I use a similar technique with JB-4 and MMA to transfer sections. I use the
fine EM type tweezers and this allows me to use a toothpick or trimmed
applicator stick if I need it.  Dropping from a slight height is the best.
It always seems to find a way to wrap around if I go directly on to water.
Slightly warm water 35 degrees C can help too.  I also use one or two drops
of Photo Flow (from the photography shop) in my water bath to decrease the
surface tension.  Be careful to much will sink your sections to the bottom.
This is one time when more is not good!!  Pam Marcum

-----Original Message-----
From: Jochen Schuck [mailto:jschuck@otogene.de]
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 2:44 AM
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: help with transfering plastic sections


Hi Gary,
we have been using Technovit 8100, which is to my knowledge a
glycolmethacrylate and the rolling and folding of thinner sections was
indeed a problem. We solved it by taking the section during cutting
immediately from the knive with tweezers.  We then hold the section over a
waterbath (40-60#176#C) and let it fall onto the water from a few inches. If you
try to place it on the watersurface directly it will usually fold around the
tip of your tweezers.
If you have an automatic microtome then you will find a certain cutting
velocity usefull for getting the rythm of cutting, taking and throwing the
sections.
Watch out though! Be carefull not to let the tip of you tweezers be drawn
into the knive by the block.
Good luck and safe cutting!

Jochen Schuck

> Von: Gary Radice <gradice@richmond.edu>
> Antworten an: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Datum: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 12:02:03 -0500
> An: HistoNet Server <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
> Betreff: help with transfering plastic sections
>
> We are cutting glycolmethacrylate sections, around 1 micrometer thick,
with
> glass knives and are having a difficult time transfering sections to
> microscope slides without the sections folding. How do you do it/ Does
> anyone have a favorite technique they would care to share?
>
> Gary P. Radice   gradice@richmond.edu
> Associate Professor of Biology  804 289 8107 (voice)
> University of Richmond  804 289 8233 (FAX)
> Richmond VA 23173  http://www.science.richmond.edu/~radice
>
>
>