Making glass knives from microscope slides

[Gordhandas]

Figure 6-2, Page 78, Plant Microtechnique and Microscopy, Treven E. Ruzin shows how to create glass knives for mictotomes from ordinary microscope slides.

I have attempted this with a friend and we kept getting straight breaks rather than a knife edge.

Has anyone had scussess from making glass knives from miroscope slides? If so can you share your method?

[MichaelG.]

Very interesting … but no, I have never tried.
I suspect that success might depend on the type [and quality] of the glass.

Another rabbit-hole to explore !!

MichaelG.
.
… and explore, I did : finding this useful note from Leica
https://www.leica-microsystems.com/scie ... lications/

MichaelG.

[josmann]

Figure 6-2, Page 78, Plant Microtechnique and Microscopy, Treven E. Ruzin shows how to create glass knives for mictotomes from ordinary microscope slides.

I have attempted this with a friend and we kept getting straight breaks rather than a knife edge.

Has anyone had scussess from making glass knives from miroscope slides? If so can you share your method?

Are you sure you're using the same glass type as described in the book?

[Leitzcycler]

I have done this a lot. However, I have always used glass strips specifically made for EM ultra microtomy. You first cut a square and then divide it half to make two triangles. You may use an ordinary glass knife and pliers to get a reasonable good quality knife for light microscopy.

There seems to be those stripes in ebay e.g. https://www.ebay.com/itm/402979555070?h ... R7Tm3sytYg

As far as I know the glass quality is important (hardness and the way they have been casted).

[TonyT]

A long time ago I saw a university researcher make microtome knives by whacking a piece of plate glass with a hammer. It shattered into many pieces, several of which had very thin and sharp edges.

[Gordhandas]

Has anyone had scussess from making glass knives from miroscope slides? If so can you share your method?
[/quote]

Are you sure you're using the same glass type as described in the book?
[/quote]

The book says microscope slides and have tried it with Soda glass and Borosilicate glass.

[Gordhandas]

A long time ago I saw a university researcher make microtome knives by whacking a piece of plate glass with a hammer. It shattered into many pieces, several of which had very thin and sharp edges.

Many thanks for that. A friend who has made glass knives for Electron Microscopes tells me the best way is to drop a whole box of slides and shatter them all. Then look for the ones with the best edge profile. Place glass idea is another one to try, perhaps with greenhouse glass; easy to hold off and cheap enough. Thanks for the idea.