I have used several stains for wood samples, but would like more information. My searches have come up rather short. Does anyone have some suggestions on literature covering this? Either a comprehensive treatment of the topic, or individual stains and treatments.

Currently, I use toluidine blue and phloroglucinol (yuch), and sometimes eosin red. Lugol's is a standard for starch, of course. What others are useful? What do they enhance, how prepared and used?

Thanks for suggestions.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on December 21, 1998 at 22:55:48:

Russ,

In my dim memory I think I found detail on this in texts on microscopy technique. But it was library research, I never owned them or recorded the names of the texts.

Shigo's books may reveal something. He's very proud of his new microscope. When I attended his very first 5 day workshops back in '86 he had a tech on hand to prepare slides. Don't remember if it was a microscopist or a willing grad student, but in any case I'm sure he has sources.

Try scientific or lab supply catalogues for both stains and texts.

You can't live in DE and not know somebody from DuPont. They must have huge labs.

How about the Forest Products Lab in Madison WS. I've always found them helpful.

Scott

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on December 21, 1998 at 22:55:48:


Hi,

Try the text Botanical Histochemistry by William Jensen
It may be out of print but you should be able to find a copy.

There is tons of information in this book, including formulars
for many of the stains discussed.

Mark

Reply to post by Mark Hartley, on December 21, 1998 at 22:55:48:

Off to the library. Thanks.