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PELCO® Diamond Knives

ultramicrotomy, cryo, histology and materials applications

[Introduction] [Boat Styles] [Diamond Knife Price Listing]
[AFM Surface View] [Resharpening Service] [Diamond Knife Cleaner]

pelco diamond knives
  1. Perfectly smooth sections from 0.1µm to 5µm.

  2. Hydrophilic diamond surface draws water to the edge for easy sectioning.

  3. Flawless, jewel quality diamond crystal, in sizes from 1 to 6mm (larger than 6mm are not available at this time).

  4. Maximum sectioning stability is assured by molecular welding between diamond and stainless steel shank.

  5. Highly inert and strong bonding material is unharmed by solvents.

  6. Eight different boat styles and seven types for all ultramicrotomy, cryo, histology and materials applications.

diamond knife quality control

Quality Control / Guarantee

Passing through 25 quality control tests and 10 tests to reach flawless quality, you expect perfect sections free of striations and compression. Guarantee: You must be totally satisfied with the knife's performance.

diamond knife precision

Smooth, Precise Cuts

Actual magnified photo of a ribbon being cut from a specimen block using one of our fine diamond knives. Notice the smoothness.

diamond knives materials

Carefully Selected Materials

The diamond knives are produced from carefully selected jewel quality octahedral diamonds. Each crystal is cleaved along its natural lattice into several thin plates which are microscopically screened.

diamond knife workmanship

Precision Workmanship

Each plate is welded onto a steel shank and following that is a high precision series of processes to lap and polish the diamond into what is unquestionably the sharpest cutting tool made. The radius of the diamond knife edge is about 50 Ångstroms (5nm) or 30 carbon atoms and the entire length of its edge must be defect free to the same dimensions. Ultimately an exhaustive final sectioning test is performed through the entire length of the edge. Only if it is flawless is it approved for shipment and packed and sealed in its wood case.

pelco diamond knife diamond knife box Every Diamond Knife is set in a handsome wood case.


BOAT STYLES

diamond knife large boat standard diamond knife boat diamond knife oval cavity boat cylindrical cavity diamond knife boat diamond knife narrow boat wet cryo diamond knife boat dry cryo diamond knife boatt
K
Large
Cylindrical 		M
Wide Oval
Cavity 		S
Standard
Boat 		H
Cylindrical
Cavity
Inclined 		N
Narrow
Deep
Cavity 		W
Cryo
Wet 		D
Cryo
Dry


K

 diamond knife large boat LARGE BOAT WITH CYLINDRICAL CAVITY AND 6° INCLINED TOP, BLACK ANODIZED. NORMALLY SUPPLIED WITH KNIVES WITH EDGES FROM 7 TO 10MM LONG, ALTHOUGH 7MM AND LARGER WIDTH DIAMONDS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
diamond knife dimensions

M

 diamond knife oval cavity boat WIDE OVAL CAVITY BOAT, BLACK ANODIZED.
diamond knife dimensions

S

 standard diamond knife boat STANDARD BOAT WITH OVAL CAVITY. BLACK ANODIZED. ALL NEW KNIVES, EXCEPT CRYO AND KNIVES LARGER THAN 7MM ARE SUPPLIED IN THIS BOAT, UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED. NOTE: 7MM AND LARGER BLADES ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE.
diamond knife dimensions

H

 cylindrical cavity diamond knife CYLINDRICAL CAVITY, 6° INCLINED TOP. AVAILABLE IN BLACK OR BLUE.
diamond knife dimensions

N

 diamond knife narrow boat NARROW BOAT WITH DEEP CYLINDRICAL CAVITY, BLACK ANODIZED.
cryo diamond knife

W

 cryo diamond knife FOR WET CRYO SECTIONING. MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL WITH NON-GLARE FINISH AND CYLINDRICAL CAVITY. 6° INCLINED TOP.
cryo diamond knife dimensions

D

 cryo diamond knife FOR DRY CRYO SECTIONING. STAINLESS STEEL NON-GLARE FINISH.


