October 17, 2012

Maximizing Blade Usage - GG

It is possible to use THREE sections of the blade instead of just two. When you slide the blade in, just make sure that it's parallel to the edge of the knife.  The blunt edge of the blade should fit snugly into the groove.  Use your screwdriver to double check the tightness of the top screws, and you'll be good to go!

Disclaimer: I've tested this with three different knives without any problems. I have not, however, tested it with the smaller black-top knives. Just to be safe, take a few practice cuts from the safety layer or from a tissue block that you no longer need before cutting actual slides for the doctor.

A side note: If you make really wide OCT mounts (wider than the metal disc), you probably won't get good results with this method.  All that excess OCT will dull the adjacent section of the blade and you'll only get two sharp areas of the blade before you have to change it out.


Position #1: Insert the blade just far enough to cut the block.
Position #2: Roughly in the middle. You won't be able to see either of the 2 elliptical holes.
Position #3: Move the blade all the way over until just the tail end of the blade is cutting the block.

Safety Update: In Position #3, notice how there's quite a bit of exposed blade on the left-hand side. You run the risk of cutting yourself, since your left hand is the one that's working inside the machine.  I've found that it's safer to take the blade out and flip it over so that the blade looks like Position #1 but with the circular hole on the right side.