I too put blocks face down on ice. But I don't like to face them first, 
because the tissue will swell. If you reface the block , you lose some 
tissue.  I agree with David well fixed well processed tissue does not need 
soaking. The distortion sometimes caused by soaking is a problem. 
Inexperienced techs trying to cut serial sections on biopsy material don't 
always notice that the first sections off of soaked blocks are a little 
thick. Not to mention the loss of tissue due to the swelling. I know some 
techs feel that it is faster to face and soak blocks, but I worry about the 
tissue lost from biopsy specimens due to swelling.

Rena Fail AS,HT(ASCP)
SS/IHC
Medical University of SC
Charleston,SC