Sledge Microtome

Here you can discuss all microscopy-related accessories and equipment (microtomes, filters...)
Post Reply
Message
Author
TonyT
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:30 pm
Location: New Brunswick, CANADA

Sledge Microtome

#1 Post by TonyT » Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:14 pm

Just received an 80A Lipshaw microtome; 18" long, weighs around 100 pounds.
Anyone know the function of the 2 knobs arrowed?
Unfortunately it came with a wrong blade - a 120mm American Optical blade; microtome needs a 230mm blade!
Attachments
lipshaw-sledge.jpg
lipshaw-sledge.jpg (239.84 KiB) Viewed 2258 times
New Brunswick
Canada

ldflan
Posts: 134
Joined: Wed May 22, 2019 11:36 pm
Location: Morna Moruna

Re: Sledge Microtome

#2 Post by ldflan » Mon Dec 06, 2021 1:28 am

First off, wow, cool, congratulations!
Second I am not sure, but that looks like a freezing specimen platform, in which case the white "knob" as probably a port for introducing liquid CO2. The black one might be a valve?
Third I think I might have a big Lipshaw knife - if you're interested, let me know and I will dig around.

Leonard

TonyT
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:30 pm
Location: New Brunswick, CANADA

Re: Sledge Microtome

#3 Post by TonyT » Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:16 am

Thanks, PM sent.
New Brunswick
Canada

TonyT
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:30 pm
Location: New Brunswick, CANADA

Re: Sledge Microtome

#4 Post by TonyT » Sat Feb 26, 2022 8:51 pm

Finally got a decent section with the 10" Lipshaw blade with a setting angle of about 8 degrees; it's a huge blade.
I was having a lot of trouble getting the wax to infiltrate the specimen; actual problem was to get the Toluene to leave the inside of the specimen.
An article in Micscape Magazine suggested using 99% Isopropyl Alcohol as the solvent for the wax. The wax did not dissolve but seemed to form a fine suspension. Allowing the alcohol to evaporate at 60C gave a fully infiltrate specimen: Hydrangea stem from last year (kept in alcohol).

I was able to get complete transverse sections at 10 microns and at 20 microns. However, during later processing the sections were very easily damaged.
Decided to get 30 micron sections. So far so good. Attached is a 30 micron section, dewaxed and in Cedarwood OIl (the black dots are dirt that will wash off).
Next job is to hydrate, stain and mount.
Photo of section: Nikon D90 on an Olympus BH2/BHS, 2.5x projection lens, 1.25x intermediate lens, SPlan Fl 2x objective.
Attachments
microtome blade 26ii22.jpg
microtome blade 26ii22.jpg (105.98 KiB) Viewed 1835 times
hydrangea 26ii22.jpg
hydrangea 26ii22.jpg (311.72 KiB) Viewed 1835 times
New Brunswick
Canada

TonyT
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:30 pm
Location: New Brunswick, CANADA

Re: Sledge Microtome

#5 Post by TonyT » Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:43 pm

stained and mounted in Euparal
Attachments
hydrangea 26ii22 stained.jpg
hydrangea 26ii22 stained.jpg (414.41 KiB) Viewed 1790 times
New Brunswick
Canada

Post Reply