A PELCO® Diamond Knife for every need

a complete listing of knives for various applications
ultramicrotomy diamond knife types cryo wet diamond knife types cryo dry diamond knife types materials science diamond knife types light microscopy diamond knife types histology diamond knife types


ultramicrotomy knife

Standard Ultramicrotomy Diamond Knives

standard diamond knife boatdiamond knife dimensionsSU, Standard
  • Biological, biomedical specimens
  • 25nm - 200nm thickness range
  • Available in edge lengths of 1.5- 6mm
  • Standard knife angle supplied is 45°, unless specified as 35° or 55° (both custom)
  • Supplied with black anodized "S" Boat (standard), oval cavity

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote
R = Resharpen
122-SU-15
Diamond Knife, SU, 1.5mm length, "S" Boat
each
$1530.00
Qty:
122-SU-15-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 1.5mm length each 910.00
Qty:
122-SU-20 Diamond Knife, SU, 2.0mm length, "S" Boat each 1830.00
Qty:
122-SU-20-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 2.0mm length each 1070.00
Qty:
122-SU-25 Diamond Knife, SU, 2.5mm length, "S" Boat each 2060.00
Qty:
122-SU-25-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 2.5mm length each 1190.00
Qty:
122-SU-30 Diamond Knife, SU, 3.0mm length, "S" Boat each 2290.00
Qty:
122-SU-30-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 3.0mm length each 1310.00
Qty:
122-SU-35 Diamond Knife, SU, 3.5mm length, "S" Boat each 2520.00
Qty:
122-SU-35-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 3.5mm length each 1430.00
Qty:
122-SU-40 Diamond Knife, SU, 4.0mm length, "S" Boat each 2750.00
Qty:
122-SU-40-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 4.0mm length each 1550.00
Qty:
122-SU-45 Diamond Knife, SU, 4.5mm length, "S" Boat each 2980.00
Qty:
122-SU-45-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 4.5mm length each 1670.00
Qty:
122-SU-50 Diamond Knife, SU, 5.0mm length, "S" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-SU-50-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 5.0mm length each 1790.00
Qty:
122-SU-55 Diamond Knife, SU, 5.5mm length, "S" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-SU-55-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 5.5mm length each 1910.00
Qty:
122-SU-60 Diamond Knife, SU, 6.0mm length, "S" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-SU-60-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, SU, 6.0mm length each 2030.00
Qty:




cryo wet knife

Cryo Wet Ultramicrotomy Diamond Knives

cryo diamond knifecryo diamond knife CW, Cryo Wet
  • Frozen specimens sectioned wet with liquids like ethylene glycol
  • 50nm - 1µm thickness range
  • Available in edge lengths of 1.5 - 6mm
  • Standard knife angle supplied is 45°, unless specified as 35° (custom)
  • Supplied with "W" Boat, stainless steel non-glare finish for wet cryo sectioning, cylindrical cavity and 6° inclined top edge

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote
R = Resharpen
122-CW-15
Diamond Knife, CW, 1.5mm length, "W" Boat
each
$1530.00
Qty:
122-CW-15-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 1.5mm length each 910.00
Qty:
122-CW-20 Diamond Knife, CW, 2.0mm length, "W" Boat each 1830.00
Qty:
122-CW-20-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 2.0mm length each 1070.00
Qty:
122-CW-25 Diamond Knife, CW, 2.5mm length, "W" Boat each 2060.00
Qty:
122-CW-25-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 2.5mm length each 1190.00
Qty:
122-CW-30 Diamond Knife, CW, 3.0mm length, "W" Boat each 2290.00
Qty:
122-CW-30-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 3.0mm length each 1310.00
Qty:
122-CW-35 Diamond Knife, CW, 3.5mm length, "W" Boat each 2520.00
Qty:
122-CW-35-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 3.5mm length each 1430.00
Qty:
122-CW-40 Diamond Knife, CW, 4.0mm length, "W" Boat each 2750.00
Qty:
122-CW-40-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 4.0mm length each 1550.00
Qty:
122-CW-45 Diamond Knife, CW, 4.5mm length, "W" Boat each 2980.00
Qty:
122-CW-45-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 4.5mm length each 1670.00
Qty:
122-CW-50 Diamond Knife, CW, 5.0mm length, "W" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-CW-50-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 5.0mm length each 1790.00
Qty:
122-CW-55 Diamond Knife, CW, 5.5mm length, "W" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-CW-55-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 5.5mm length each 1910.00
Qty:
122-CW-60 Diamond Knife, CW, 6.0mm length, "W" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-CW-60-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, CW, 6.0mm length each 2030.00
Qty:




