Thread: Wedge+Hollow= Wellow or Hedge Grind?

This is kind of interesting where one side is wedge/flat and the other hollow ground. A search around found one thread stating it would be a razor used in medical procedures... But, seems like the majority of medical instruments that old would have had metal scales/handles as they auto-claved everything back then. ??

Straight Razor John Wmragg Sheffield Eng | eBay

Microtome
Is the word you are looking for

Used to section Microscope specimens

There we go! I've seen Pathologists use them following removal of tissue in surgery but did not know what it was called. Does this blade appear to be a Microtome? The scales just throw me if so... I started working in hospitals mid-80's and the still used auto-clave then and so most of that stuff was metal. Seems like the one I saw in use may have been just a regular disposable scalpel but could just be fuzzy.memory left over from combining Pop Rocks and Soda. ;-)

What challenges would you face honing a blade like that?

No more challenges than if it hadn't been half-ground. Lots of old wedges were reground and ground into hollows. No telling how that one wound up halfsies. The spine still controls your angle. I'd double tape it-SOP for heavier blades.

I'll bet that will shave great. I like meaty blades, and it's only been half-de-meated.

___
oh look (below) i was wrong. no problemo. here to learn!

(I do love my single-bevel kitchen gear.)

I think it was ground as a microtome originally. If you are just slicing specimens for a microscope do you need to autoclave it as it is not being used on a live human? Wouldn't an easier form of cleaning/sterilization do between specimens? Scrolling down to the section on microtomes Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines (CBSG) - First Edition makes no mention of autoclaving to sterilize/clean.

Bob

They are asymmetrical grinds, that are meant for "slicing" thin samples of tissue, so you have to convert it to an edge used for "Push cutting" as a SR does..

I have turned several in Micro-sori much like a Kamisori but they aren't really the same, close but not quite.

They can be made to shave, but I would never intentionally buy one, usually they get snapped up in a "Lot" and are pressed into service as a SR, but they are not designed for it.... Basically IME a waste of money a ton of work and a So-So shave

They used to be much more common, the real nice snag is finding one in the set with the super fine Thüringen hone many came with

If you do some searching here on SRP you will find a few threads where people pressed them into service and a few where some of us highly modified them..

Here is one http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...microtome.html

and another

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...microtome.html


There are a few more hanging around too

Cool, I now have yet another razor to start looking for.

Thanks for sharing.

@BobH... Cool link! I had not thought about differences between US and CAN regarding rules and laws like that. It sounds like they are talking about Shavette style blades initially and then they recommend an 'Instrument' to clean non-disposables with... I would have thought that would be an Auto-clave but not sure at all. Maybe a Sonicator is a tool-cleaning instrument as I've seen them used for golf clubs. The specimen I saw taken was taken and frozen then sliced with a mini-planer looking thing so the slice was see-through thin. I think the concern for a Lab as well as surgery would be cross-contaminating by having something left on the blade when you move onto the next work... Thusl, the replacement blades or auto-clave or whatever instrument. ??

Those conversions are beautiful Glen! But, crazy sharp and unforgiving sounds more like a warning than invitation for me. ;-) I think I'll pass and let KCOA grab 'em up! ;-)

Originally Posted by Prahston

Those conversions are beautiful Glen! But, crazy sharp and unforgiving sounds more like a warning than invitation for me. ;-) I think I'll pass and let KCOA grab 'em up! ;-)

Yeppers, nothing I would intentionally buy, but when there is steel sitting around they are fun to mess around with