My Homemade Microtome

[JimT]

Here is my "crude" microtome. Consists of a block of wood, a thumb screw, a "T" nut, and a flat washer glued to the wood with Gorilla glue. I imagine epoxy would also work. It has two different size holes for small specimens and larger ones. The top 2/3's of the hole is slightly smaller than the portion for the "T" nut to provide a better fit for the thumb screw.

I use a double edge razor with masking tape on one edge so I don't cut my fingers off. I find I can get a thinner section than with a single edge razor.

[einman]

Does this mean you aren't buying my AO 815??

[rnabholz]

Excellent Jim!

The simplicity of your device and the great results you get demonstrate very well how this stuff is easily within the reach of anybody on any budget.

Well done sir.

Rod

[JimT]

Thanks guys. Sorry Einman but I'll stick with KISS Only regret is I didn't use finer threads on the larger "T" bolt and thumb screw. That was the first one I did which led to me doing the smaller one.

JimT

[charlie]

Only regret is I didn't use finer threads on the larger "T" bolt and thumb screw. That was the first one I did which led to me doing the smaller one.

Along with finer threads, consider using the bolt to move a lever (like one arm of a scissors) to make a tiny movement to the sample being cut.

[JimT]

Charlie, good idea but probably beyond my simple craftsmanship abilities

[gekko]

Elegant microtome, and it gives great results.

[charlie]

probably beyond my simple craftsmanship abilities

You are being modest. I can see you are a woodworker! (The razor blade end should be shorter that the "artwork" shows.)

[Dale]

Enter Micrometer Heads into ebay, you'll get a lot of ideas.
Dale

[duncankunz]

But how do you hold the specimen in place before you section it? I seem to remember from when I was a kid playing with my original microscope that the approach was to embed the specimen in melted wax; then, when it hardened, insert the wax-tube with the specimen in the microtome. Is that what you do?

[JimT]

Duncankunz, if the specimen is too small to stay secure in one of the two holes I either jam in more stem sections to hold everything in place or (all else fails) I wedge the specimen inside a raw carrot. Not perfect but if I had to contend with wax I probably wouldn't do it.

My approach to sections is take many and only show the better ones.

Give it a try.

JimT