[aigel]

Hi John,

Metal objects are the best specimens. Most basic SEMs do not work well with non-conductive materials.
For good SEM images, specimens are often metallized in a sputter system with a few atomic layers of Au, Cu or carbon. Bugs are great specimens but are not useful unless properly prepped. Hair is also great, but won't image well without sputtering first. Maybe take a bug, it must be dry (like a fly you find behind your couch) in case they have a small sputter system to use (these are often made for the purpose of sample prep and inexpensive to run with Cu or carbon target).

An SEM will take nice images of a knife edge and you can focus in on the very tip of the edge. While the magnification may be the same than what you get in the optical microscope on the lower mags, the 3d view you get from the SEM is generally spectacular compared to an optical microscope.

I would worry that the paring knife still is too large. It may fit the chamber, but stage movement is often very limited and you may not be able to drive around to get to the knife edge properly.

I would take a razor blade, just in case. Take a brand new one and one you used a few times to shave!

Other items I can come up with:
watch parts
needle tip
guitar string

Have fun!

G