Microtome ¶

Microtomes are tools used to cut very thin slices or “sections” of material. They were originally designed for the preparation of medical and biological samples.

In recent years, WSL researchers have further developed various microtomes specifically for wood analysis. The average thickness of the sections is 15 µm (0.015 mm), thinner than a hair (approx. 0.06 mm).

Holger Gärtner, tree-ring researcher at the WSL, explains how he cuts microsections with the lab microtome.