Polishing

Method

Material

• Griding paper grit 1200, 2400 and 4000
• Distilled water
• Alumina powder 1 micron
• Velvet disk
• Microscope
• Wiping tissue
• Gloves

Technic

1. Polish with a grade 1200 griding paper to reach otolith surface.

2. Clean otolith (water + careful wiping with optic paper).

3. Polish with a grade 2400 sand paper 20 seconds, 150 t/min speed.

4. Rinse with water and wipe.

5. Check primordium position under microscope.

6. Reniew step 3 to step 5 until the promordium is reached.

7. Clean the slide with a lot of distilled water.

8. Polish carefully with 1 micron alumin powder mixed with water on a velvet disk to smooth the surface
Clean the slide and leave it to dry.

 

If you are using the technic for the first time, polish on grit 1200 only for 20 second at a time and check the nucleus position very often. To make the observation easier, smooth the surface with 1 micron alumina for each observation and dry the slide carefuly .