Re: [ccp4bb] foam dewar usage ?

[Henry Bellamy]

  For crystal freezing and such we have largely replaced glass and  
stainless Dewars with foam ones here at the CAMD PX beamline.    You  
can get them directly from www.spearlab.com  for  USD 100.    I agree  
that the lid supplied with the foam Dewar is not very good but you can  
easily make a better one.    I used 1/4 in thick "Volara" (cross- 
linked  polyethylene) foam from McMaster-Carr.   Cut a circle that  
fits in the cavity and then a bigger one, glue them together and you  
have a lid that won't slip off.   You can cut 1/4 in. sheets with a  
pair of scissors.   You can also cut a notch in the lid  to  
accommodate the handles of tongs or vial clamps.  That way the lid is  
closed except when you are actually manipulating the crystal and ice  
accumulation in the N2 is minimal.
HTH  Henry

Henry Bellamy
Associate Professor - Research
Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices
Louisiana State University
6980 Jefferson Hwy.
Baton Rouge LA 70806
225-578-9342 (voice)
225-578-6954 (fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]