I changed the angle of the dispo knife and adjusted the clamping presure
on the knife itself.  I was cutting bone and it helped.  On bone I have
sometimes turned the specimen 90 degrees in the holder and improved the 
results.
Trisha, Seattle
On Fri, 30 Jul 1999, Alan Bright wrote:

> Phil,
> 
> Have you tried using a conventional steel knife to overcome the chatter.
> 
> Best Regards
> 
> Alan Bright
> 
> Bright Instrument Co.Ltd.
> St Margarets Way
> Huntingdon
> PE18 6EB
> England
> 
> Tel No:+44 (0)1480 454528
> Fax No:+44 (0)1480 456031
> Email: AlanBright@brightinstruments.com
> Web Site: www.brightinstruments.com
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++==
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hall, Phil <Phil.Hall@ubht.swest.nhs.uk>
> To: 'Histonet' <HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>
> Date: Friday, July 30, 1999 02:52
> Subject: Micro-chatters in gastric biopsies
> 
> 
> >Does anyone see microscopic chatters (cracks parallel to the knife edge) in
> >endoscopy biopsies (approx 0.2cm diameter)?
> >
> >We have been seeing these in our paraffin sections of these biopsies so
> >badly that the Pathologists sometimes complain it makes diagnosis
> difficult.
> >We do not seem to have any problems with large tissue blocks or bone.  We
> >cut sections at 3 microns using a manual rotary microtome with disposable
> >S35 blades.
> >So far we have done the following to try to stop this happening:
> >
> >changed microtome - including buying a new one
> >changed blades - including using a different supplier
> >changed the microtome knife angle
> >cut them slower and faster
> >cut them very cold or warm
> >let them float on the water bath for longer or picked them up straight away
> >
> >Any other ideas?
> >
> >
> >Phil Hall
> >Paediatric Pathology
> >St Michael's Hospital
> >BRISTOL
> >UK
> >
> 
> 
> 

Trisha