save some euros, and an advice for whoever reads me, better not, he does them very well for a very reasonable price. I forgot to ask for a 8 cm high drawer for my Dinastydes, at the moment they will continue in the old boxes. The truth is to change all the boxes, review and correct all the data on the labels, this is proving heavy but satisfactory. Although now that I see them in nice boxes, I think I'm going to rearrange each one to give a more formal position to the legs.
Fran
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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 27, 2020 3:55:55 GMT
My compliments, on an outstanding preparation job of that Batocera pair ! That male looks to be at or close to 7 cm. in body length which would place it in the "above average" category...
Those drawers certainly look top quality. Very very nice!
I am happy for you that you were able to finally get your collection out of those much smaller boxes. I continue to buy drawers as best I can afford them however, I can never quite keep up and I don't even collect half the things that I would love to...
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karan
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 60
Country: Spain
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Post by karan on Mar 27, 2020 16:54:38 GMT
Thank you Trephor
I was inspired by the book Les coleopteres du monde J. Rigout Batocerini 1. My contribution was to relocate the antennas so that the female can be under the male, and in contravention of the book I also like the first pair of legs at a 90 degree angle.
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bandrow
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 80
Country: USA
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Post by bandrow on Apr 11, 2020 14:35:04 GMT
Greetings,
Your Batocera pair is really nice - that genus is one of my favorites. I prefer to tuck the legs and wrap the antennae because the species are so space "expensive" - 4 pairs prepared like yours and the drawer is full - but beautiful! I did prepare my largest pair of Batocera wallacei just like yours - I could not resist showing off the size. I almost prepared them with the antennae projecting forward as they would in living specimens, but I feared breaking them at some point.
I don't have a camera right now and my phone is a cheap one, but I'll try to take and post some images of my Batocera and related genera at some point soon...
Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by trehopr1 on Apr 11, 2020 19:36:27 GMT
Here, is a photograph of one of my World Cerambycidae drawers. I am posting it to show the different styles which the antennae may be prepared. The giant Callipogon armillatus features an "aesthetically pleasing" natural pose which I have seen in several live Cerambycidae. The quite large Batocera hercules features a very real position which I observed in a photograph of a live one. It was my inspiration for this specimen. And yet, you will still see others within the drawer with their antennae either "tucked-in" close to the body or "wrapped" around the specimen (as bandrow detailed). (These research prepared specimens were acquired from an ardent beetle enthusiast whose collection was research based and space of coarse was optimized). Though, I have not spread these others as yet; I may in time. Although, a couple do appeal to me just as they are and will be left alone. By the way, my oldest specimen in the drawer is the "smallish" Macrodontia cervicornis collected in Dec. 1900
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karan
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 60
Country: Spain
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Post by karan on Apr 11, 2020 22:00:03 GMT
Greetings,
Your Batocera pair is really nice - that genus is one of my favorites. I prefer to tuck the legs and wrap the antennae because the species are so space "expensive" - 4 pairs prepared like yours and the drawer is full - but beautiful! I did prepare my largest pair of Batocera wallacei just like yours - I could not resist showing off the size. I almost prepared them with the antennae projecting forward as they would in living specimens, but I feared breaking them at some point.
I don't have a camera right now and my phone is a cheap one, but I'll try to take and post some images of my Batocera and related genera at some point soon...
