HISTOPATHOLOGY & HISTOTECHNIQUES Honing & stropping

MICROTOME KNIVES Trimming and section cutting are done with a microtome knife, which is available in three basic types or shapes: PLANE CONCAVE KNIFE (usually 25mm in length) one side of the knife is flat while the other is concave Recommended for cutting CELLOIDIN EMBEDDED tissue blocks on a sliding microtome BICONCAVE KNIFE (usually 120mm in length) with both slides concave. Recommended for cutting parrafin embedded tissues on a rotary microtome PLANE-WEDGE KNIFE (usually 100mm in length) have both sides straight Recommended for FROZEN SECTIONS or for cutting extremely hard and tough specimens embedded on paraffin blocks using a sledge or sliding microtome

HONING AND STROPPING

Badly nicked knives with blunted ends have to undergo sharpening in order to achieve optimum sectioning of tissues and prevent gross irregularities on the tissue sections Two steps: HONING involves the removal of gross nicks on the knife edge (Coarse honing) to remove blemishes and grinding the cutting edge of the knife on a stone (Honing proper) to acquire an even edge STROPPING involves the removal of the burrs or irregularities that have been formed during honing and the final polishing of the knifes edge HONING (HARD SHARPENING) Makes use of a HONE A natural sharpening stone or hard grinding surface (Carborundum), which serves to remove nicks and irregularities on the knife edges Types of hones: BELGIUM YELLOW for manual sharpening when cutting edges have been rendered blunt or nicked. Gives the best result ARKANSAS gives more polishing effects FINE CARBORUNDUM is much coarser than the first two types and is used only for badly nicked knives followed by either one of the first two knife sharpeners.

HONING Cleansed with SOFT CLOTH moistened with xylene Covered and lubricated with a thin film ofL Mineral and clove oil Xylene Liquid paraffin Soapy water

 ABRASIVE grinding and removing nicks Finely powdered ALUMINUM OXIDE made into paste with water POLISHING Diamantine in used

STROPPING Polish and sharpen the cutting edge Uses a paddle strop of quality HORSELEATHER Reverse of honing 40-120 double strokes Usually dry and requires oiling (vegetable oil or Castor oil) applied on the BACK of the strop and not on the surface. Should be kept at least 24-48 hours before using MINERAL OILD should not be used because it blisters and destroys leather; as with WAX