cryo dry diamond knife

Cryo Dry Ultramicrotomy Diamond Knives

cryo diamond knifecryo diamond knife dimensionsCD, Cryo Dry
  • Frozen specimens sectioned dry
  • 50nm - 1µm thickness range
  • Available in edge lengths of 1.5 - 6mm
  • Standard knife angle supplied is 45°, unless specified as 35° (custom)
  • Supplied with "D" Boat (no trough) for dry cryo sectioning with stainless steel, non-glare finish

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote
R = Resharpen
122-CD-15
Diamond Knife, D, 1.5mm length, "D" Boat
each
$1530.00
Qty:
122-CD-15-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 1.5mm length each 910.00
Qty:
122-CD-20 Diamond Knife, D, 2.0mm length, "D" Boat each 1830.00
Qty:
122-CD-20-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 2.0mm length each 1070.00
Qty:
122-CD-25 Diamond Knife, D, 2.5mm length, "D" Boat each 2060.00
Qty:
122-CD-25-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 2.5mm length each 1190.00
Qty:
122-CD-30 Diamond Knife, D, 3.0mm length, "D" Boat each 2290.00
Qty:
122-CD-30-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 3.0mm length each 1310.00
Qty:
122-CD-35 Diamond Knife, D, 3.5mm length, "D" Boat each 2520.00
Qty:
122-CD-35-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 3.5mm length each 1430.00
Qty:
122-CD-40 Diamond Knife, D, 4.0mm length, "D" Boat each 2750.00
Qty:
122-CD-40-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 4.0mm length each 1550.00
Qty:
122-CD-45 Diamond Knife, D, 4.5mm length, "D" Boat each 2980.00
Qty:
122-CD-45-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 4.5mm length each 1670.00
Qty:
122-CD-50 Diamond Knife, D, 5.0mm length, "D" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-CD-50-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 5.0mm length each 1790.00
Qty:
122-CD-55 Diamond Knife, D, 5.5mm length, "D" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-CD-55-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 5.5mm length each 1910.00
Qty:
122-CD-60 Diamond Knife, D, 6.0mm length, "D" Boat each P.O.R.
Qty:
122-CD-60-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, D, 6.0mm length each 2030.00
Qty:




materials science diamond knife

Materials Science Diamond Knives

standard diamond knife boatdiamond knife dimensionsS, Standard Style Boat
diamond knife large boatK, Large Boat
  • Industrial materials sectioning, not tested to the same ultra high standards as standard ultramicrotomy knives
  • 50nm - 2µm thickness range
  • Available in edge lengths of 3 - 6mm (6.5 and 7mm edge lenth is not currently available)
  • Standard knife angle supplied is 45°, unless specified as 55° (custom)
  • Supplied with Black anodized "S" Boat (standard), with oval cavity unless otherwise specified.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote
R = Resharpen
122-MT-30
Diamond Knife, MT, 3.0mm length, "S" Boat
each
$1715.00
Qty:
122-MT-30-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 3.0mm length each 1070.00
Qty:
122-MT-35 Diamond Knife, MT, 3.5mm length, "S" Boat each 1945.00
Qty:
122-MT-35-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 3.5mm length each 990.00
Qty:
122-MT-40 Diamond Knife, MT, 4.0mm length, "S" Boat each 2175.00
Qty:
122-MT-40-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 4.0mm length each 1090.00
Qty:
122-MT-45 Diamond Knife, MT, 4.5mm length, "S" Boat each 2290.00
Qty:
122-MT-45-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 4.5mm length each 1190.00
Qty:
122-MT-50 Diamond Knife, MT, 5.0mm length, "S" Boat each 2520.00
Qty:
122-MT-50-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 5.0mm length each 1290.00
Qty:
122-MT-55 Diamond Knife, MT, 5.5mm length, "S" Boat each 2650.00
Qty:
122-MT-55-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 5.5mm length each 1390.00
Qty:
122-MT-60 Diamond Knife, MT, 6.0mm length, "S" Boat each 2750.00
Qty:
122-MT-60-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, MT, 6.0mm length each 1490.00
Qty:




