[Histonet] cleaning microtomes

[Galbraith, Joe]

Mariann:

I totally agree and should have mentioned in my post that one should never
spray a cleaner directly onto the microtome.  My oversight.  Thanks.

Joe Galbraith

-----Original Message-----
From: mari.ann.mailhiot <@t> leica-microsystems.com
[mailto:mari.ann.mailhiot <@t> leica-microsystems.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 3:29 PM
To: Galbraith, Joe
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] cleaning microtomes



Joe

Paraguard or mineral oil have been my choice. I have tried to get away from
xylene as much as possible.

Any cleaner such as 409 is fine.  You just don't want the 409 solution to
get on the inside of the microtome. It is better to spray the solution on a
piece of gauze. In fact, I always spray the paragaurd on the gauze and then
wipe my microtome. If I have to much paraguard on the microtome, I just
take and put some alcohol on a piece of gauze and wipe the paraguard off of
the microtome.

Regards

Mari Ann Mailhiot BA HT ASCP
Application Specialist
Leica Technical Assistance Center
800 248 0123 x7267
847 236 3063 fax
mari.ann.mailhiot <@t> leica-microsystems.com
www.leica-microsystems.com


 

                      "Galbraith, Joe"

                      <GalbraithJ <@t> uihc.uiowa.edu>         To:
"'RCHIOVETTI <@t> aol.com'" <RCHIOVETTI <@t> aol.com>, Jmrwalker <@t> aol.com,         
                      Sent by:
histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu

                      histonet-admin <@t> lists.utsouth        cc:

                      western.edu                         Subject:  RE:
[Histonet] cleaning microtomes                                      
 

 

                      09/09/2003 03:03 PM

 

 





Histonetters:

Most people in my lab use Paraguard to clean microtomes but some prefer 409
(Misty Breeze has a nice smell).  The 409 cleaner seems to do as good of a
job as Paraguard and costs less and smells better.

Joe Galbraith

-----Original Message-----
From: RCHIOVETTI <@t> aol.com [mailto:RCHIOVETTI <@t> aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 1:15 PM
To: Jmrwalker <@t> aol.com; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] cleaning microtomes


In a message dated 09/09/2003 7:51:39 AM US Mountain Standard Time,
Jmrwalker <@t> aol.com writes:

<< After you are finished cutting on
 your microtome, what do you use to clean it?  Our lab in the past always
used
 xylene or alcohol to clean it.  A few new people have been hired in the
 lab

and
 now Paragard and baby oil have been used.  I'm just curious what the
majority
 of people in histoland are using.  Thanks! >>


I see mostly Paragard being used in our customers' labs, and I agree with
the
other posters, if the "slick" surface is a problem after the Paragard
treatment you can then wipe down with a little ethanol or isopropanol.

With time xylene can affect the surfaces of the microtome's external parts,
especially if used in excess.  Lots of the microtome parts have anodized
(plated) surfaces that are either black or clear, and you'd think they
would
hold up
to just about any kind of abuse.  But they will definitely break down and
corrode with prolonged or repeated exposure to xylene.  This can lead to
pitting
and discoloration of the surfaces.

If you *do* use xylene, use it sparingly and be sure to wear gloves.  I
personally don't like the stuff.  Try to use a substitute instead.

First, use a brush or gauze pad to remove the majority of the paraffin.
Then
use only enough xylene or xylene substitute to barely moisten a gauze 4x4
or

a tissue.  Wipe off the excess immediately with another dry gauze or
tissue.

You can also follow this with an alcohol wipe-down like you would use with
Paragard if the surface feels slick or oily after you clean it.

Hope this helps!

Bob Chiovetti
GTI Microsystems
Leica Regional Dealer
Desert Southwest Region, USA

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