I am having some pains trying to get a proper microtome
technique developed. I am using an A/O 820 rotary microtome.
The initial sections curled badly when coming off the block.
Reducing the section thickness helped, but not acceptably so.
- Is it possible that the paraffin I am using is too hard?
- Do you lubricate the blade, to keep the thin sections from
sticking to the top of the specimen block when it cycles
back above the blade?
My goal is to get a nice 'ribbon' coming off the block.
Also, on clearing the section of parafin once laid on the slide:
The text I am using suggests Xylol baths. So far, it still leaves
a cloudy residue on the specimen and slide.
Any techniques to help? Thanks!
Roger Paulson
rspaulson at worldnet.att.net
