Hand Microtome

Quick Answer: The Hand Microtome is a small, manually operated sectioning instrument in which a feed screw pushes the specimen up through a flat cutting plate while a razor is drawn across it, producing thin, even slices for microscope slides. A hand microtome is a common tool for plant anatomy sections in schools, colleges and pharmacy courses.

The Classic Hand-Held Design

In its classic form the instrument is a short metal cylinder with a flat, polished plate on top and a screw at the base. The user holds the body in one hand, rests the razor flat on the plate with the other, and slices across the tissue that projects above the plate. A small turn of the screw raises the specimen for the next slice, so section thickness depends on how far the screw turns rather than on a steady freehand cut.

Holding the instrument rather than clamping it has advantages: it works at any table, travels to a field station, and can be tilted so the razor meets the tissue at a comfortable angle. The cost is steadiness, and beginners often find the bench type, which clamps to the table edge, easier to control. For large classes of younger students, the Secure Hand Microtome is the version designed with blade safety in mind.

Sections cut this way are unembedded, so the method suits firm plant material. Fresh or alcohol-stored stems of sunflower, maize and Cucurbita, and Nerium leaves, are typical practical specimens; delicate tissue is supported in a split carrot or pith before cutting.

Applications

• Comparing vascular bundles in sunflower and maize stems
• Showing bicollateral bundles in a Cucurbita stem
• Leaf sections of Nerium to show sunken stomata and a thick cuticle
• Pharmacognosy practicals on the anatomy of crude drug stems and roots

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Flood the plate and the razor with water as you cut, so each slice slides onto the blade intact.
• Wind the screw fully down and clear out tissue fragments before loading the next specimen.
• Dry the hand microtome thoroughly after use to prevent rust on the plate and thread.
• Hone or replace the razor as soon as sections start to tear or show score lines.

Why Choose LabEquip

Botany departments, pharmacy colleges and schools with plant anatomy on the syllabus buy these microtomes in class sets. LabEquip lists it in the Microscope & Optics range alongside bench and secure versions; send numbers and razor requirements through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hand-held or bench type: which should I choose?

The hand-held form is portable and easy to angle, and practised users like its flexibility. The bench type clamps down, stays steady and leaves both hands for the razor, which helps beginners. Many departments keep some of each.

How do I get sections of even thickness?

Turn the screw by the same small amount before every cut, keep the razor flat on the plate, and slice in one continuous drawing stroke from heel to tip. Stopping halfway or pressing down produces wedge-shaped sections.

Which razor should be used for sectioning?

A section razor with one flat face, the plano-concave type, is traditional because the flat side lies on the plate. Disposable blades in a holder are a convenient alternative for classes. A dull edge crushes cells instead of cutting them.

How should specimens be held in the microtome?

Firm stems can go straight into the well. Thin or soft material is sandwiched between two pieces of carrot, potato or elder pith, trimmed to fit snugly, so it stays upright while the razor passes.

Why do my sections roll up or tear?

Rolling usually means the razor or plate has dried; keep both wet. Tearing points to a blunt blade, tissue that is too hard or too soft, or a stroke that pushes instead of slicing.

How should the microtome be maintained?

Rinse off plant sap after use, dry every part and oil the screw lightly. Store it with the screw wound down and keep the razor separately in a guarded case.

Last Updated: September 2026