I have used melted Vaseline and a 10mL Erlenmeyer flask. The mouth of the Erlenmeyer is the same size as the opening of the VDX plate. Dip flask mouth in melted Vaseline, then press the mouth of the flask onto the opening of the VDX plate.
----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dima Klenchin" <klenc...@facstaff.wisc.edu> > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 11:55:07 AM > Subject: [ccp4bb] sealing slides on VDX plates? > Hello, > > I wonder what everyone is using for sealing hanging drop slides on VDX > plates? For the most part, we paraffin oil but I am unhappy with it > because > it is too think and too frequently there is break in the oil and the > drop > dries too much. I find vacuum grease to be not terribly practical > because > it takes too much time - particularly when the well needs to be opened > (seeding, modifying well content, etc). > > In ideal world I would like to find a much thicker oil that 1) > contains as > little volatiles as paraffin oil, and 2) allows no more water vapor > diffusion through it than paraffin oil. Hampton suggests Cargille > immersion > oils for this purpose but the MSDS for these oils states that they > have > slight odor, so I am a bit concerned with unknown volatiles getting > into > crystallization drop. > > So, what do you like to use? Thanks much, > > - Dima -- Kay Perry NE-CAT 9700 S. Cass Ave. Bldg. 436 E007 Argonne, IL 60439 630-252-0692