Cheers! Bandrow
atoceras is also one of my favorite genus, it is true that a beautiful placement requires a lot of space in the box which in the end is money. I would like to see your copies when you can take the photos, in the meantime. Batocera Wallacei
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karan
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 60
Country: Spain
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Post by karan on Apr 11, 2020 22:11:02 GMT
Here, is a photograph of one of my World Cerambycidae drawers. I am posting it to show the different styles which the antennae may be prepared. The giant Callipogon armillatus features an "aesthetically pleasing" natural pose which I have seen in several live Cerambycidae. The quite large Batocera hercules features a very real position which I observed in a photograph of a live one. It was my inspiration for this specimen. And yet, you will still see others within the drawer with their antennae either "tucked-in" close to the body or "wrapped" around the specimen (as bandrow detailed). (These research prepared specimens were acquired from an ardent beetle enthusiast whose collection was research based and space of coarse was optimized). Though, I have not spread these others as yet; I may in time. Although, a couple do appeal to me just as they are and will be left alone. By the way, my oldest specimen in the drawer is the "smallish" Macrodontia cervicornis collected in Dec. 1900
Wov A nice box as usual trehopr1, Batocera hercules I think 90mm a good specimen like the ctenoscelis coeus much bigger than the one I have (it would not have been cheap), and neither would the Batocera frenchi mmm maybe 65mm? And that peculiar couple you have on top, I recently saw one on ebay and it was a price to pass out. Lactator, calloplophora graffi all good specimens, and a very nice placement of antennas, a pity that they take up so much space, sorry I correct a pity that the drawers are expensive . The incredible callipogon... , a doubt the drawer is oak?
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Post by trehopr1 on Apr 12, 2020 0:48:54 GMT
Hello karen, you are correct that the drawer used for this grouping is oak ! Quite heavy really; probably weighs about the same as 2 1/2 (pine) Cornell drawers.
I only have 10 such drawers which I got from a friend who is a carpenter/woodworker. He made around 80 drawers just like it some 25 years ago (took him 6 months). I bought 10 at the time and he kept the others for his collection. They are quite well made with pretty close tolerances since he has the right tools for such work. However, once I got the 10 from him I decided not to get any more because of their weight.
When I look over this drawer again I'll take some additional close-ups and perhaps measurements.
I absolutely love those 2 pairs of Batocera you have shown us. I would not do them any other way. They are spread to show the "magnificence" of those beetles !
Yes, they do indeed take up space but, you "only live once" and you might as well enjoy your things to their full measure.
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Post by larrycurlymoe on Apr 12, 2020 2:45:22 GMT
I have a few drawers that I acquired 8 to 10 years ago that are unbelievably airtight. The seam between the top & bottom fits absolutely perfectly. I don't know who the manufacturer is, but the person who gave them to me said they came from Japan. They appear to be made of wood, but they are extremely lightweight and could be plastic. I have never placed any type of fumigant in the boxes and they remain free of pests to this day. I wish I had more of them, but I have no idea how to find them. Do these boxes sound familiar to anyone out there? If so, any idea who the manufacturer might be?
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Post by Adam Cotton on Apr 12, 2020 6:48:36 GMT
These sound like standard Japanese boxes, the Sukkit collection is housed in these. They are indeed wood, not plastic. The glass topped lids are so tight fitting that you often need a thick knife to lever them open. I actually use a pair of curved garden trimmers with a sharp blade on the convex edge to open them.
I guess that you can get them from Japanese suppliers, but Roppon Ashi doesn't list them.
Adam.
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jhyatt
Aurelian
Posts: 224
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by jhyatt on Apr 12, 2020 13:46:52 GMT
Are any of the Paradox drawers made to the dimensions of a US Cornell or Cal Academy drawer?
jh
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Post by Paul K on Apr 12, 2020 16:07:35 GMT
Are any of the Paradox drawers made to the dimensions of a US Cornell or Cal Academy drawer? jh As far as I know the size is a standard to Europe 50x40x6cm. Paradox also makes smaller sizes and I think deeper drawers for large Coleoptera. You would have to inquire with them If they could do custom order for American dimensions. For me personally European dimensions are better as per storage wise And aesthetics but for you that already have cabinets to US size it wouldn’t work to switch.
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jhyatt
Aurelian
Posts: 224
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by jhyatt on Apr 14, 2020 14:53:48 GMT
Thanks, Paul K. European dimensions would be fine, except that I do indeed have empty US standard Cornell cabinets already on hand. I'll check with them and see what they can offer.
Cheers, jh
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