The general features of an instrument designed for the precise slicing and safe handling of radioactive polyacrylamide gels are presented. Gels are maintained frozen by circulating coolant and positioned under a moving slicing blade by an adjustable ratchet mechanism. The gel slices are automatically deposited in a scintillation vial by a blast of air directed over the surface of the cutting blade. The instrument is designed to accommodate gels of various diameters and is easily dismantled for cleaning.