Very Good Seller, thank you A+++++

Very Good Seller, thank you A+++++

I received a functional but very old, used & abused unit (many deep scratches and dents) in a smashed in box lined with yellow satin fabric. Must be 20-30 years old.

The microtome works as it should; it is really nothing special but requires practice. I plan to use the microtome to show my children plant sections.

If you have never used one, find videos showing you how to use the device. Searching youtube for "hand microtome" helps. Some people use carrots to hold the samples. I embed samples in wax which curls while cutting but stick well to the piston (inside cylinder pushing up the sample). The piston slides out and I cast the wax in a tube of baking paper rolled around the piston.

I put 2 stars because the seller refunded partly; in my case, it was easier than shipping back and all I needed was a microtome (though I would have preferred a shiny brand new one). Not quite ok but better than plain awful.

I received a functional but very old, used & abused unit (many deep scratches and dents) in a smashed in box lined with yellow satin fabric. Must be 20-30 years old.

The microtome works as it should; it is really nothing special but requires practice. I plan to use the microtome to show my children plant sections.

If you have never used one, find videos showing you how to use the device. Searching youtube for "hand microtome" helps. Some people use carrots to hold the samples. I embed samples in wax which curls while cutting but stick well to the piston (inside cylinder pushing up the sample). The piston slides out and I cast the wax in a tube of baking paper rolled around the piston.

I put 2 stars because the seller refunded partly; in my case, it was easier than shipping back and all I needed was a microtome (though I would have preferred a shiny brand new one). Not quite ok but better than plain awful.

This hand microtome works reasonably well. I find it makes more precise and repeatable sections than freehand sectioning. The included micrometer screw turns smoothly. The table clamp is quite secure, and I use this part all the time. My microtome cutting face had a raised burr one one side around the hole for the specimen holder. This blunted my razor blades until I took sandpaper to it. The included razor works okay, but better sections can be made using disposable razor blades. I am using a 3D printed part for the specimen holder. The original holder is too small to prevent the specimen from tilting and rotating while sectioning even when using the set-screw to lock in the holder.

Two stars are deducted for the need to make modifications and substitute parts to produce reproducible and reliable sections.