We are also using mechanical pencils, with Richard Allen Super Uprite
slides.  The frosting is white and much smoother than many of the slides
available.

Jennifer MacDonald

> ----------
> From: 	Su, Phy-Huynh[SMTP:psu@shctampa.usf.edu]
> Sent: 	Monday, November 13, 2000 9:13 AM
> To: 	'Jim Staruk'
> Cc: 	'Histonet'
> Subject: 	RE: Marking pens
> 
> I've always used and only trusted pencil.  For the past 3 years, I have
> swiched to mechanical pencil (0.5mm or 0.3mm lead) so that I don't have to
> sharpen them at all.  Worked great on cassettes, paper labels in
> processing
> steps, on slides etc....
> My penny worth of experience.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Jim Staruk [SMTP:Jstaruk@masshistology.com]
> > Sent:	Monday, November 13, 2000 8:15 AM
> > To:	HistoNet Server
> > Subject:	re:  Marking pens
> > 
> > Dear Connie and others,
> > 
> > I also ran into a disastrous situation last week because of marking
> pens.
> > A
> > client delivered many cassettes, all marked with marking pens (I don't
> > know
> > which make and he's on vacation this week, so I can't ask him).  We
> > processed half of them and when we went to embed them, about half of the
> > cassettes were totally blank.  The numbers were completely washed off!
> > The
> > others were from light to pristine.  I took the remaining un-processed
> > cassettes and re-labeled each one on the side with my trusty #2 lead
> > pencil.
> > I monitored this batch and noted that all numbers were pristine going
> into
> > the first paraffin bath.  When it was time to embed them (two changes of
> > 58
> > degree paraffin, 2 hours each), about half of the cassettes were blank!
> > The
> > pencil numbering on the sides saved us.  When we grouped the cassettes
> > into
> > their appropriate cases, I noticed each case was either pristine or
> > completely washed off.  My conclusion was that different pens were used
> > for
> > different cases and there is a bad lot of pens out there (if, in fact he
> > used the same brand for all of his cases).
> > 
> > I have used #2 pencils for 25 years and have never lost a number.  I
> keep
> > an
> > electric pencil sharpener close by to keep the points nice and sharp.
> My
> > philosophy is:  If it isn't broken, don't fix it!
> > 
> > If you want, I'll inform this group next week which pens were used in
> the
> > above case.
> > 
> > Jim
> > 
> > ____________________________
> > James E. Staruk, HT(ASCP)
> > Mass Histology Service
> > http://www.masshistology.com
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Connie Grubaugh [mailto:conniejgrubaugh@webtv.net]
> > > Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2000 6:26 PM
> > > To: HistoNet Server
> > > Subject: Re: Daily Digest
> > >
> > >
> > > Reguarding  Securline Marker ll Superfrost marking pens.
> > > In  the past couple of weeks we have been having a lot of trouble with
> > > these pens, the numbers have been coming off during processing and
> when
> > > we scrape the paraffin off the blocks the number goes with it.  We
> write
> > > the number on the top and on the sides.
> > > If anyone has any insight into this problem I would appreciate your
> > > comments.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
>