>Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1999 13:15:37 -0500
>From: "Jaci Lett" <jmlett@cid.wustl.edu>
>Subject: TEM:  Heat pen for flattening sections
>To: "Histonet Listserver" <Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>,
>        "Microscopy Listserver" <ListServer@sparc5.microscopy.com>
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>
>Does anyone have any opinions on using a heat pen to flatten ultrathin EM
>sections?  I would very much prefer to get away from using chloroform.
>
>Electron Microscopy Sciences has two models:  Wax Pen 1 (which uses 1 AA
>battery) and Wax Pen 2 (which uses 2 AA batteries).  Their tech
>representative recommended the Wax Pen 2 for flattening sections.  Is this
>consistent with the preference of the majority?
>
>I need to decide to place an order soon (the end of the fiscal year is
>approaching).
>
>Thank you,
>
>Jaclynn Lett, Research Assistant     jmlett@cid.wustl.edu
>
>Fay and Carl Simon Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness
>Central Institute for the Deaf
>818 S. Euclid Ave.
>St. Louis, MO 63110
>
>voice  314-977-0257     fax  314-977-0030
>

Jaci,
	Heat pens are very handy for flattening ultrathin sections cut
using a glass knife. They're probably ok with diamond knives but being a
wee bit cautious I've never tried and stick to chloroform. Semithins also
flatten nicely with a heat pen.
	If you have an electronics workshop speak to the engineers, they'll
probably make you a mains operated pen. I've had one since 1968 and it
still works.
Ian.

Dr. Ian Montgomery,
West Medical Building,
University of Glasgow,
Glasgow,
G12 8QQ,
Scotland.
Tel: 0141 339 8855 Extn. 6602.
Fax: 0141 330 4100.
e-mail: ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk