[Histonet] Sections sticking to tweezers

[Caroline Miller]

Yes +1 to the chilling of the forceps, especially when you are just
starting out. I often kept two pairs - one I was using and the other
chilling. Also agree about turning your waterbath down a little.

good luck!
Caroline

On Mon, May 8, 2023 at 6:35 AM Rosa, Taylor via Histonet <
histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:

> Hi Ken,
>
> Try chilling the tips of the forceps (I usually keep mine on the ice bath)
> - as long as they are cold, they shouldn't stick to the paraffin.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Taylor C. Rosa, MS
> Research Scientist I
> Pathology Services | Charles River
> 4025 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 150, Durham, NC 27703
> P: 919.206.7041 | F: 919.206.7001
> taylor.rosa at crl.com | www.criver.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paula Sicurello <patpxs at gmail.com>
> Sent: 06-May-2023 10:57 PM
> To: Ken M <kdean70 at hotmail.com>; Ken M via Histonet <
> histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Sections sticking to tweezers
>
> Hi Ken,
> A few questions:
> 1. What is the melting point of the paraffin you use?  2. Is there a
> specific reason the temperature of your water bath is 38.5 degrees?  3. Do
> your forceps have any type of imperfections? Bumpy, or ridged? Something
> that could snag on the sections?
> If there isn't a specific reason for the water bath temperature to be that
> low (cutting brain sections), I'm thinking that is playing a large part in
> your sticky sections.
> It is common to have the water bath 5 - 10 degrees below the melting point
> of the wax. It helps the sections stretch out from the compression that
> happens when being cut.
> Let's see what others have to say about your sticky situation.
> Paula Sicurello
> On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 8:27 AM, Ken M via Histonet<
> histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:Can anyone tell me why my
> sections are sticking to my tweezers and turning into one long string of
> snot when I try to separate them? I have a good pair of curved stainless
> tweezers and I am trying both the front and the back and tapping sharply
> while allowing the tweezers to open at the separation point. I can separate
> one or two, then it sticks and pulls up 7 or 8 sections into one long slimy
> string. My water bath is set at 38.5 and I am sectioning at 4-5 m. Even
> when I go to 6 it still does it. Any ideas?
> Ken_______________________________________________Histonet mailing
> listHistonet at lists.utsouthwestern.eduhttp://
> lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
> Paula Sicurello
>
>   On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 8:27 AM, Ken M via Histonet<
> histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:   Can anyone tell me why my
> sections are sticking to my tweezers and turning into one long string of
> snot when I try to separate them? I have a good pair of curved stainless
> tweezers and I am trying both the front and the back and tapping sharply
> while allowing the tweezers to open at the separation point. I can separate
> one or two, then it sticks and pulls up 7 or 8 sections into one long slimy
> string. My water bath is set at 38.5 and I am sectioning at 4-5 m. Even
> when I go to 6 it still does it. Any ideas?
>
> Ken
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>


-- 
Caroline Miller, M.Sc
Histology, Imaging, and Image Analysis Specialist
415 2187297
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mills42/