light microscopy diamond knife

Light Microscopy (Histology) Cryo Diamond Knives

cryo diamond knifecryo diamond knife W, Wet Style Boat
cryo diamond knifecryo diamond knife dimensionsD, Dry Style Boat
  • Frozen sections to be examined at light microscopy magnifications
  • 0.1µm - 5µm thickness range
  • Available in edge lengths of 5 - 6mm (6.5 and 7mm edge lenth is not currently available)
  • Standard knife angle supplied is 45°, unless specified as 55° (custom)
  • Specify "W" Boat (stainless steel non-glare finish for wet cryo sectioning, cylindrical cavity and 6° inclined top edge) or "D" Boat (no trough, for dry cryo sectioning, stainless steel, non-glare finish) when ordering.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote
R = Resharpen
122-LC-50
Diamond Knife, LC, 5.0mm length, "W" or "D" Boat
each
$1260.00
Qty:
122-LC-50-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, LC, 5.0mm length each 690.00
Qty:
122-LC-55 Diamond Knife, LC, 5.5mm length, "W" or "D" Boat each 1325.00
Qty:
122-LC-55-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, LC, 5.5mm length each 750.00
Qty:
122-LC-60 Diamond Knife, LC, 6.0mm length, "W" or "D" Boat each 1370.00
Qty:
122-LC-60-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, LC, 6.0mm length each 790.00
Qty:




histology knife

Light Microscopy (Histology) Diamond Knives

standard diamond knife boatdiamond knife dimensionsS, Standard Style Boat
diamond knife large boatK, Large Boat
  • Sections to be examined at light microscope magnifications
  • 0.1µm - 5µm thickness range
  • Available in edge lengths of 5 - 6mm (6.5mm and larger edge lenth is not currently available)
  • Standard knife angle supplied is 45°, unless specified as 55° (custom)
  • Edges 4 - 6mm may take a standard "S" Boat, specify boat style if other than S is desired.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote
R = Resharpen
122-LH-50
Diamond Knife, LH, 5.0mm length, "S" Boat
each
$1260.00
Qty:
122-LH-50-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, LH, 5.0mm length each 830.00
Qty:
122-LH-60 Diamond Knife, LH, 6.0mm length, "S" Boat each 1370.00
Qty:
122-LH-60-R Resharpen Diamond Knife, LH, 6.0mm length each 950.00
Qty:




diamond knife stack

Resharpening Service

Any brand of knife can be resharpened to like new condition or exchanged for a new diamond knife (note: new diamond knives can not be provided in sizes 7mm or larger in edge width due to unavailability of larger diamonds at this time).

Standard procedure is to return the resharpened knife in the original boat set at the original knife angle.

Per request, your resharpened knife from any brand can be set in a new boat and box at no charge.

Information for Resharpening:

Please provide Customer Service with the following information before sending your knife for resharpening.

Call Customer Service at 1-800-237-3526 with:
  1. Purchase Order number or other method of payment.
  2. Knife size, boat style, and degree angle of the knife you are sending to us.
  3. See above for pricing.

knife cleaning and/or blade cleaning


AFM image of a PELCO® Diamond Knife

compared to a gold coated optical quality mirror
Diamond Knife:
diamond knife cross sectiondiamond knife micrograph
arrow: vertical distance of 0.77 nm 		  gold coated mirror:
gold coated mirror cross sectiongold coated mirror micrograph
arrow: vertical distance of 12.51 nm
Atomic force microscope view of a diamond knife surface adjacent to the edge. Roughness is less than 5 carbon atoms.   View of gold coated, optical quality mirror. In comparison, our diamond knives are 16 times smoother.