I am getting thick-and-thin sections on my rotary microtome. What can I do to fix it?

If you are getting thick-and-thin sections while cutting, or you are getting skipped sections, it could be due to several reasons:

• Cutting blade is dull. Try changing to a new cutting blade.
• Clearance angle is too small. Try adjusting the cutting angle by rotating the middle portion of the knife block. Aim for a cutting angle of 1-10 degrees.
• Specimen is not tightly clamped. Try re-adjusting your specimen cassette; make sure it is tightly clamped into the specimen head holder.