ren
Aurelian
Natural History Fan
Posts: 100
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Post by ren on Sept 26, 2018 21:59:59 GMT
I am using one from Wards Scientific; however, the basswood surface is way too hard, it makes it difficult to pin.
I would like an angled board with a softer surface.
I would like it adjustable.
I would like one with a larger size, so I can do 6" butterflies.
I am in the USA.
Any recommendations?
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Post by Paul K on Sept 26, 2018 22:48:08 GMT
Home Depot: Polystyrene Foam Insulation Panel - 2' x 8' x 1/2" ( blue or pink ) cut to size, bottom part make wide so you can glue two stripes on top + grove for body. Very cheap, any size. You can make it angle too by rising one side of top part and support with anything and glue together. I spread thousands of moths and butterflies on those.
Paul
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Post by deliasfanatic on Sept 27, 2018 1:20:51 GMT
This fellow is in Quebec and I'm in the US, but I buy all of my boards (and cabinets) from him. Prices are extremely low, and he'll customize boards any way that you like, i.e. width/depth of strip and angled/non-angled surface. They're styrofoam, not wood, but I've set many thousands of specimens on them with no problem. www.atelierjeanpaquet.com/en/
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Post by Paul K on Sept 28, 2018 4:36:52 GMT
I just bought one panel for US$7.00 and I will make in 2-3 hours about 30 spreading boards which will be good for at least 4-5 thousands of specimens.
Paul
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Post by Paul K on Sept 28, 2018 4:48:29 GMT
I used to make them out of the wood stripes but they are more expensive, time consuming to produced and psocids (booklice) like to wander on them as the wood always got some mould on.
Paul
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ren
Aurelian
Natural History Fan
Posts: 100
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Post by ren on Sept 28, 2018 13:04:19 GMT
Foam boards seem like a good option then.
deliasfanatic, the foam ones in quebec you mentioned look nice. About how much do you think would it be to ship some to the USA? How do you pay with USD, since the company is canadian?
Pauk K, could you show me a picture of your homemade boards, so I can see how feasable it would be to make my own?
Also, what angle would you all recommend- 5 or 10 degrees?
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Post by deliasfanatic on Sept 28, 2018 13:52:57 GMT
I haven't ordered any in awhile, but you can ask Jean for a shipping quote. It didn't cost much the last time I ordered; I think it was around $10-15 for a box of boards. He accepts credit cards or a personal cheque; he typically gives a better exchange rate for the latter, so ask him about the price for both payment methods.
I dislike angled boards and special-order mine completely flat.
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Post by Paul K on Sept 28, 2018 13:59:53 GMT
Foam boards seem like a good option then. deliasfanatic, the foam ones in quebec you mentioned look nice. About how much do you think would it be to ship some to the USA? How do you pay with USD, since the company is canadian? Pauk K, could you show me a picture of your homemade boards, so I can see how feasable it would be to make my own? Also, what angle would you all recommend- 5 or 10 degrees? I made them flat as they are better for papered specimens, but I will make few angled now as they are more useful for fresh specimens as they tend to drop a bit. Paul
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Post by Paul K on Sept 28, 2018 14:01:22 GMT
I want to add that the blue once are from bioquip and the cost of one is approximate to 30 of homemade.
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ren
Aurelian
Natural History Fan
Posts: 100
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Post by ren on Sept 28, 2018 15:02:59 GMT
Thank you both for the feedback.
Paul K, your boards look nice and simple. I do want an angled board.
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ren
Aurelian
Natural History Fan
Posts: 100
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Post by ren on Sept 28, 2018 15:55:44 GMT
deliasfanatic, how long do you think one of the boards you bought from Canada would last?
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Post by deliasfanatic on Sept 28, 2018 18:41:54 GMT
deliasfanatic, how long do you think one of the boards you bought from Canada would last? Depending on size, I usually get 4-5 specimens on a board at one time, and I keep using them until there are so many pinholes that they finally need to be "retired". I don't really know how long that is, but I suppose that would be at least 100 uses for each area of board space. I get even more by shifting spaces when the board gets a lot of holes. Let's say that a board holds 5 specimens along its length. After it becomes worn, I'll get more usage by using it for 4 specimens instead, those being placed between the original "spaces" where the pinholes are less numerous.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Sept 28, 2018 18:44:45 GMT
Let me ask: unless it's to account for drooping of fresh-caught specimens, why do you want an angled board? I don't see any other advantage to them, and there are several disadvantages:
1) Closeup photography is hindered by a non-flat surface 2) Difficult to shingle specimens, especially if you were to do this in a horizontal row 3) Less attractive than flat setting (in my opinion)
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ren
Aurelian
Natural History Fan
Posts: 100
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Post by ren on Sept 28, 2018 19:40:26 GMT
Thank you for the info.
I am a novice and just learning to spread butterflies.
I like the look of angled wings, rather than flat ones... just a person preference.
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ren
Aurelian
Natural History Fan
Posts: 100
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Post by ren on Sept 29, 2018 19:16:58 GMT
One more thought- I am using glass slides to hold down the wings.
It occurred to me that with a foam board, the wings might not dry very well on foam with glass slides, given how the foam is "waterproof."
What do you all think?
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