Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

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jimur
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Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#1 Post by jimur » Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:34 pm

Are there blade holders available for the AO 820 which allow the use of regular razor blades? If so where might I locate one and what might I expect to pay? I presume if available it would clamp into the standard blade holder. Will also appreciate any alternate info or suggestions.
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mrsonchus
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#2 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:09 pm

This is the type of holder that you'll need. It takes disposable microtome blades (not std razor blades) of the 'low profile' type such as those branded 'Feather' ; these are also often available on e-bay, in packs of 50.
The above is for thin microtomy of fully processed tissue, such as those ultimately embedded in paraffin-wax blocks for sectioning.....

What type of sectioning are you going to use?
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#3 Post by jimur » Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:03 pm

Thanks for the quick response MrSonchus. My interest has evolved toward botany and I think I would like to pursue that area. I just stumbled across a blade holder shown in the 820 ref manual which shows a Model 966 razor blade holder which mounts into the standard knife holder.
Screenshot 966.png-001.jpg
Screenshot 966.png-001.jpg (114.96 KiB) Viewed 3923 times
Will this not work? Perhaps I'm over looking something?? I have a Lab-Tek cassette holder which came along with my 820 though I've never attempted any embedding. I seem to enjoy frustrating myself and thought I would try to give wax a go. :)
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#4 Post by MicroBob » Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:06 pm

Razor blades are fairly thin for sectioning and will probably chatter quicker than comfortable, so I wouldn't spend much energy on getting such a holder.
Sharp, a lot thicker and very sharp are cutter blades by the company OLFA, e.g. LBB 50.

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jimur
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#5 Post by jimur » Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:57 pm

probably chatter quicker than comfortable
Interesting Bob. I would not have thought there would be enough blade exsposed or cycles per minute to create chatter.
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#6 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:54 pm

You'd be surprised how good an ordinary razorblade may perform when well-mounted..
Here's a post of mine from way-back when I was wrestling with the limitations of the 'Cambridge Rocking Microtome' device, in as much as the re-sharpening of the steel knives used routinely with said 'tome, and as used in the generations of instruments such as the AO820...

I now use a more recent (but still nowhere near SOTA of course) Shandon AS0325 with disposable blades - cuts like a dream down to 1µ.
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#7 Post by BramHuntingNematodes » Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:26 pm

I got an adapter to hold a ralph knife so sometimes I like to turn down the lights and put on a Donna summer record and get down (with making thin sections)
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jimur
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Re: Info needed on AO 820 "tome"

#8 Post by jimur » Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:54 pm

mrsonchus » Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:54 pm
You'd be surprised how good an ordinary razorblade may perform when well-mounted..
Here's a post of mine from way-back
Quite impressive Mr Sonchus .Perhaps I should just find a good source for cello tape and save my pennies until I can pay $200 for a low profile disposable blade holder.
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