Although I do not use this kind of microtome in particular, I do 
dismantle and clean my blade holder after every use. I find it needs 
it and long term maintenance as well as section quality is better for 
my machine. If someone who knows what they are doing does the 
cleaning then there should be no problem over time -- to ensure this 
I completely orient new users to every aspect of the machine.

That being said, this tech should follow whatever the working 
procedure is in your lab. I agree with Rene J in that a written SOP 
should solve your problems. Write one for the lab as a whole or for 
each brand of microtome and insist that the techs follow it.




At 10:24 AM -0800 12/1/05, Rene J Buesa wrote:
>Hi Cindy:
>   First it is not necessary to take appart a knife holder daily. For 
>what you describe
>   this techs acts as some do, thinking that they are like 
>"independent contractors"
>   within the lab setting able to do anything the want regardless of 
>general rules.
>   Do you have an SOP that addresses this cleaning procedure? If you don't you
>   can write this aspect and have everybody to adhere to it.
>   With some statistics about recuts required for bad technique you 
>can also try
>   to convince her.
>   You could also get advise from the sales representative regarding 
>this practice.
>   If everything fails you will have to impose authority on the issue.
>   Hope you will be able to reign in this stubborn tech.
>   Rene J.
>
>Cindy DuBois  wrote:
>   This is a question for those techs who cut on a manual Reichert-Jung 2030.
>I have one tech who insists on completely taking apart her knife 
>holder everyday to clean it. She removes the springs and all. This 
>person is also the only tech who has trouble cutting and is 
>constantly having to recut a specimen or nearly cutting through 
>needle biopsies.
>I maintain that handling the knife holder spring so much causes the 
>problems (knife won't clamp tight evenly, chatter and skipping). The 
>other techs, including myself only dismantle and clean the knife 
>holder about once a month. We have had to purchase new spring and 
>bolts for this microtome about every 6 months, whereas the other 
>microtomes have never had to be replaced. How do I go about telling 
>this person to quit cleaning so much.
>I have had the knife holder and microtome serviced to make sure 
>there is nothing else wrong. I have cut on that machine and find it 
>cuts beautifully as long as you don't take it apart after every 10 
>blocks to clean behind the blade.
>
>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated,
>
>Cindy DuBois
>Integrated Pathology Assoc.
>Stockton CA
>

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